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Hawthorne

The origin of the myth of fae mates is unknown. Most scholars agree it is unlikely there is one singular origin story that inspires this longstanding legend. Like most fables, it is an amalgamation of several tales that over time converged into one story. The nuances of each tale are, unfortunately, lost to history.

The Legends of the Fae, Volume III

She left. She left, and I don’t know how to find her. My mate left. My Mate. Mate.

I pace across the training room, barely coherent. I need to see her, need to touch her. Claim her. Snippets of our conversation weave in and out of my consciousness. I replay her face right before she disappeared. Grief, fear, rage. It’s so at odds with how I felt in that same moment that I’m lost. I don’t understand what’s happened, how this could’ve gone so wrong.

Fury and fear and joy bring a deep uneasiness to my gut. My blood races. Her scent lingers in the room, and I can’t get enough of it. I take a deep inhale, breathing in her smell of lilac and mint. It calms me, allows me to focus. I need to find her. I have to convince her that there is nothing between Silene and me, even though I’ve already assured her of that. I have to somehow find a way to get her to overlook who my father is. I. Have. To.

With one last inhale, I leave the training room to seek her out. I make the miserable and endless trek up the stairs to her room, pounding on the door, but she doesn’t answer. I consider breaking down the door, but some inexplicable sense tells me she isn’t there, so I walk back down to the greenhouse. She isn’t there either. I have no choice but to return to the apartment and enlist the help of Silene and Fionn. As I walk through the door, my mind races over how to explain to them I know Laurel is my mate, when such a thing isn’t supposed to be real.

They’re seated at the dining table, playing a game of Skran. Silene looks up at me, then does a double take. “Went that bad?”

My mouth goes dry. Where do I even begin? “You could say that,” I start slowly. “There’s something I have to tell you, and I need you to believe me. Please believe me.” The words are a plea, full of emotion I don’t know how to express. Silene’s brow furrows, and Fionn raises an eyebrow. They set down their cards, waiting for me to continue. “Laurel—she wanted to spar after I told her about Nemesia. I guess she just needed to get the frustration out, or lock it away, I’m not sure.”

“Makes sense,” Fionn murmurs, and Silene gives him a look that tells him not to interrupt again.

“We were going all out. She was ferocious and—and brilliant , making all the right moves. So, I pushed harder. But then she tired, and I accidentally sliced her arm. And when she bled…” I take a deep breath. “When she bled, and the scent hit me, I had this knowing wash over me. Laurel is, we’re—Laurel is my mate,” I finally finish in a furious rush of words. They both stare at me, confused. “I swear it’s the truth. We both felt it, both knew what it meant,” I explain, a silent plea in my shaking voice.

“Okay…” Silene says slowly. “And Laurel felt this too?” Her expression is one of studious caution, while Fionn just looks worried.

“Yes. I pushed her to draw my blood too.” I let out a chuff remembering how easy it had been to work Laurel up to fight me. That same satisfaction I’ve felt from the very beginning every time I can get under her skin washes over me briefly before I shut it away and focus on finding her. “And as soon as she scented my blood, she knew.” Fionn now looks suspicious, while Silene’s expression has shifted to unreadable.

“And where is she now?” Silene asks.

“I don’t know!” I growl. “She aerstepped away. She thinks we’re really engaged, even though I’ve told her we don’t want it.” Silene’s jaw drops open, but she lets me continue. “She said she couldn’t take away your chance to be Queen , as if you’re interested in that at all. And she said—” I deflate thinking about those final words she uttered. As much as I want this, as much as it makes complete sense and like everything in my life has finally clicked , she’s right. I’m still her enemy’s son, and this would give him one more thing over her. “She said she doesn’t want to let my father have this connection to her. Another way to make her vulnerable. Then she left.” I’m shaking now, with need or fear or anger, I’m not sure.

“She’ll come back. Just give her time,” Silene says quietly, rubbing my forearm in support. I yank it away from her.

“No!” I roar. “You don’t understand, I need to find her. I know this sounds unbelievable, but I can tell that she’s not okay. I think—I think she’s in danger. She needs me.” The last sentence is a whimper.

Silene and Fionn share a look, and Fionn tags in. “Thorne, brother, if she left, she probably needs some space. Probably needs to process whatever’s going on between you two.”

I growl again and stalk away. “If you won’t help me, then I’ll figure something out myself.” I grab a cloak, resolved to walk outside in the freezing temperatures until I find her.

“Wait,” Silene calls. “Of course we’ll help. Just, take a minute. Let’s go over what we know. We need a plan.” I reluctantly stalk back to the table and sit down, putting my head in my hands.

“You’re not yourself, Thorne,” Fionn says suspiciously. “Are you sure…” he hesitates, like even he doesn’t want to say his next words. “Are you sure this isn’t some magic by Laurel?” He whispers, like he’s afraid of the very idea.

Ire builds in me, and I erupt. “How dare you! After all we’ve seen from Laurel, you still believe her capable of witchcraft?” Light curls in my palms, and I’m about to launch myself at Fionn when there’s a faint scratching noise coming from my room. We all turn toward the sound.

Realization washes over me as I remember my previous visitor, and I run into my room and open the door for the black feline, who rushes into the sitting room. Silene shrieks and Fionn hisses. I wave them back, then look at the creature. Her eyes convey fear, and she’s agitated. She paces back and forth, and if I wasn’t sure that Laurel is in trouble before, I am now.

“How do I help her?” I ask the beast, searching her golden eyes. She stalks toward Silene, then stands at her side, looking back and forth between us. “I don’t understand,” I tell the feline.

“I do!” Silene yells excitedly. “She means me. I can aerstep you to her. We just need to sneak into Laurel’s room and snatch more elixir.”

“But I don’t know where she is!” I huff out in a frustrated grunt, desperation threatening to take over. Silene’s brows furrow for a moment in thought.

“You said you can feel that something is wrong. That she’s in danger. Can you feel where she is? Would you be able to point to it on a map?” She’s so clever, and I want to wrap her in a bear hug.

I close my eyes, then seek out the bright light that is the core of my power. I can feel the way it’s changed since the mating bond. Where once it was static, an immovable and steady orb of light, it now pulses like a beating heart. It expands and shrinks, moving erratically. I hone every bit of myself onto that vibrating orb.

First, I feel Laurel’s pain. Her grief. It nearly knocks me to my knees, and I ache in ways I can’t explain knowing that she’s feeling such deep emotion and I’m not there to share her burden. But then I feel the creeping cold that surrounds her, threatening to wink out her aether-force. Where are you? There’s a tugging on that bright orb, like a thread pulling me to her.

“Get me a map!” I bellow. Silene and Fionn scramble, opening up our hidden compartment in Silene’s dresser to pull out the map of Thayaria Laurel lent us. Fionn spreads it out along the dining table, keeping his distance from the cat who still lurks along the edges of the room. I close my eyes again, and Laurel’s energy is easier to find this time. It guides me to an area due north of Arberly. There’s a vastness around Laurel, and when I spot caves identified on the map, I immediately know she’s in them. “There.”

“You’re sure?” Silene asks.

“As sure as I can be,” I tell her and shrug.

“Works for me,” she chirps back. “Now we just need to get into Laurel’s rooms.”

We bundle ourselves up for the foray outside, then sneak out of our apartment and start the endless trek up to Laurel’s room. I can’t believe I’ve done this twice today. Laurel’s cat stalks alongside us, hurrying us along every time we slow. When we finally reach the top, I bend the surrounding light to hide us. As we approach Laurel’s door, I stiffen. Carex stands there, knocking.

“Laurel, please let me in. I want to apologize for the Solstice dinner,” he says to the empty room beyond. The cat pads up behind him and he jumps when he notices her. She growls, low in her throat. Not loudly, but enough to warn him away. “What are you doing out here, Lunaria?” he asks, trying to pet her head, but she pulls away, hissing. A pang of jealousy zings through me at his knowledge of the cat’s name. It represents history with Laurel, an openness between them I long for. Before I know what I’m doing, I let out my own growl.

Carex’s eyes widen and immediately search the hallway. He draws a sword, and ivy vines curl toward us. “I know you’re there, Prince ,” he spits. The vines inch closer, about to reveal our hiding place.

“We’re here to meet with Her Majesty,” I tell him casually after I release the magic cloaking us. It takes every ounce of court training I possess to keep the intensity and deep-seated need out of my voice. “She requested we come to her rooms.”

“Is that so?” he asks, his expression pulled into one of hate. “If that’s the case, then why hide yourself with your magic? Last I checked, you’re free to roam this palace, and if Her Majesty summoned you, there should be even less need to remain unseen.”

He’s going to make this difficult, and I don’t have time for that. “Force of habit.” I try to say the words casually, but they come out imposing and sneering.

“I don’t believe you. What’s more, Laurel isn’t even here. Why would she summon you to her rooms if she wasn’t going to be there? Why summon you to her rooms at all?” He advances toward us, sword raised and ivy creeping with him.

“Maybe she’s just ignoring you ,” I respond with a haughty air while picking lint off my tunic. I want to spear him through with lightning, like I told Laurel to do if he ever touched her without her permission again, but I hold it together, just barely.

“I don’t think so,” he snarls. “Return to your rooms. I’ll inform Her Majesty of this when she returns.”

“And what if we don’t?” I hiss, unable to stop myself from rising to his challenge.

“I think you know what will happen.” He sends a vine shooting toward me, but I block it easily with a shield of light.

“There are three of us here, Carex, and only one of you,” I growl menacingly. “We aren’t here to do anything nefarious. Laurel trusts us, and she can fill you in later. Step. Aside . I don’t want to hurt you.” I actually do want to hurt him, but only the smallest sense of how Laurel might react to that stays my hand.

“It’s Her Majesty to you,” he snaps. Carex bares his teeth, then lunges toward me with his sword. Before I can react, Fionn has ripped the blade from his hands. It throws Carex off balance, and he stumbles. Fury flashes in Carex’s eyes, and he responds by wrapping ivy around Fionn’s legs. The vines trip the warrior, and Fionn crashes to the ground. Carex plucks his sword back from Fionn.

“Oh, you shouldn’t have done that,” I tell Carex with a vicious smirk.

“Why, because you’re going to blind me with your light?” he asks in a mocking tone, as if my magic is nothing more than a glare that might make you want to cover your eyes. I’m losing my control, and I want to show him exactly what my power can do. Before I can respond or act, Fionn regains his footing and launches himself at Carex. Carex is better in hand-to-hand combat than I would have guessed, but after a few minutes of trading blows, Fionn has him in a headlock.

“No,” Fionn says to Carex in a bored voice. “Because I don’t like being swept off my feet.” Normally I would laugh at the unexpected joke from Fionn, but I’m too focused on Laurel to appreciate it. Carex spits at me, and I punch him in the stomach.

“Knock him out,” I instruct Fionn. Carex’s eyes widen.

Silene yells, “No” at the same time that Fionn says, “Gladly.” Fionn takes the end of Carex’s sword and knocks him in the head with it. The male slumps, and Silene sighs.

“That’s going to be a problem,” she says. I shrug.

“We’ll deal with it later. Let’s bring him into Laurel’s room so no one sees him.”

Fionn hauls Carex over his shoulder, then stalks to the door. The metal lock clicks open and Fionn prowls in, barely breaking his stride. As I walk into her room, I realize for the first time that she doesn’t have guards. Has never had guards here. It should have occurred to me before.

The room is empty, but I’m overwhelmed by her scent—it nearly knocks me to my knees. Even though I’ve been here before, the realized mating bond heightens every sense. I see evidence of her life spread corner to corner—empty mugs, half eaten pastries, discarded clothing, discarded correspondence. Dust and crumbs and litter. The space is so lived in, and woven throughout every inch of the room is that intoxicating smell. I let myself drown in it, my body tingling as I take in deep inhales.

Silene’s movements near the bar cart bring me out of my haze. She quickly retrieves the bottle of concentrated thayar, pours herself a measure of the liquid, then downs it. She unrolls the map and focuses on the spot I identified, looking at me for confirmation that she has it right. I nod.

“Ready?” she asks. Fionn and I take her hands for the third time that day, and we aerstep away.

The cavern is much larger than it looked on the map. I illuminate the space by pulling light in from the opening several paces behind us and amplifying it. I don’t see Laurel, but I can feel my pulsing magical center practically jump out of my chest when I look to the north.

“You should go back,” I tell Silene and Fionn. “Thank you for getting me here.”

They exchange a look. “No, we won’t leave you,” Silene says resolutely. “She might not be here. You’ll be stuck in this frigid cave with no way back.”

“She’s here, I know it. Please. I need to do this alone,” I implore. “If I’m not back in two hours, come for me. I’ll make sure I’m in this same spot.” They both look uneasy.

“Thorne,” Fionn protests, but I interrupt.

“Please,” I whisper. I look them both in the eyes, pleading with unspoken words.

“Okay,” Silene whispers, tears gathering in her eyes at the intensity of the last half hour.

“Take this dagger,” Fionn says as he hands me the blade. “It will make it easier for me to track you if you aren’t here.” I nod.

“We’re coming back in exactly two hours,” Silene promises. I take her hands in mine and squeeze. She wipes her eyes, then takes Fionn’s hand. They disappear, and the cavern is eerily silent. Turning north, I let the tugging in my chest lead me toward my mate.

The bond directs me down a passageway that narrows quickly. I bring light with me in dancing ribbons to illuminate my way. I take several turns, always following the tugging in my chest. Aether gathers thickly here, and I wonder if this is some kind of nexus for the leylines. Strange markings line the walls, indiscernible shapes that slowly morph into clearer carvings. Massive beasts soar through the air. Creatures that resemble Lunaria look up at them from the ground, while figures with pointed ears hold swords as if ready to battle. If I wasn’t in such a frantic rush, I would have stopped to examine them more closely. They don’t resemble any ancient markings I’ve ever seen.

The thumping in my chest grows stronger as both my heart and the magical bond dance at the nearness of Laurel. The passageway opens up to another massive cavern with clear signs of her magic. Moss covers every inch of the walls and ceilings, and massive puddles of water pool every few feet. I scan the space, eyes searching desperately for her. At the farthest end from me, massive rocks form a circle, like they fell from the ceiling but were blocked by a shield. I run toward the rocks, and when I’m halfway across the space, I see her laying in the middle of them, body curled in on itself. I’m sprinting now, jumping over fallen debris and trying not to slip on the wet moss.

“Laurel,” I scream. She doesn’t respond. Panting, I increase my speed. When I reach her, I instantly notice how pale her complexion is, like all the color has leached out of her. Shaking her, I whisper her name like a prayer. “Laurel. Laurel, please wake up. Please, Laurel. Please.” Tears run down my face as it becomes clear she’s not responding. I cradle her in my arms, wishing I hadn’t sent Silene and Fionn away. It will be two hours before I can get her to help. “What’s wrong with you?” I ask, voice cracking, knowing she won’t answer. I close my eyes, seeking answers in the jittering ball of light in my chest that our mating bond has ignited. My eyes open in stunned shock when I sense that she’s quickly draining of aether.

Desperate to save her, I lay her down on the cold floor. Coaxing the aether whirling around us into a blazing mass, I will it to become a healing light. I’m drawing up more aether than I ever have, and a quiet voice in the back of my mind whispers I shouldn’t be able to control this much magic, have never controlled this much magic, even here in Thayaria. But I ignore that voice and keep growing the orb of light at my fingertips. When I’ve channeled as much aether as my body can stand to hold, I slowly—so slowly—lower it over Laurel’s body, shaking with the strain of controlling it. I watch in awe as it spreads to cover her entire body. The light—my light—caresses her, lapping at her curves and face gently. When she’s fully wrapped in my light, I concentrate on the aether.

Fill her, I command.

For a moment, nothing happens. But then, with a brilliant flash, color returns to her cheeks and she takes in a gasp. I stumble, my magic draining out of me in a way I’ve never experienced before. But I don’t care, because she’s awake, and I scoop her up into my arms, squeezing her middle in elation even as I sway with burnout.