Page 167 of Never Kiss a Fae

I swallowed, bowing my head in agreement. “Yes.” While the news of my mating with Claire had spread on a tidal wave throughout the kingdom, the circumstances that required it were never mentioned. And my father had even gone as far as to tell Elana that we were on a honeymoon of sorts, which was why Claire needed to miss her internship and some school.

I supposed it wasn’t entirely a lie. We’d spent all week in bed together, after all.

But my father had done what he could to protect us both, and I appreciated his loyalty. Even more so because he didn’t tell anyone about Exos’s disappearance.

“Do you still believe him to be in the death fields?” he inquired.

I shook my head. “No. He’s awake now.” I’d felt him through Claire, a thriving presence pacing in a cage, waiting. It took serious effort not to request she communicate with him, or allow me to penetrate her spirit to find him, but her rest came first. Both to me and to Exos.

And my brother would kill me if I broke that unspoken pact.

Never in my life could I have imagined putting another before my kin, but Claire changed everything.

She’s my mate.

I vowed to protect her, to cherish her, to comfort her in times of sickness, and most importantly, I promised to put her needs above my own.

“When she’s in a better mental state, I’ll ask her to reach out to my brother,” I said, having decided this days ago. “What’s important is that he’s alive. He’ll be able to assume his duties as the Spirit King once we’ve found him, and then I’ll face the consequences of my mating.”

“Consequences,” my father repeated, snorting. “Still so reluctant to accept your true place.”

“The Spirit Fae need me more than the Water Fae.” It was an old argument, but still relevant. “You’re not even two hundred years old. They’re fine beneath your rule.”

“But there will always be contention until the most powerful rises to the top, son. That’s what you fail to understand. You worry about your spirit half while neglecting your fae here, and while many may understand the choice, fae will always respond to power. And you possess the strongest water element of any in the history of our kind.” He glanced again at the beauty in my bed. “With Claire being a close second.”

Those were the right words to say. I liked that he acknowledged her gift. Even ungroomed she surpassed the royals in this palace. “She’s amazing, isn’t she?”

“I had my doubts,” he admitted. “But I can feel her potential now. If you’re not careful, she’ll surpass even you.”

“And wouldn’t that be a wonder for the Fae World to see?” I mused, intrigued by the prospect while also knowing it to be impossible. Oh, Claire possessed superior abilities to most. However, her connection to water didn’t quite rival mine. Even with training, I’d still remain the king of this kingdom.

Oh, but Claire would become queen to several kingdoms. Andthatwas what made her more powerful than even I was.

“When do you leave?” he asked, again staring at the incoming waves crashing into the black sand beach below.

“Tomorrow,” I decided out loud. “Being around Sol, Vox, and Titus should improve her health enough for her to hear Exos clearly.” It would also lessen some of the tension I felt building in the bonds, her other mates longing for their Claire. She still didn’t yet understand that she’d bonded with Sol and Vox in her desperation for survival, her elements reaching out to those she trusted most and latching onto their reserves to bolster her own.

When she awoke, she’d be controlled by her fae half.

I truly hoped the human beneath could accept it.

I knew enough about her former land to understand how hard it would be for her to embrace. But her elements would give her no choice. She needed a mate for each element, and she officially had them.

A circle of nature.

One I never thought to be a part of, but I had no choice now. As a fully bonded partner, I would remain no matter what the recourse.

And my heart would always be faithful to her, even if we’d never exchanged the emotional platitude of words. This was how our kind functioned. And as long as she welcomed it with an open mind, our unit would function seamlessly.

“We’ll talk after you find your brother,” my father said, clapping me on the shoulder. “I’ll handle the politics here in the interim.”

“Thank you.” I looked at him then, needing him to see the full extent of my gratitude. “I mean that. Thank you for everything.”

“You’re my son,” he replied, his lips curling faintly at the edges. “Thank you for trusting me with this.”

I tilted my chin, acknowledging his concession.

Our relationship was tenuous at best. But we were about to get a whole lot closer.