“Two months and he talked of eliminating us, that we were too bothersome. We hadn’t had any luck at escaping and we didn’t feel we had any choice. How could you be our cousin?” Arana asked.
“My grandfather was brother to your great uncle. We hoped you didn’t believe we were your enemy,” Sigrid said.
“We knew Prince Owen, and that he was King Yarrow’s son, so we did think you intended to use us to negotiate with our brother,” Arana said.
“If he commanded that Sinbad imprison you, I’d doubt Malcolm would pay to have you returned to him,” Owen said.
“Malcolm would do anything to keep us locked away so we couldn’t oust him from power,” Phillip said. “Except, I guess he would have had us eliminated, if it hadn’t been for Sinbad’s quick thinking to have us imprisoned at the griffin castle instead.”
“If you are able to take over your brother’s castle, will you agree to a peace with us?” Owen asked.
“You speak on behalf of your father? King Yarrow doesn’t want peace,” Phillip said.
“If I am king”—Owen motioned to Sigrid flying beside him—“with my queen at my side.”
Phillip smiled a little. “So, you think you can remove your father from power?”
“He has agreed to this. I just have to ensure he follows through with the deal.”
“What concessions had you made to him so that he’d allow you to rule in his place?” Phillip asked.
“I was supposed to destroy the griffin mage.”
Sinbad glanced back at him and screeched in an eagle’s way.
Smiling, Owen wondered what Sinbad’s retort was.
“But you have not destroyed him,” Phillip said.
“I have done one better. Instead, I’ve made an ally with another king, another kingdom. The point was that I was to end Sinbad’s need to work for Malcolm in helping him destroy my kingdom. It is done.”
They finally reached the hawk fae kingdom and landed on the ground outside the castle walls.
The dragons and griffins shifted, and Brett used his magic to remove Arana and Phillip’s manacles
“You are a magic user too? A dragon fae?” Arana asked Brett, sounding surprised.
“Not a magic user. It’s not inherent, like the falcon fae’s. I’m a learned mage, like my grandfather before me. Even so, it’s infused into my very being, the two inseparable, just like I’m both a dragon shifter and a phantom fae, both parts of me. Unlike you though, I’ve had to learn the magic,” Brett said. “You couldn’t remove the manacles yourself?”
“No. We tried, but never succeeded. No one else in the castle could remove them. They said only Sinbad or his father had the ability,” Arana said.
“Once we’ve helped you to remove Malcolm from power, I will ask my father to quietly step down from his throne. If you are in power and we have peace with you, and the same thing with Sinbad and his people—” Owen said.
“And we have the dark fae backing us in this,” Sigrid added.
“The golden fae also, because, although she won’t like that she’s lost her magic user, she’s gained an ally, right?” Kayla asked.
“Correct,” Owen said.
“And the dragon fae,” Halloran said.
“Why did you set them down on the dangerous beach?” Sigrid asked.
“Phillip talked to Arana of killing the king and queen, using their magic, and we knew they needed to be “confined” until we could learn the truth of what all had transpired,” Halloran said.
“If we can help you to gain the throne and remove your brother from power, will you be at peace with us when I can do the same with removing my father from the throne?” Owen asked Arana and Phillip.
“For now. It remains to be seen whether we can live in peace in the same region. We weren’t sure that you’d agree with us about removing our brother from power,” Phillip said. “We’ve already had enough trouble.”
Owen frowned at the prince, not liking Phillip’s answer. “You have to realize we’re wary of your intentions as well.”
“After what you’ve done for us already, and what you promise to help us with? Most assuredly,” Arana said with confidence, casting an irritated glance at her brother. Now, was not the time to quibble about peace. Not when they hadn’t even ousted Malcolm from the throne.
“You went to speak with Malcolm and that’s how you learned about us,” Arana said.
“Yes. We hoped he’d agree to a peace with us, once I could take over the rule of my own kingdom,” Owen said. “And now I’m married to Sigrid, your cousin.”
“I take it that Malcolm didn’t agree,” Phillip said.
“Correct. He intended to murder the dragon shifters and imprison me, Sigrid, and my cousins. We escaped and fully intended to rescue you, if you had needed rescuing,” Owen said.
“And learn if we would ally with you.” Phillip frowned. “What if we didn’t?”
“Then we would have to fight you, if you don’t want peace,” Sigrid said.
“Against two powerful magic users?” Arana asked. “As far as we know, only you have magical abilities worth mentioning, Owen.”
Owen nodded.
“Your cousins have some, but nothing really powerful as far as we know.”
“You’re right.”
“Yet, you risked going up against a powerful mage by yourself?” Phillip said skeptically.
“I had already done so. I didn’t win the battle, nor did he.”
“Sinbad seems to be a very clever and dangerous opponent,” Sigrid said, believing Phillip and Arana must not be all that powerful if the mage could so easily incapacitate them.
Sinbad smiled at Sigrid.
“If you mean because he prevented us from using our power through trickery, then yes. We came in peace and trusted our brother in this endeavor,” Arana said. “Our brother didn’t believe his magic would be strong enough against both of us, so he must have hired the mercenary to help him take us down.”
“Malcolm is also a magic user?” Sigrid said, surprised. She thought Malcolm had hired Sinbad because he didn’t have any magic in the kingdom, and he knew he’d have to deal with Owen if he were to fight Yarrow for his kingdom.
“He is. But this time we’ll be ready for him, unlike last time,” Phillip said.
“How did you know to find us?” Arana suddenly asked.
“Sinbad told us you were living elsewhere. He didn’t say where. We asked another man and he told us you were on the island,” Sigrid said.
“What if my brother had set a trap for you?” Arana asked.
“We considered it might have been,” Owen said, “but we had to chance freeing you if you truly were prisoners. And if you weren’t, we intended to just visit with you so Sigrid could get to know her cousins. We never expected to find that you had taken over the kingdom. Why weren’t you sleeping in the king’s chambers?”
“We expected Sinbad to return someday to free his people from the tyranny of his stepmother. I didn’t want to be sleeping in the chamber and caught unawares,” Phillip said.
“Plus, we disagreed over which one of us would have the royal chamber to sleep in,” Arana admitted.
Phillip said, “Even though we were ruling the people there until you came, we knew it wasn’t our place to be there. We belong among our own kind.”
“Why didn’t the griffin warriors kill you?” Owen asked.
“My magic was just beginning to work, despite the manacles’ magic. I was testing it over and over again,” Phillip said. “I’d given them a taste of my magic, so they were afraid enough of me.”
“Mine too,” Arana said. “We kept fighting against Sinbad’s magically-enhanced manacles. When we finally began to have some success, and with the knowledge the king wanted us dead, we had to chance using it on him and saving ourselves. I melted soldiers’ swords in their hands, and even their body armor. Phillip managed to knock several off their feet with an electrical charge. After that, they kept scheming and we ke
pt trying to counteract Sinbad’s magic with our own.”
“We know how we’d feel if we were in the same bind as you,” Sigrid said. “Besides, I truly wanted to meet more of my family. I never knew any had lived.”
“We’re glad to meet you too,” Arana said, Phillip nodding in agreement. “And to get to know you. We didn’t know our great aunt had lived either, or that you existed.”
King Tiernan’s advisor greeted them outside the castle doors. “You must be the rescued falcon fae prince and princess. King Tiernan is eager to meet you.” He frowned at Sinbad and his warrior griffin fae, though they were all in fae form, but their auras indicated what they were.
“I wish to speak to King Tiernan about forming a peace treaty between our realms. I’m King Sinbad.”
“He will be…surprised to hear it,” the advisor said. “Your men will wait with my guards. Come in and we’ll meet with him now.”
Tanya hurried to greet them, glad they had returned safe and sound, giving Sigrid and Kayla hugs.
Princess Esmeralda also wanted to make Princess Arana and Prince Phillip’s acquaintance, explaining how she’d been a prisoner of the griffin fae for years.
She glanced at Sigrid and smiled. “Owen is lucky to have you help fight his battles. When is the wedding?”
“We have already married,” Owen said.
Esmeralda’s eyes widened. “I understand. No long courtship ritual with a kingdom hanging in the balance. Congratulations to the two of you.”
“Thank you,” Sigrid said, afraid Esmeralda might have been angry over the cancelled betrothal, but the way she was smiling said otherwise.
Esmeralda frowned at Sinbad. “You were the crown prince, the last I’d heard.”
“Until my father took a wife as young as you and had a son and daughter. The boy was to become the next king when my father stepped down from the throne.”
They were escorted into the throne room to meet with King Tiernan. Seated upon his throne, Queen Ritasia seated beside him, he looked imperious as he welcomed the prince and princess to his castle, especially, as he eyed Sinbad.
Sigrid explained some of what had happened when they went to rescue the prince and princess. The king’s advisor explained why the griffin fae prince was there.
“I am king, no longer a prince. Princess Arana and Princess Phillip murdered my father and my stepmother—” Sinbad said.
“On your command?” King Tiernan asked.
“No. The prince and princess thought my father intended to murder them. Therefore, I am next in line to rule.”
“Do you wish them punished?”
Sigrid was surprised the king took Sinbad’s word for it since they had been sworn enemies for so long. But then she realized the prince and princess hadn’t denied their complicity, so she assumed he knew then that Sinbad was telling the truth.
“No punishment. Prince Owen offered to help me with removing my father and his wife from power. Though they would have lived, if I’d had the chance to overthrow him. As long as it hadn’t been a fight to the death. The condition was that I make peace with you and your people,” Sinbad said.
His expression one of surprise, King Tiernan looked in Owen’s direction. Owen inclined his head in acknowledgement. The king turned his attention back to Sinbad. “So, you truly wish to have a peace treaty with me?”
“Yes. You have my word.”
“Very well. We shall retire to my office and write up the agreement,” King Tiernan said to Sinbad. “I have you to thank for this, Owen, even if you didn’t marry my sister.”
“I could think of no other way to make it up to you,” Owen said.
Tiernan nodded. “It’s a start.”
Sinbad joined him and they headed out of the throne room. Ritasia said to Phillip and Arana, “We would love to have you stay with us. Sinbad and his men will stay with us also.”
Sigrid knew that meant they would be well-guarded—just in case Sinbad wasn’t being honest with them.
Ena said, “All of the dragon fae have our own castles that we’ll be retiring too. I will be happy to put the rest of you up at my castle.”
“We’d love that,” Sigrid said.
But all the dragons went to Ena’s castle first, and Ena escorted them to a comfortable seating area in a large room filled with red velvet-covered chairs and benches.
“Okay, so if my grandfather was the one who started the revolution, then how did Malcolm, or Phillip, end up taking over?” Sigrid asked Owen.
“Their grandfather, your grandfather’s brother, was the one who continued the revolution and managed to convince enough of our people to revolt and finally settle their own land and created their own kingdom.”
“But they’ve lived in peace all these years?” Sigrid asked.
“All I know is Ferdinand, their grandfather, managed to create his own kingdom. My grandfather couldn’t stop him. Too many people were disillusioned by his rule, yet many weren’t eager to join Ferdinand either or to overthrow my grandfather. Oftentimes, one ruler isn’t any better than another. This was years ago, before any of us were born.”
“Then Ferdinand died?”
“Yes. We had an uneasy truce with his son, who would have been Malcolm’s father. Of course, my grandfather hated that so many of his people had abandoned him to serve another falcon fae king, that he wouldn’t acknowledge that Ferdinand was a king. Just a traitor. We didn’t know who was in charge until Malcolm declared war on us, wanting my father to give up his kingdom and Malcolm would rule all.”
“Phillip wasn’t the one seeking to create trouble then,” Sigrid said.
“Not unless he was behind all of this before he was sent away. If he was in charge at some point, we never knew of it.”
“Which could be a good thing then,” Kayla said, “if he was willing to keep the peace with your father. Phillip said that he and his sister had only been prisoners for two months. That means Malcolm could have been preparing for hostilities after he sent them away, and then declared war against your father. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he have solicited their help to fight your people?”
Sigrid said, “Malcolm must have known his brother and sister wanted to rule in his place.”
“We know Malcolm intended to imprison us. But I still don’t trust the others. Then again, they probably don’t trust me either. Not that I’d blame them. I still would like the kingdoms to be joined,” Owen said.
“They are. By my marriage to you,” Sigrid said.
“Only if they truly feel the same way. They didn’t seem to see you as their long-lost relation, but someone who would side with me.”
“I do side with you—against your father and against them, if need be. My grand-uncle revolted against your grandfather and they did nothing to search for my family—their relations—to ensure they were safe.”
“And to think I meant to capture you with a net.”
She smiled at him. “When I caught you instead.”
“Which goes to prove your magic is far greater than mine. Why don’t we call it a night, and we’ll question them more tomorrow,” Owen said, reaching over to take Sigrid’s hand and they both rose from their chairs.
“Night everyone,” Ena said, taking hold of Brett’s hand.
Alton wrapped his arm around Kayla’s shoulders. “See you in the morning.”
Ena said to Sigrid and Owen, “We promise we won’t wake you when we turn in.”
They all dispersed to sleep.
Owen couldn’t believe he’d finally be with his blushing bride, and Sigrid was blushing as he scooped her up and carried her into their chamber for the night.
18
The next morning, Sigrid brushed her hair as she sat before a mirror and turned to smile at Owen as he sheathed his sword, still feeling the afterglow of being a newly mated fae. He joined her at the dressing mirror and ran his hands through her hair, making her feel loved, then leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “I don’t believe I’ve ever had
a more delightful sleep,” he said.
She smiled up at him. “Me, either.”
“Come, if you don’t want to stay here the rest of the day and night, I’m sure everyone’s waiting on us to leave.”
She sighed. “What we do for the sake of the kingdom.”
He pulled her from the bench and into his arms. “Once we have Raymore Castle to ourselves, we will take all the time we need.”
They kissed, but finally and most reluctantly pulled away because of the urgency of this business still ahead of them. “The sooner we get this done the sooner we can get back to this.” She looped her finger through his sword belt and tugged.
When they finally reached the great hall where the king and queen were still waiting for them to arrive, Sigrid felt the blood rush to her face. “The hawk fae royals were waiting on us.”
Owen smiled at her. “They are newly married too.”
Sigrid and Owen and their party feasted with the hawk fae Prince Phillip and Princess Arana seated at the end of the table, so they didn’t have a chance to speak with them. Sigrid had a place of honor near the king, to show the importance of their new alliance. Sinbad’s warriors sat with King Tiernan’s warriors at a lower table. The dragons had a special table just for them, though because Ena had saved Queen Ritasia’s life, she was always welcome at the head table. She sat with her friends: Tanya, Kayla, Brett, Alton, Halloran, Kiernan, and Amerand.
After the meal and thanking their hosts, the griffin fae, dragon shifter fae—Halloran carrying one dream-weaver fae—and the falcon fae flew off across No Man’s Land, the sand serpents arched and writhed above the sand, hungry for blood, and angry they couldn’t reach the winged companions soaring high above. Aughisky, that turned into horses in the lake below, were beautiful to behold, but they could rip a fae apart.
Sigrid was glad that Sinbad had come with them to help them with Owen’s father, instead of returning home to his kingdom. His warriors came along to protect him. She and her party finally reached the phantom fae kingdom, and they were ushered in for a meal and to rest before they continued their journey to the falcon fae’s territory. Sigrid’s cousins were warmly welcomed.