“Four kings? You will have four mates?” Brynn asks in her guarded voice.
“Yes. Faerie has decided for me. The Spirits themselves handpicked four men, perfectly suited for the role," I reply firmly, meeting her emotionless gaze with my fiery one.
Bowen holds out his wrist to show his new marking, before spinning me around and showing her the mark that is clearly visible in my loose tunic. She nods, her face still indifferent as she and the rest of the council walk away. It left me with a feeling of unease, but I don’t have time to give it too much thought.
“Are you ready to go to your place of power, Bella?” Bowen asks, extending his hand to help me stand.
“Yes, please. I just want to see if our efforts were worth it. Would you three stay behind and protect the camp? Bowen and I can handle this mission, and I don’t trust new guards with Allwyn just yet," I confess, glancing uneasily at the line of tents like he’d come rushing out of them at me. That and I have a bad feeling about the woman working with him. Illusion magic is a thing with fae and I have a fear that she’s hiding amongst us. It seems so silly I haven’t voiced it yet. But I’m still unable to shake the fact that she seems so oddly familiar.
“We will guard him, don’t worry," Maddox promises, giving me a slight bow.
“Actually, Wyn, maybe you and Andras could work out some plans for our new way of life? That seems better suited for you than guard duty, and the others can take care of the census without him. We’ll join you as soon as we get back.” He gives me a bright smile that tells me I made the right choice.
Bowen links his fingers with mine, like he seems to do every time he’s next to me, and leads me through our camp and over the bridge and into the garden again.
“Holy shit!” Bo shouts emphatically. I can’t even respond to his words, I’m too stunned... staring slack jawed at the garden in front of us. Instead of the empty, quiet place it was before, it now has glowing blue butterflies, double the plant life, and a small stream winding through. Apparently we did something right.
Magic seems to radiate from the ground, reinvigorating the court with the power we restored, though I know it has a long way to go. We cautiously make our way to the stone gazebo in the center of the gardens, unsure of what else we may find here. Though, so far I only see insects and water, the rest will likely come with time.
“Stand up here with me, I don’t want you getting attacked down there.” I don’t hesitate to pull him onto the dais with me, unwilling to leave him with any potential creatures. He gives me a look that clearly conveys his thoughts on me insinuating he’s helpless without his brothers. “I didn’t mean you couldn’t handle yourself, I just don’t want you getting hurt," I pout.
“I promise I’ll be fine. However, if you want me closer to you, I can oblige.” He laughs and
steps up to the raised stone stool I’m on. He takes a seat on the floor, leaning against one of the stone pillars, green gaze flickering from me to the land around us.
Closing my eyes, I send my magic into the land again. Instead of the sorrow and pain I felt from the land previously, I now felt the hope and growth. My healing magic is spreading, slowly taking out the darkness.
When I open my eyes to tell Bo the good news, I feel the familiar vision blurring of being transported to the Spirits of Faerie again. Once my eyes can focus again, I see a faint white glow approaching, though this time I’m not afraid.
“I see you have found your first king,” the voices speak. The echoing, layered tone enveloping us like a strong breeze.
“What’s going on?” Bowen’s shocked voice comes from behind me. I’m surprised she brought both of us this time. I guess my magic chose the perfect king.
“This is the Spirit of Faerie, Bo.” My voice is low and soft, as I hold my hand out for him to come forward. Instead, he scoops me up like I’m light as a feather, and sits me in his lap. Once we are settled, his hands circle protectively at my waist. The fact he’s protecting me from the very deity that created Faerie is comical, but I give him his moment.
“Yes, I’ve found my first king. Though it was a bit unexpected. I thought I had until the crown was complete until I chose," I state dryly.
“That was my intention, but fate has a way of changing the best of intentions. His magic called to yours, and the stone chose for you," she echoes back, a melodic laughter intertwining with it. Bo tightens his grip around me, clearly not trusting the Spirits just yet.
“It seems your magic is going to choose for you on all of the stones. You, my child, are the very definition of change, even in this.” Relief slams into me so hard it leaves me breathless. I’ve come to think of them all as my knights and future kings already, I don’t want anyone else and I’m glad the magic agrees.
“Well, I’ve already found my kings, and I know my magic will choose them," I state confidently.
“The Court of Spring is already healing, you did well, Queen of all the Fae Courts. Some animals and life have already returned, the others will join slowly. The land is still too hostile to support them. We fear the land won’t be completely self-sustaining until you restore all four stones. Once their corruption is clean, our magic will be fully restored. For now it takes all we have to keep the land from worsening. It is up to you and your kings to return Faerie to its former glory.” The voices waver a bit, as if to convey their exhaustion.
“Who is we?” Bo asks. I thought the same thing at first, but I know it has something to do with the many voices.
“We are the strongest souls of Faerie, we have become one with the Spirit of Faerie, adding our knowledge to hers. We are one now. We sustain the land, water, and air of this realm,” the voices echo proudly. It’s harder to concentrate on their words, when all of the voices are loud and strong.
“We will restore our realm, but how will the people survive without clean water and food?” I ask desperately. We can’t exactly ship supplies across realms and it will only raise suspicion if we keep disappearing into the woods on the human side.
“We will restore the land between the bridges for you. This will require us to release more animals, your travels will become more dangerous. Do you accept this?” What choice do we really have? We have weapons to fight back, and enough people to guard us.
“Thoughts?” I turn in Bowen’s lap to look at him, waiting for his answer.
“We have enough protection. Safety is not more important than health." I nod happily, glad we’re on the same page.
“We would be honored for you to restore the land between the bridges. Thank you Spirits," I stand and give a deep bow. Bowen does the same next to me.