Page 17

Rue

“I have healing power!” Jade yells at the seer. “Let me help!”

I was shocked to learn that Jade, a full shifter, has healing magic. She told me she spent years using the calantar flowers for a tonic for the Betas in her realm. She and her mates think her connection to the plant, along with her mate bond with Vaegon, allows her to heal. It could be very helpful in the battle. I don’t understand why the seer is against it.

“No,” she says again flatly. “Your power draws from your mate’s source. He needs all of that power if he and Durin are to defeat the queen. More importantly, he can’t afford any distractions.”

Jade growls in frustration and stomps over to where her mates are sitting. “Do something!” she pleads with them.

“I know how she feels,” I murmur to Durin as they try to soothe their mate. “I have no magic to offer, but I’m not ready to let either of you go again.”

Durin lifts me off the grass and onto his lap. We’ve all been in the gathering area since he and the Alphas returned this morning. No one can sleep right now. Not with the battle so close.

“I wish I knew what to tell you,” he says. “I’d prefer you stay here where it’s safe, but I do understand how hard it would be for you to just sit and wait.”

He kisses my nose and cheeks, trying to ease my frustration. “The seer knows things we don’t. There must be a reason she wants you and Jade to remain here. She wouldn’t exclude you just to be cruel.”

Durin is probably right. She may have foreseen something dangerous for Jade and me if we leave. I’ll just have to respect his wish for my safety and hope that fate has something better planned for me than… nothing at all.

Bitterness gnaws at my heart, though I’m not sure who it’s aimed at. I just can’t stand feeling overlooked. Being deemed worthless is almost as bad as being fated to live a nightmare.

“It just feels incomplete,” I mutter. “Surely I’m meant for more than just birthing Vaegon and waiting around.”

“Yeah, fate wouldn’t dare waste your pushiness,” Durin says, nipping at my neck.

“Hey!” I yell, pushing him away.

We laugh and shove each other, ignoring the terrifying unknown waiting for us. It works for a while until Durin’s laughter cuts off. I follow his gaze to an orange-haired fae with a kind face standing next to the seer. Durin jumps up and carries me over to the fae, then sets me down gently beside him.

Durin is the only fae I’ve seen up close and interacted with. I’ve been surrounded by bland elves who all look and act the same. I can’t help but stare at the fae’s wide smile and expressive eyes as he throws his arms around Durin for an embrace.

“Rue, this is my friend Farris,” Durin says, draping his arms around my shoulders.

Farris grins down at me and shakes his head. “So this is the little shifter who captured your heart. She’s beautiful,” he says, looking back up at Durin.

Heat rushes to my cheeks, but only because my Omega perks up at the compliment.

He can’t see you, Omega!

“Nice to meet you,” I say, hoping he doesn’t notice my blush and think I’m a weak, simpering Omega like the rest of them.

“Farris is my best friend,” he says. “The only friend I had for a long time. Until I met you…” he adds, squeezing me in his arms

“Friend?” I scoff, playfully pulling away from him. “When did I drop to friend status?”

Durin chuckles. “Your mate has to be your friend, or they’re not the right mate for you.”

I hum and lean back against his warm chest. “I guess you stood a chance against the dryad after all.”

He throws his head back and laughs, drawing the attention of those around us. It feels good to share this lighthearted moment. He’ll survive the fight. Anything else simply isn’t an option. But if we’re separated for a time, I’ll have this moment to hold onto until he returns to me.

“Why are you here?” Durin asks his friend.

“I have no clue,” Farris says, looking around. “Where are we?”

“This is elven territory,” the seer says, asserting her control as usual. “You’ll go with Durin to the dark lake and illusion him and these three Alphas.”

She turns her attention to the four of them. “You must stay together, no matter what. The queen is your responsibility. The kelpies and shifters will handle the nobles. Do not let the battle distract you. Get to the queen and eliminate her.”

“I guess it’s time,” Vaegon says, joining his mates and pulling them close. The rest of his family gathers around to say their goodbyes.

I’m ready to get this over with, but I’m not ready to have the seer rip Durin away from me again. “Don’t you dare flash them away until we’re done!” I growl at her. “It’s the least you can do. Show us you have some kind of heart in there.”

She gives that familiar blank stare but doesn’t lift a hand to send them away. I turn and jump on Durin, wrapping my legs and arms around him. “And you… Don’t you dare die.” I press my forehead against his and whisper against his lips. “Come back to me.”

He rubs his nose lightly against mine before kissing me. “Before I met you,” he says, “I believed my only purpose was to kill the queen. Dying to take her down just made sense to me.”

“But now?” I whisper, shaken by his easy acceptance of death.

“Now, I realize my journey doesn’t have to end with her death. Fate doesn’t see me as ruined, just like you don’t. I promise I’ll return. Then, I’ll relax and enjoy my reward–you.”

I kiss him gently and slide down to stand on my own feet. The seer lifts her hands to transport them all away. I press one last kiss over Durin’s heart, then watch as he fades from view.

Jade collapses into Brody’s arms, and Paren glances at me while holding onto her own mate. I’m happy they have mates who can comfort them while the others are away. All I have is my Omega, who is just as heartbroken to see Durin disappear. But we’re strong. We’ll hold onto Durin’s faith. He truly believes he’ll return.

The seer better hope he’s right because, if he’s not, my only purpose in life will be to taint that crystalline pond with whatever color she happens to bleed.