Page 32

AMELIA

We hurry through the camp as soldiers rush about getting ready for the coming battle.

Tristan guides me through the open gates of Sorsston, though I know the gates will be locked soon.

He carries my bag, as well as another much larger sack that’s filled with enough provisions to last a full week.

I hope the battle doesn’t take that long.

When we reach the courtyard of the castle, I spy a familiar figure being guided through the crowd, and my heart leaps with joy.

“Riley!” I shout, and my former workmate turns at the sound of her name. The huge fae male holding her hand looks over his shoulder at me, and his eyes flare wide when he notices Tristan.

Riley extracts her hand from the fae male’s and rushes toward me, and we share a happy embrace.

I haven’t seen her in about six months. After she disappeared during the early days of the fae occupation in Sorsston, I’d feared the worst. I’m glad to see she’s alive, though I sincerely hope her fae companion is treating her well. Is she his war prize?

“General Dalgaard,” the fae male says in greeting with a cordial nod.

“Commander Carr. It would seem our females are friends. Perhaps they can ride out the battle together. I’m planning to put Amelia in a comfortable room, and I’m going to place extensive wards around it, of course.”

Riley and I exchange a hopeful look. “Oh, that would be wonderful,” I say with a smile.

The matter is quickly settled, and I’m relieved that Commander Carr readily agrees to allow Riley to stay with me during the battle. The four of us hurry into the castle, and Tristan leads the way to one of the larger bedchambers that I’m certain once belonged to King Garrett’s late queen.

Riley and I stand in the center of the room while Tristan creates the protective wards.

When I sense he’s also creating a soundproof ward, I know he’s doing it for Riley’s benefit, since I’ll be able to hear everything that’s going on no matter what.

But at least I’ll be safe as long as I remain in the room and within the barriers of the protective wards he just erected.

Once Tristan is finished, Commander Carr practically runs over to Riley and gathers her close. To my surprise, she hugs him back and seems reluctant to part with him. Hm. Perhaps she’s found a bit of happiness with the fae commander.

Tristan grasps my hand and places a gentle kiss upon the back of it, then he wraps his arms around me and holds me tightly. He presses numerous kisses to my forehead and my lips, and my heart constricts with the knowledge that he’s about to go off to war.

I blink away tears when he pulls apart from me. He gives me one last kiss and steps back. Command Carr also extracts himself from his embrace with Riley, and the two fae males finally head for the door.

“Don’t worry, sweet human,” Tristan says. “All will be well, and I will see you soon.”

He departs the bedchamber, and Commander Carr follows. The door shuts behind them.

Please keep Tristan safe. Please please please.

I don’t pray to the gods very often, but I suddenly find myself sending up countless prayers for my mate’s safety. I’ll be devastated if anything happens to him, and I doubt I would ever recover from the loss.

Riley grasps my arm and guides me to a massive, tufted sofa, and we both take our seats and turn to face one another. She looks about as worried as I feel, and I hope it’s a sign that she’s more than Commander Carr’s unwilling captive.

“I feared you were dead,” I finally say.

She gives me a watery smile. “Not dead. I’m quite well, all things considered, but I never expected to find myself back in Sorsston, particularly not back inside the castle.”

“What happened to you?” I ask.

“What happened to you ?” she counters with a teasing smile, and we share a laugh. “Very well, I suppose I’ll go first. Perhaps by the time we’re finished sharing our stories, the battle will be over, and we’ll be reunited with our masters.”

“So, you’re the commander’s pleasure slave, then?”

She sighs and lounges against a pillow. “Not a pleasure slave. A war prize. Though I think the line between those two things is a bit blurred. Although, it’s my understanding that fae soldiers tend to share their pleasure slaves with their friends, but they won’t share their war prizes with anyone and are much more possessive of them.

” She goes on to explain that only two days after the Summer Court army captured Sorsston, Commander Carr spotted her in a corridor and immediately took her as his war prize.

“Does he treat you well? I mean, is he ever cruel to you? Does he hurt you?” I hold my breath as I await her answer.

She stares at me for a long moment. “He was a bit cruel to me at first. He taunted me a lot and he seemed to like my tears. But he never hit me. The worst he ever did was bind my wrists when I tried to run away. As the months passed, he started treating me with more kindness, and now…” Her voice trails off and her face grows dark pink.

“Now, I think I’m falling in love with him.

I know it might sound crazy, but I cannot imagine parting ways with him, though I know one day it’ll happen. One day, he’ll meet his fated mate.”

My heart goes out to her. I’m glad she’s found some happiness in her current situation, but there’s no changing the fact that the future holds sorrow for her. Unless they’re fated mates. But since they’ve been together six months and a mating bond hasn’t formed, I doubt that’s the case.

“Well, I’m glad you’re happy, Riley, and I hope he doesn’t meet his fated mate for several decades.”

“I hope the same.” She clears her throat and gestures at me. “What about you and the general? Are you his war prize? I would imagine so. He seemed quite besotted with you as you said your goodbyes.”

I draw in a slow breath. “I started out as his war prize,” I admit. “But now, well, we just realized we’re fated mates.”

Her eyes go wide. “Fated mates?” She jumps off the sofa and heads for the bag she’d brought.

“I believe Commander Carr packed some wine. I’m going to pour us both a drink and then you’re going to tell me all about you and the general.

And you mustn’t leave any details out. I want to hear everything. ”

She fetches us each a glass of wine, then we enjoy a few sips before I resume my story.

I tell her everything, just as she requested, and it feels like a weight off my shoulders to finally talk to someone who’s not Tristan.

He’s an understanding male, but Riley is a fellow human, and we’re around the same age and used to work together in the castle.

We have a lot of shared life experiences, and there’s a special kind of liberation in discussing the unexpected path my life has taken with someone who can fully grasp my point of view.

“Oh! I just thought of something!” Riley says. “Sorry to interrupt, but oh my goodness. Since you’re General Dalgaard’s fated mate, that means you’re probably going to live for thousands of years, since you’ll absorb enough of his magic through the mating bond to cause your lifespan to match his.”

“Yes, I know, it’s rather overwhelming to consider,” I admit. It’s a realization that’s hovered in the back of my mind for a while now, though Tristan and I haven’t really discussed it. It’s about as shocking as learning that I’m an usshan.

As we continue our conversation, I don’t tell Riley about the battle horns I hear in the distance. I also don’t mention the numerous blasts or the war cries. The fighting has already started.

Tristan .

I love him. With my whole heart.

The realization is calming but also terrifying. Because what if he doesn’t come back?

May the gods grant him strength to vanquish his enemies.