She turned to face everyone assembled, not allowing her gaze to linger on three of her mates. She’d talked to them earlier anyway, and they knew and understood what she needed to do right now.
Slowly, Aledwen walked back down the aisle, nodding to the various rows of assembled fae. The closer she drew to the back, the more nervous she became. There was a chance that Fane may have changed his mind. And if so, she’d asked her people to put faith in her over something she couldn’t deliver.
There was also the wolf shifters to consider. The alpha of one of the packs was glaring at her. She really had made an enemy there, and she couldn’t even put her finger on why. She made a note to watch him closely. And maybe to get Drey to do some digging. Or Cyprus. he was much better at being sneaky.
Drawing level with where Fane was now standing, she dipped into an awkward curtsy. Her robes definitely weren’t made for this. Technically, she shouldn’t be doing any kind of bowing to anyone, but offering one of her mates the same respect he showed for her, seemed like a small price to pay for them.
“Dwen,” he whispered.
“You ready to take the risk?” she asked quietly, her words drowned out by the noise around them. No one could go anywhere until she left the room, but they were certainly already planning the party the were going to have.
“Absolutely.”
Fane offered her his arm, and she hooked her own through it, resting her hand against the stiff fabric of his jacket. At least that would be gone soon. It wouldn’t matter much for what they had planned.
While disappointed that her robes didn’t allow for her to walk any faster, anticipation was already building inside Aledwen. She had some idea what this was going to be like given her experiences with her other mates. But at the same time, Fane was her fourth and her final.. It was going to be something completely different at the same time.
“This is us,” she said once they reached the door of her rooms. She smiled at him, and received one in return. “I...err...hate to break the moment, but I need a bath before we...”
“Want me to run one for you while you take these off?” he asked, his eyes looking into her softly.
She nodded once, and pointed him in the right direction, before beginning to remove her robes. She just hoped she’d never have to wear them again. After wearing these, being naked for the Birth hardly seemed like an issue before. Especially not if she had the magic she should have been born with.
After folding the stiff green material of her outer robe, she began to work on the softer inner one. It was just as ornate, and just as heavy. Which was just ridiculous. No one was ever going to see it. Even now, with someone else in her rooms with her, she was the only one who could see the intricately sewn leaves and flowers.
The seamstresses had taken a very long time trying to make these robes reflect how spring looked and felt. More people should be allowed to enjoy their beauty.
Oh well, not really her problem, she supposed. She’d work on breaking traditions later.
“Your bath’s ready,” Fane said, walking back towards her and kissing her neck. “Am I okay to join you?” he whispered in her ear.
Aledwen nodded swiftly, twisting around so she could look at him. “I’d like that.”
He took her hands in his, and drew her towards the bathroom. With gentle fingers, he brushed her long brown hair behind her ear, before moving down and pushing the strap of her under-dress from her shoulder. It slipped to the floor with a gentle flutter, and she had to swallow the lump that formed in her throat.
“Get into the water, Dwen. I can feel how tense you are.”
She nodded, doing as he suggested, but not taking her eyes off him as he stripped off his clothing. There was s
omething mesmerising about his movements, and she almost didn’t want him to stop. Except that would mean he wouldn’t get into the water with her.
After what seemed like an age, he did. Sinking beneath the water, and leaning in towards her. Aledwen rested her head on his shoulder, loving the comfort he was offering more than anyone could possibly imagine.
“You ready to seal the bond?” he asked.
She nodded, closing her eyes very briefly. “How do you want to do it?” she asked him.
“Just with a kiss.”
He lifted a hand from the water, and used it to tip her chin back so he could stare into her eyes. Much like he had when they’d kissed the day before, he leaned in ever so slowly, before softly pressing his lips to hers.
This time, as he kissed her, she felt a surge of power flooding through her, before settling near her heart.
Now, she was very much a Fae Queen.
Twenty-One
Green was everywhere. All around her. Nothing but different shades of the same colour. Except that wasn’t right. Soon splashes of other colours joined the greenness. There were pinks, blues, purples and yellows.