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Severin

Hannah’s face blanches, going so pale my shadows leap outward, ready to catch her if she faints. Yet my betrothed is made of sterner stuff. She locks her knees and stays upright, whispering to me, “I promised the eagle lots of salmon. Make sure it gets them.”

“Stop worrying about the damned bird,” I growl.

Finn races over to her, yipping and jumping up to set his front feet on her thighs.

She rubs his head. “It’s going to be okay, little bud.”

He whines, licking at her hand, not believing the false cheer in her voice any more than I do.

Ruby must win.

Hannah is many things, stubborn, determined, resourceful, but she’s not a combat fighter. Unlike Meloria, who’s fought in many a battle. Even though the fight will be unarmed and only to the first strike, I know Meloria. She’ll make sure to land a punishing blow.

A growl reverberates from deep in my chest, my lips pulling back from my fangs. No. I refuse to allow her to touch a single hair on Hannah’s head!

I exchange a look with the gnome, bouncing my coin purse on my palm. I have no plans to marry her, but if she can win this trial, I’ll make sure she’s amply rewarded.

She gives me the slightest nod back, her light-green face serious. Gnomes don’t mess around when it comes to precious metals. Ruby will give it her all.

If only there were some way I could help her…

My mind turns over everything I know about the trial, looking for weaknesses to exploit.

All my years leading devious shadow fae stand me in good stead, because the idea comes, flashing bright, sharp as a lightning strike.

Nowhere in the rules did it say I have to remain in the same place each time to accept the gem.

Doing so is implied but not stipulated. Goddess, I should have thought of this before Hannah took her turn.

If I’d done so, we wouldn’t be in this mess.

Cursing myself, I launch into the air and fly over to hang right in front of the waterfall, the gem only a couple of feet away.

Meloria’s cry of protest comes from behind me, but Varyn’s voice rises over hers. “There’s nothing forbidding it in the rules.”

Ruby drops to hands and knees, her hour glass tipping over. Palms flat to the ground, she opens her mouth and sings to it, a deep, throbbing song that should be impossible from one so small. But the melody comes from her magic, not her body, and gnomes hold a power like no other.

Deep chiming notes rise from the ground, as if a giant swings a hammer inside a rock chamber far below.

Ruby sings again, a demanding tune, one fist thumping against the ground with a percussive beat.

The sand trickles down her hour glass. It feels as if an hour must have passed. Goddess, why isn’t the gnome going faster?

Hannah holds Finn to her chest and leans against Naomi, who’s got an arm wrapped around her shoulders. I’m struck again by my betrothed’s ability to form such strong connections with others.

Ruby slams her fist into the ground, her voice echoing like a gong.

I spin just in time. Rock punches outward from the cliff, shooting the gem out of the waterfall and straight into my hands.

A loud chime fills the air as I fly back to Hannah, and a new scroll appears in front of Varyn. “With a time of twelve seconds, Ruby has won the trial of strength!”

“There, see?” Naomi rubs her hand up and down Hannah’s upper arm. “No fighting.”

“Yeah, but no winning either.”

Hannah’s words stay with me as the waterfall fades from view to be replaced by my garden. All of us reappear around the bridal stone.

“Why are you doing this, Severin?” Meloria strides over to me, her shadow tattoos shifting as power rolls from her. “Think of how strong we are. Think of what we could do together. We could re-conquer all of the realms we gave up when the Dark God left.”

Her offer isn’t the slightest bit tempting. I made my decision the moment I touched a living tree for the first time—no more war, no more destruction. I wanted life .

Now that I’ve lived on Earth these past weeks, I crave even more. Hannah has shown me the joy of having someone look upon me with admiration. I cup her cheek and meet her beautiful, gold-flecked brown eyes, so full of warmth I long to bask in them.

I face Meloria, scowl firmly in place. “Dead realms like Markan, you mean? What are those compared to this?” My slow gesture encompasses the beauty of my garden.

Meloria glances around quickly, then gives a dismissive snort. “Flowers, Severin? Really? We could rule all of Faerie!”

I send a shadow racing out into my garden to pluck a heavy bloom.

When it brings the pink peony to my hand, I turn to Hannah and tuck it behind her ear.

I say, “Flowers carry many meanings. They’re beautiful and sweet smelling.

They also indicate a plant is healthy and ready to propagate.

Flowers symbolize life and the promise of a future. ”

Meloria sneers at my betrothed, her eyes flashing venom as her hand drops to the hilt of her knife.

I step between them. My shadows stir, ready to form a shield around Hannah.

The shadow fae makes a noise of frustrated disgust and leaps into the air, her startled minion flapping after her.

A cold truth burned in her eyes. I need to warn Rune and Luna to step up their vigilance.

Meloria has practiced restraint until now, because she assumed she would win the second trial.

Losing has put her back up against the wall, making winning trial three more crucial than ever.

She will make a try for Hannah in the next few days.

I feel it in the blacker parts of my soul.

The realization trickles ice down my spine, spurring a new idea. The werewolves will not be alone.

I will also protect Hannah.

“Severin!” Surprise colors Hannah’s voice when I enter her office two days later. I’ve seen it from the window many times, having spent several days crouched there, watching over her, yet this is the first time I’ve come inside.

The room has high ceilings, crown molding, and an antique wooden desk so large it looks as if the room was built around it, because there’s no way it fit through the door. All of it’s suitably regal for her position as mayor.

Yet I find her teetering on top of a too-short stepladder, her entire body straining upward toward a light fixture.

My shadows snap out, coiling around her and steadying her. “Why are you doing this yourself?” I frown at Rune.

He stares back, completely unperturbed. “If I focus on that, it means I’m not focused on protecting her.”

I scowl but can’t disagree.

“It’s just a light bulb,” Hannah says. “I do this all the time. ”

“You should have people for this.”

“I will.” She gives the bulb a couple last turns, and whispers under her breath, “Hopefully.”

Ah, the town’s money issues. Fortunately, I have good news.

“I’ve found another business for you.” Technically, Shadow found it, but he only did so because I paid him to, so I’m taking the credit. If there’s one thing being king taught me, it’s always take the credit. “A pub.”

My prevarication is well worth it. Hannah’s face lights up as she jumps off the stepstool. “Oh, that’s wonderful news! The town hasn’t had a bar in years.”

Her good humor warms me. After the disappointment of the second trial, she’s done nothing but work and practice magic. It’s rather nice to have this chance to please her.

I escort her out to the town green, where the werepanther and orc wait. Although the orc has the same long flowing hair, pointed ears, and sharp features as shadow fae, he’s seven-feet tall and more heavily muscled, with green skin and tusks instead of fangs.

“This is Thorvinn, son of the pubkeeper in Moon Blade Village.” Shadow grins widely as he makes introductions. “This is King Severin and Mayor Wylde.”

Before we make it across the grassy expanse, both herds of walking tulips race over to us.

“I wish I could talk to them like I can animals,” Hannah says.

“I can make my wishes known.” Leaning over, I brush my fingers across their soft flower heads and send little pulses of healing plant magic into each of them.

“You need to rest more. You’re not supposed to run around so much.

From now on, I want you to spend all night, every night, rooted in your beds.

” I straighten up and point. “Now, go and take a nap.”

Heads drooping like scolded children, the tulips scurry off to their original flower beds, little root feet sinking into the soil.

“I thought you were supposed to be a warmonger.” Thorvinn frowns.

“Oh, I was,” I admit freely, which makes Hannah turn her concerned eyes on me. “But I’m reformed now, and those flowers are my creation.” What I don’t say aloud is it does no good to wage war against plants. They’re too easily hurt and can’t fight back. Where’s the satisfaction in that?

My betrothed soon smiles again as we meet my best conjurers outside of the largest empty building on Main Street. A wave of magic flows outward, rejuvenating the siding until it’s the rich green of orc skin. A new sign forms, decorated with a tankard and the pub’s name, The Thirsty Tusk.

The transformation continues inside, rushing across the wide room and leaving behind gleaming hardwood floors, paneled walls, and a long wooden bar that spans the back of the room.

With further instructions from Thorvinn, wood tables and chairs pop into being, pewter tankards and taps fill the bar, and the entire place becomes the perfect re-creation of a Faerie orc pub.

The others go upstairs to turn the apartments into places orcs will find comfortable, but I catch Hannah’s arm to keep her with me .

“The initial rent for the pub, with a bit more since the orcs want to live in the apartments.” I press two gold coins into Hannah’s hand, and she beams up at me, radiating joy like the sun appearing from behind a cloud.

I step closer, pulled to her light, eager to kiss her again. Lukendevener has given me no answers about whether entangling our magic caused us to have sex.

But it doesn’t matter. Our magic isn’t mingling in this instant, and it’s clear she wants me, desire flaring in her eyes.

Goddess, how I crave her.