Page 54 of Manor of Wind and Nightmares (Fae of Brytwilde #3)

Now

K aede approached me, his eyes wide with wonder. “Aurelia, the magic has accepted you, proving you’ve been the rightful winner and my true bride all along.”

“She can’t be your bride!” someone nearby protested. “Laura Everett won the competition!”

“Yes,” Ji insisted. “You agreed to abide by the rules of this contest—”

“Firstly,” Kaede interrupted, his tone brooking no argument, “you broke your word by deliberately using these women as sacrifices when the competition was meant to solely be a test of their talents and traits. As you know, that means I am no longer bound by my word to not interfere.”

He grinned, reaching for my hand. “And secondly, she is clearly using elemental magic and showing that the land indeed has chosen her. Just as I have chosen her as the winner. Aurelia Sinclair has shown the qualities I desire in a wife time and again, and I have no doubt she will be the perfect queen for our kingdom.”

A chill rippled through me at his words, each one sounding so sincere, so devoted.

Slowly sitting up, I found Azalea at my other side, her hand brushing my shoulder. I sensed her healing effects immediately, not so overpowering that I grew exhausted but enough to ease the pain in my chest and throat.

“Queen?” Callista shrieked, her hands flying to her mouth. She probably hadn’t realized how near to death King Edwin was, or how soon the title of princess would be traded for queen.

It was impossible to tell if her shock was due more to envy or excitement.

Surely she was jealous that her sensible older sister, deemed the least lovely of three daughters all my life, had been chosen.

But she’d also grown weary of the terrors of Willowbark, and being the sister of a queen would still raise her status and wealth without forcing her to stay in this world.

She would be free to go home, while always having an influential sister to call upon when she wanted something.

My head whirled. I wasn’t sure if I was dizzy from shock or weakness. Where was Allvar? Was he still drawing strength from me?

I turned to Kaede, but all my fear and doubt melted when I looked at him. Twining my fingers with his, I let him help me stand as if I were the immortal royal fae and he were the lowly human.

“You cannot choose her when the land has chosen another!” Ji spat.

“And not when I have chosen her.” Allvar’s gleeful voice rang out over the tumult of the crowd, strengthened, it seemed, by magic.

He’d appeared as if from the shadows themselves, leaning on his cane amongst the crowd in the courtyard.

“Her life is to fuel my magic. The bargain was made and my end was upheld.” His yellowed teeth flashed.

“You cannot use her when she possesses magic.” Kaede flicked his wrist and air caressed my cheeks, brushing the hair back from my face.

I concentrated on my love for Kaede. His devotion to his people. The solid earth beneath my feet. And then I lifted my hands and gestured as if beckoning to the wind, calling it to me. It picked up, rustling through the grass and rippling through my wet hair.

Allvar’s gaze locked on mine. “No,” he snarled. “You cannot forfeit. You gave me your word. You liar. You filthy, worthless—”

“She is my bride and your princess,” Kaede announced sternly. “Anyone who insults, harms, or threatens her is committing treason.”

“The king will have something to say about that,” Ji muttered.

Kaede’s gaze snapped to him. He lifted an arm, sending Ji flying until he collapsed in a heap in the grass.

“This grotesque spectacle is over,” he said, turning to the servants in attendance.

“Fetch more healers. Tend to these women. Each remaining contestant will be given whatever she needs—a hot bath, food, healing, medicine. They are all my guests, under my protection, and no one is to taunt, threaten, glamour, or intimidate them ever again. When they wish to leave, they are free to go home with escorts to deliver them safely to their families.”

The servants hastened to obey while the citizens and nobility in attendance muttered amongst themselves.

“Everyone else is free to leave,” Kaede said firmly. “Your entertainment has ended.”

As the guests dispersed, along with a seething Allvar, Kaede swept me back toward the manor, using his magic to usher us along faster.

The manor seemed to understand his intentions without his having to speak a word, the staircase rippling and rising like a rushing wave to ferry us toward the infirmary.

Healers were already bustling about, tending to Caroline and Laura.

My gaze snagged on Hattie and Bentley, who both sat at Laura’s bedside, and then Laura herself, who was finally sitting up, alert.

Despite her sister’s quiet presence, all her attention was consumed by Bentley, who clasped both her hands as he leaned toward her.

Their tones were low as they spoke, as if sharing an intimate conversation.

My eyes widened. Had his affections already shifted so swiftly from his dear, departed Rose?

Had Laura already forgotten about the prince who’d made her blush and giggle?

Nearby, Caroline was asleep, her chest rising and falling peacefully. Her burns had been carefully bandaged already, a fact that gave me small comfort. Between that care and whatever fae magic had been used on her, I hoped she would be pain-free and whole soon.

Noticing my look, Azalea approached, her smile tense but hopeful. “She will be all right when she wakes. How do you feel?”

“A little tired,” I said with a laugh.

Azalea ordered me to sit on an unoccupied bed so she could tend to me, clasping my hand and closing her eyes in concentration.

Kaede pulled up a chair to sit at my side, taking my free hand in his and running his thumb along the back of it.

Though the magic that now coursed through my veins was powerful, Allvar had drained me considerably, and I still felt weak.

Then, as a gentle warmth rose in my chest and ran through my body, I found myself growing even blearier.

“As usual, my magic will exhaust you and you’ll need to sleep,” Azalea said, “but you should wake fully restored.”

“But she’s shivering,” Kaede interjected, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“I’m pretty sure that’s from your touch,” Azalea teased, “but don’t fret. There’s a private bathing room adjoining the infirmary. We’ll draw her a warm bath and get her in some fresh, dry clothes before she sleeps.”

Kaede nodded swiftly, squeezing my hand. “Then I’ll give you privacy and return shortly.” His eyes snagged on mine, so sincere, so intent. I swallowed at the look, nearly overcome by the sweetness I found there, the silent reassurance that he wanted nothing more than to be at my side.

As he left, Callista stumbled into the infirmary and collapsed onto an empty bed, groaning to a male healer about the trauma and upset of the day.

I frowned, watching quietly while Azalea left to draw my bath.

“I’m shaking...and I ache...and my heart.

It’s beating too fast.” Callista pressed a hand to her chest, fluttering her eyes dramatically.

I chewed on my inner lip.

“There really doesn’t appear to be anything physically wrong with you...” the healer explained slowly, brow furrowed as he touched her temple, assessing her with his magic. “Rest in your own quarters may be quieter and help better settle your nerves and eliminate your headache.”

Before I could see the outcome of this proclamation, Azalea returned and urged me into the bathing room.

Servants scrubbed at my skin and hair as the warmth of the steaming water soaked into my muscles, soothing me.

If I hadn’t been so weary, my eyes so heavy, I would have asked to wash myself, but as it was, I feared falling asleep in the bath.

When I finally returned to the infirmary, in a fresh pair of leggings and a loose tunic, Azalea led me by the elbow toward my bed.

Callista was already at its side, eyes wide and eager. “I saw you and had to speak with you immediately!”

Apparently, her headache had vanished miraculously while I’d bathed.

“I am so thrilled. You, the future queen of Willowbark. We will never want for anything,” she crooned. “It’s like a dream, Aurelia!”

“Remember, any wealth of mine will belong to Willowbark and cannot be spent frivolously. It’s meant for the good of the kingdom,” I reminded her sternly.

Her expression darkened. “After what they did to us, they owe us.”

That I could not argue. I stifled a yawn and Callista continued to talk, lost in raptures about the future she envisioned for us. For her .

Azalea, listening to Callista prattle on about wealth and status without comment, finally intervened. “Aurelia needs to sleep.”

Callista huffed as Azalea escorted her out of the infirmary, protesting about how I probably needed company from my sister more.

But she didn’t fight, and soon enough, I was enveloped in a sleepy quiet.

Most of the healers had left, likely to rest, while Azalea settled in a corner, sipping tea and reading a book.

Just as I began drifting off to sleep, I felt a weight settle beside me in the bed.

“Kaede,” I murmured sleepily as he lay beside me, draping an arm over my waist and pulling my back against his chest.

“Sweet dreams, Aurelia.” He brushed my hair back from my face, and I let my eyes drift closed.

“It’s so good to meet you,” Queen Ara said, dropping all formality as she approached with her arms wide open, enveloping me in a tight embrace. “ Truly meet you.”

I glanced over my shoulder, raising my eyebrows at Kaede, whose reassuring smile set me at ease. So, he’d told them everything and they’d chosen to accept me anyway.

“You were my favorite,” Princess Laila announced. Kaede shot her a look, and she blushed, chastened. “I mean, I didn’t approve of the contest, but Father made us watch some—Allvar cast the tests for us to see—and you always cared so much for the other contestants.”

“A woman worthy of my son and our kingdom,” Queen Ara said proudly, her smile bittersweet.

I wondered how much she’d struggled over the years, married to a cruel man yet trying to raise compassionate children.

The fact that she’d succeeded so well with both of them spoke volumes about her character.

As the queen urged us to settle into our chairs and make ourselves comfortable, she called for tea.

“Now, I hate to go straight to business, but Willowbark is eager for good news. The king is growing quite weak, and so being able to announce an upcoming wedding will be vital to encourage our citizens.”

I glanced at Kaede. “But...” My cheeks pinked. “We were already wed.”

“While you were using the wrong name,” the queen said pointedly. “Besides, if I remember correctly, you both gave vows that extended for the entirety of your lives, and...” She cleared her throat.

Kaede smiled good-naturedly. My stomach twisted, but he grasped my hand. On the settee we shared, already sitting thigh-to-thigh, he drew me even nearer, so that I was practically in his lap. I blushed, but Queen Ara grinned like this was all amusing and made no comment.

“Anyway, whatever private event or vows you wish to share are between you, and I would be happy to attend a more intimate affair at your request, but for the kingdom’s sake, we need a public wedding. And soon.”

Princess Laila clasped her hands. “We could hold vows in the orchard under the starlight.”

I nodded as Kaede’s hands encircled my waist and tightened, like he couldn’t stop touching me. Though I could hardly blame him. Now that we were reunited, it felt like we’d lost so much time, all wasted when apart.

“Anyway, I can plan the details—I know you two don’t want to be troubled.” The queen smirked. “Give me two days. I’ll arrange everything quickly, I promise, so you may rush away to your honeymoon and enjoy time away from all this chaos.”

Again, I blushed, while Kaede’s chuckle was so low, it rumbled in my chest.