Page 186 of Hell Fae King

It wasn’t meant as a taunt, but as a legitimate question. I wanted to hear what my queen desired in this situation. Because I couldn’t exactly disagree with her thoughts right now. The termbarbarickept floating through her head, and, well, she wasn’t necessarily wrong.

“Is it really the only way they can survive?” she asked after a long, thoughtful moment.

I considered her question. “As far as I know, yes. But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t ask them to find an alternative.”

It didn’t even have to be a direct request, just an implied one with whatever solution we devised for the Strigoi Kingdom. Perhaps we’d put a time limit on our assistance, or reevaluate in a few decades once things had calmed down throughout the kingdoms.

Camillia’s power brushed over me as she explored the fields with her mind, her ability to feel sources of energy and souls taking over as she learned more about the land. The people here.The Nightmare Fae in need.

They’d been lost in a state of necessary survival for far too long.

But with a queen at my side, perhaps now they couldthrive.

Melek stepped back to give her room, his expression one of acute adoration. That look would have irritated me a few weeks ago.

Today, I understood it.

Hell, I probably exuded a similar appearance.

You don’t,he murmured, clearly in tune with my thoughts.You’re as stoic as ever, my king.

My lips curled.Stoic?I didn’t want to bestoicaround Camillia. I… I wanted to be adoring to a point. Supportive. Protective, too. But notstoic.

You’ve mastered that regal look, Ty. It’s just who you are. But your mind tells us all how you feel.He met my gaze.As do your eyes.

I hummed, unsure if that was enough.

I wanted the realms to know how much I’d fallen for our new queen, to understand that she was the cause—the key—to our existence. She’d saved the realm from a horrible fate. Saved the Nightmare Fae from being leashed. Saved me from giving up my light.

The Source belonged to her now as much as it belonged to me.

Which made her their monarch, theirGoddess, and they needed to know how their king felt about their queen.

Camillia’s power warmed our bond again—the unique connection created by our souls—and I felt her testing her vitality on a nearby stalk. She siphoned a little from the Source to embolden the human roots and watched as the plant grew tall and proud. Red bulbs—blood fruits—blossomed in a blink, causing her to cant her head to the side.

“This is the realm of dreams,” she murmured. “These humans can at least be given pleasant visions while they sleep. Perhaps even full lives. But this can only be temporary. The Strigoi need to find another way.”

Her words carried on the wind, our Source informing the kingdom that their queen had spoken. And not only that, but she was issuing an edict of sorts.

It would be an easy one for the Strigoi to agree to since the humans beneath the stalks already dreamt. Though, they might also be experiencing nightmares. So perhaps the Strigoi could guarantee pleasant sleep for their mortal fuel.

Either way, I would honor my queen’s wishes and ensure the remaining royal bloodlines in the Strigoi Kingdom understood her demands—by sending a missive to their homes.

We’ll help you for now,I thought, translating her words into a script that I would later draft on paper.However, we will be back, and we expect to see changes.Sofind your mates. Locate a Sigil. And claim your title. Then fix your territory.

“The Ghouls can feast on the dreams of these humans, too, right?” Camillia asked, her power spreading through the fields.

I nodded to confirm her question. “Yes, they feed on nightmares and dreams.”

“Okay, then these humans can serve multiple purposes,” she replied. “But I expect them to be treated with kindness. And I want them all to eventually be released.”

“Do you have a timeline expectation?” I asked, arching a brow. “Other terms to add?”

“Are we crafting a deal?” she returned, glancing at me. “Or am I creating a ruling?”

I smiled. “That’s entirely up to you, my queen.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Terms and timelines sound like a deal.”