Page 50 of His Dark Delights
Lilly
A brilliant sunrise broke through the uppermost windows of the forest palace, heralding the dawn of a new age.
My steps were lighter than the wind. I nearly floated through the golden shafts of light descending from above.
Silvery dust motes and flecks of pollen danced in the floral, perfumed air, bobbing and swirling in the gentle breeze coming in from the balcony.
Rose vines and menacing thorns, as sharp as blades, shuddered and slithered over the balustrade, mirroring the Fae Queen’s shivering fury. Her nostrils flared as she heavily exhaled and her eyes widened.
“You set my prisoner free?” she said, barely maintaining her elegant composure.
Strong fingers clasped mine, bolstering my confidence. Ren’s hand gave me the strength to stand unwavering and bold beneath the shadow of an angry queen—and an angrier mother.
But I wasn’t there to ask for forgiveness, nor permission.
“I did. We’ve come to terms,” I replied.
Ellaria whirled away from the balcony and strode into the room. Her nose scrunched up with distaste, but she took a steadying breath. “Terms?” she scoffed. “What terms?”
“We’re going to end the war,” I stated confidently.
“End the war?” Lunaric readjusted his crossed legs. He appeared hesitant, yet intrigued. “Do tell me how you’ve managed this feat, sister.”
“Soren and I mean to unite the human and fae kingdoms. We are going to combine our houses.” The words passed my lips and Mother’s eyes dropped to my hand entwined with the king’s.
Ellaria sank onto the curved chaise of massive flowers, plush leaves, and gnarled roots with Lunaric. She pressed her hand to her face, shaking her head. Tears glistened in the corner of her eyes when her gaze snapped up.
“You expect me to allow my first child, my only daughter, to walk away with the man who hurt her? The butcher who slaughtered our people?”
“I expect nothing from you, Mother. In all my life, I never have. So, in this decision, I will not be asking for your permission.” My words came out harsher than I meant. I was too tired and wound up to leash them back.
The Queen of Fairy flinched as if struck, regret and sorrow smoothing the harsh lines of her indignation. That second of silence eased the bite of conflict, enough to breathe without fear of retaliation. She would listen— she owed me that much.
Ren released my hand to step forward with only a low table of silver-white barricading him from my newfound family.
Mother tensed, muscles flexing and her guard on high; ready to summon her magic and kill the enemy ruler if necessary.
Lunaric’s hand twitched, drawing my gaze to the dagger on his hip.
The world held its breath when Ren dropped to his knees, supplicating himself before the Fae Queen.
My heart lurched into the back of my throat, witnessing the proud and arrogant king supplicating himself before another for the second time.
A feat he never would have managed months ago, and now he’d become malleable enough to face his wrongs and repent.
“No apology will endear you to me. I know that, but I also know that you can’t kill me as much as you might like to.
The largest force of my soldiers is waiting for me.
Your magical border won’t hold them back for long.
If we do not end the war now, it will continue whether I’m alive or not.
” He sucked in a deep breath before rushing on.
“So, I humble myself before you, Queen Ellaria of the Fae. Give me your permission to marry your daughter. Don’t do it because of your fondness for mankind, do it for her, because she’s been the only voice of reason to get through to me.
The only person who could convince me to lay down my sword.
The only bright presence in my life to break the cloud of vengeance and show me another way. And because… because I love her.”
In all her years, and in all her experience, she would understand the agony of fate-crossed lovers. Mother understood that pain better than anyone. Only she hadn’t been allowed the chance to remain with the one she truly loved .
She looked at me then, shoulders rising and falling with each stiff breath she drew. “Is this what you want, darling? Do you love him?”
“I do. I love him.” Crossing the distance, I grabbed Ren’s arm. I pulled him up to his feet to stand by his side. We locked eyes as I declared, “Ren and I will bridge the gap between mankind and fae.”
Lunaric clicked his teeth. “And to think, it will be a farm girl to end the war.”
“Yes, brother .” I pointedly rolled my eyes at him. “And I would have ended it sooner if not for a pompous, overzealous little fairy with a bow and arrow.”
He leaned onto his elbows and pointed a finger.
“You’re lucky that I think you’re funny.
” Then he chuckled and slumped back into the cushions.
“But the brave girl is right. No amount of revenge or ‘an eye for an eye’ will make things right. Otherwise, we’ll all end up blind, and my eyes are too pretty to risk. ”
“I don’t suppose I’ll ever get used to this,” Ren mumbled under his breath.
“He killed your father,” Ellaria reminded, as if grasping at reasons to throw Ren back into the dungeon. Or testing our resolve.
Lunaric shrugged. “He was a possessive old codger. If he wasn’t antagonizing the people of Elleslan, he would have started a war with any other neighboring realm.
It almost pains me to say it, because I loved my father, truly.
But someone was going to eliminate him, eventually. He was a casualty of war.”
“You spent a night in the Butcher’s dungeon,” she reminded the prince.
“A night well spent. I met my lost, unknown sister for the first time in that dungeon.” He met my gaze and nodded, sharing a moment without words, confirming the fresh bond blossoming between us. “As the future king of the fae, I give my approval. If anyone can tame the Butcher, Lilly can.”
“If I have to tame him anymore, I’ll never sleep again,” I hummed before biting my lip.
“Gods, well, she’s got the spirit of a nymph, all right.” Mother dragged a hand through her perfect curls before narrowing her silver eyes on the king. Her lips pursed as she studied him. “Do you promise to honor and protect my daughter, a princess of the fae, for the rest of your days?”
“Yes, Your Grace. I’d give her the protection of my body, and all the love in my heart. I’ll never hurt her, and I’ll seek to ensure her days are joyful ones,” Soren promised vehemently, as if already proclaiming his wedding vows.
My heart swelled three times larger, beating uncomfortably yet wonderfully against my ribcage.
“Gods be good, I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this.
Many will think I’m a fool for it, and many will curse both our names for this union,” the queen said.
“But I owe Lilliana a debt for saving her brother’s life.
And—and you are right that I haven’t done enough for you, my darling.
I have a lifetime of regrets to make up to you. ”
She crossed the table, walking so delicately she might as well have been gliding over the floor.
Mother placed a hand on my shoulder, her stare brimming with a plea for forgiveness and absolution.
“If we go through with this, it will be a sign to all that we are stronger together. We will forge this alliance, and going forward, we will have peace. I know you don’t need it, Lilly, but I will give my blessing. ”
“Oh, Mother, thank you!” I flung myself at her, half bouncing with delight. Mother smiled warmly, embracing me in return.
“Congratulations, brave girl. You’ve ended the war and brought peace. I’m glad to have you in the family.” Lunaric snatched me up next, almost wringing in the breath from my neck. And I leaned into it, chuckling with unrestrained glee.
“Yes, Your Grace, I thank you. Lilly is the greatest light in my life, and the greatest gift the fates bestowed upon me. I’ll love her beyond the end of my days, I promise,” Ren reaffirmed.
Mother nodded, stiff but accepting.
“Oh, Mother, thank you!” I flung myself at her, half bouncing with delight. Mother smiled warmly, embracing me in return.
“Congratulations, brave girl. You’ve ended the war and brought peace. I’m glad to have you in the family.” Lunaric snatched me up next, almost wringing in the breath from my neck. And I leaned into it, chuckling with unrestrained glee.
“Yes, Your Grace, I thank you. Lilly is the greatest light in my life, and the greatest gift the fates bestowed upon me. I’ll love her beyond the end of my days, I promise,” Ren reaffirmed.
Mother nodded, stiff but accepting.
The four of us settled around the table, spending hours volleying logistics and political moves. Allies and important nobles, trade possibilities, and most importantly—ways for Ren to earn forgiveness for his brutality. Hours that drained my thin energy until I became drunk on exhaustion.
After a tense yet increasingly amicable meal, I made an obvious excuse to retire. I grabbed Ren’s arm, tugging him away from the royal chambers as quickly as possible.
“I’m not calling him brother when they’re married,” Lunaric whispered as we walked out, and I bit down the giggle on my tongue.
Before we could depart from the Fae Wild, Ren needed a bath, and I needed to prepare to return to Elleslan. The only possession I had was the necklace, and I’d vowed never to take it off. I’d honor Ren’s mother by keeping it safe and loving the hatred out of her son.
In my room, Ren bathed and dressed. A messenger sent word to Rhydan and his soldiers, letting them know he was safe and that the troops could begin the long march home. A small retinue would await me and Ren at the edge of the Fae Wild to escort us home.
“What’s going to happen to my animals? My farm?” I asked.