As Ronan entered with his father helping him, Devin stood and went to assist. Nessa remained seated, watching as Devin and Rolf settled Ronan in the front row. Her cousin was looking good considering that he had recently been on death’s door … even if he had a few less toes.
Nessa turned back to the people sitting around waiting. It was getting late for them. The sun was just beginning to rise. Most of them wanted to go back to bed, but none could deny Devin’s request. Technically they could, but they feared him. Word had already gotten around that Maureen was dead, and that was enough to keep everyone there waiting for Devin to speak. Some had even started the rumor that he was responsible, but no one would directly say that to either Nessa or Devin. It wasn’t a rumor, but she found it strange that most doubted Devin had to the power to do that, yet they all still feared him.
Devin quickly returned to Nessa’s side, but he didn’t sit. Instead, he looked around at the room of people, and nodded when Turner entered the back of the room with Colin and Mara. Nessa was surprised. Devin had said he would take care of them as soon as he could, but she’d expected him to address Maureen and the poisonings, not the punishment of the two castoffs. Devin briefly turned to Nessa, smiling to reassure her. His confidence was completely back.
“I’m thankful everyone could make it this late to meet. I called you all here to tell you that we no longer need to fear the assassin. The assassin, and those that hired him, have been caught and punished. The poison itself has been thrown out, and the plant that it was made from has been burnt to the ground,” Devin began.
The sidhe faces stared at him. It was obvious none had been expecting things to be handled so quickly. Efficiency and effectiveness were not two traits of the sidhe. They were used to things drawing out for weeks or months, and many people dying in response. There needed to be retribution and payback before anyone would admit to any wrong doing, if anyone ever did. And to catch someone was even rarer. Doubt laced a few of the faces. It just wasn’t their way.
“I have spoken with the assassin and gained insight as to how this was planned and how it all happened,” Devin told the people. He motioned for Turner to bring the castoffs forward. Unafraid, Mara and Colin stood in front of the crowd. Nessa had no clue what the plan was, but it was obvious that Devin had shared it with them.
“Castoff Mara had been requested by her former family leader, Maureen Ferguson, to grow an illegal plant. Mara’s ability is to take seeds and grow them into plants. Maureen had hidden the seeds of the prohibited plant for years, and chose now to use them.” Murmurs rose around the room. The sidhe never really liked direct facts, and since Maureen wasn’t there to dispute it, none knew what to do. Devin ignored them and continued to talk. “Her husband, Colin, was recruited, at the threat of his wife being killed, to do the assassinations for the Ferguson family.”
More talking erupted around them. Devin had just directly accused the Ferguson family of treason. Nessa tried to listen to the various conversations, and learned that they were all outraged that castoffs would accuse the dead Ferguson family leader of such a thing. To them it was blasphemy that the castoffs would even speak the dead lady’s name. How could they attack the reputation of such a great lady that had recently passed on? Others were openly demanding that Colin and Mara be killed on the spot. They wanted justice for their dead. Devin didn’t flinch at the talk, and waited patiently for the room to calm down. When he raised a hand, the room became silent again.
“I know exactly what you are all asking for, and sorry to disappoint you, but I have decided on a better punishment than death,” Devin replied to those that had lost family in the scheme of Maureen’s.
“How can anything be better than death for someone like them to say such lies?” Owen O’Ryan demanded. His voice and constant interruptions at any function was beginning to grate on Nessa’s nerves. Owen was one of the only ones that still openly hated Devin. Nessa secretly wished he had been the one poisoned, or somehow implicated in the assassinations, and they could be rid of him.
“First off,” Devin replied calmly; Owen didn’t seem to upset Devin as much as he upset Nessa, “they are not lies. While it was strenuous for her to get here, Fiona Ferguson is willing to testify that her mother planned everything.” Fiona stood at the back of the room. Nessa hadn’t even noticed her.
“My mother planned to kill off all of the remaining heirs to each family in order to allow outside families to start over here in the palace,” Fiona said quietly. The room gasped in horror together. Not a single sidhe had come to that realization yet. “Including me.” More people gasped. None could imagine killing off their own child.
“But …” Owen sputtered. He didn’t have a quick comeback. That would have included him.
“You were the target, Owen,” Fiona added. “You should be the one dead right now.” That was enough to make the young O’Ryan sidhe sit back down. Suddenly, the cocky sidhe understood that it was his fault for his grandfather’s death. The poisoned food had been meant for him.
“Back to the assassin and his wife,” Devin continued, as if Owen had not interrupted him, “I have decided to exile them. They will be leaving immediately. I’ll personally see that they are escorted far away from the sidhe so that we can continue our lives safely here.”
Not a word was spoken around the room. It was quiet enough that you could hear a pin drop. The faces of the crowd stared at Devin in shock. Nessa even felt shaken. She had told Devin exile was worse than death. None had ever thought that a ruler would exile someone. The situation was more dire than they had expected. Soon the remaining Ferguson family members began to look around. They all remembered the promise that Devin had made to exile them for their leader’s misdoings. Devin watched the Fergusons, and allowed them to worry for a few more minutes. Even Nessa was unsure if he would actually exile the entire family. Devin had asked her to trust him, and let him decide what needed to be done, but even she worried now. Fiona was carrying her dead brother’s child, and part of Nessa didn’t want Fiona thrown away to die alone. Nessa had never been really close with Fiona, but she was still family.
“As to the Ferguson family, Fiona has offered to go into exile to save the rest of you. She’s willing to pay for her mother’s crimes,” Devin replied. Instantly, chaos broke out. It was too much for any of them to understand. He was going to throw out a pregnant woman.
Cries around them were of both fear and exuberance. The ones that thought they were exiled were now happy, but the others only saw that Devin was willing to toss out a pregnant woman on her own. That was a threat to everyone. If he was that hard and without feelings, then he truly meant everything he’d told them. He was a ruler to be feared.
‘You can’t do that to her,’ Nessa complained silently from behind Devin.
‘She asked to leave,’ Devin responded waiting for the crowd to quiet.
‘But you can’t let her go off to die alone,’ Nessa added. She really felt for Fiona.
‘She isn’t going to die. She’s just getting a new life away from this. She’ll be fine. I’ve made sure of it. All three of them will be safe, and will be allowed to start over. They will never be able to come back here, but they will be free and can live as they choose. Trust me,’ Devin added, returning to Nessa’s side and grabbing her hand.
Devin wasn’t the heartless man everyone thought, but he wasn’t about to correct the room. Nessa could already see that Devin was playing the role and using this as an opportunity to get the sidhe to understand and fear him even more.
“But what happens to the rest of us?” one of the Fergusons asked from the front row. They didn’t even seem to care what happened to Fiona, but only to themselves. That was the sidhe for you.
Nessa looked back up to Fiona in the last row. Was that why she wanted out? Did she understand what it was taking Nessa forever to grasp? The sidhe world was screwed up and needed to change. Fiona smiled at Nessa. She was happy with what Devin had said. Nessa felt that Devin was ri
ght. Fiona wanted out. I’ll be fine, Fiona mouthed to Nessa.
Nessa had to smile. She would. How could there be anywhere in the world Fiona would not be fine? She was cunning and smart, and the day human world would just have to look out for her.
“The Ferguson village will be disbanded, and all will be required to move to a new village. In fact, I think none of the villages should be segregated based on family. It’s time we change things around here, and Maureen gave us the best reason to do so. After the coronation, we will be implementing new rules, and a new way of do things. The sidhe are failing. You kill each other, and respond with retribution rather than justice. The sidhe world will evolve. It has to. For now, you may remain in your homes, but know that by next week it will change,” Devin replied.
The faces of the elite palace sidhe just stared at him. They were not used to change, and definitely not used to things at such a fast pace. He was telling them the truth, yet many still couldn’t grasp it. The older sidhe would never understand, but Devin didn’t care. He looked around at the younger faces. The change would have to come by them. The sidhe world needed them, and there were six fewer left due to Maureen. They wouldn’t let that happen again. The faces stared at the stage, waiting for Devin to say more. He did not. Helping Nessa to rise from her throne, he then led her out of the silent room.
“Are you serious?” Nessa whispered after they’d left.
“Absolutely,” Devin replied. “Things need to change, and after the coronation we will change them. We will make this a night human world we can be proud of. We’ll do it together.” Devin bent down and kissed Nessa. She couldn’t disagree with that.
Colin coughed, interrupting them. Devin pulled back from his kiss and smiled at Nessa.
“I’ll be back in fifteen minutes. Just stay with Turner, and I’ll come straight back to you when I return. I want to talk to you about something.” Devin kissed her forehead quickly.
With that, he walked away with Colin, Mara, and Fiona behind him. Fiona stopped as they made their way out of view.
“Nessie, make sure to come visit us.” Fiona rubbed her tummy and beamed at Nessa as they turned the corner and left.
“Where are they going?” Nessa asked Turner suspiciously. None of the three looked worried about starting over. How could that be? They wouldn’t fit in too well in the day human world, no matter what Devin thought. They had no money, no career, no house or possessions—no way to survive.
“To my town, where else?” Turner asked like it wasn’t a question. “My village is for all night and day humans who wish to live there. They’ll be fine and fit in with everyone. My father is setting them up with a place to live and jobs to start off with. They now have the chance to make their own future outside of these walls.” Turner offered Nessa his arm. Nessa accepted the gesture and let him walk her back to her room.
Devin returned from Triclan City, Turner’s hometown, quicker than the fifteen minutes he’d expected it to take, and hoped that Turner had dropped Nessa off exactly where he’d asked. Getting Mara, Colin, and Fiona free of the sidhe was his first priority. Now, he needed to finally ask Nessa to marry him. The coronation was only a day away, and Devin wanted her to know that she was not alone. It wasn’t that marriage was important, or urgent, since they were already bonded, but now was as good as any time to ask her. They could always wait—as he would always want her, and he always be bonded to her—but they didn’t need to any longer. Devin loved Nessa, and he was sure she loved him, too. He didn’t even bother to return to his room, but made his way out of the palace.
Ronan sat outside of the palace in the courtyard. He was enjoying the quiet of the day breaking and the sidhe all retiring to bed. He was in good spirits with the assassin caught and being allowed outside of Nessa’s room.
“Are you finally going to ask her?” Ronan asked.
Devin grinned, and Ronan laughed.
“Just don’t piss her off before you get the words out,” Ronan teased as Devin ran out the gate and into the village.
For once, Devin didn’t worry about that. It had been hours since their last fight. Something had changed, and they were getting along better. It was the right moment to ask.
Running through the village, Devin dodged the last few remaining sidhe. He couldn’t wait to find Nessa and he didn’t even look at the stray people he passed as he ran. The village was losing its awe and wonder, and was becoming home. He liked the common sidhe and couldn’t wait to make changes to help them. Many bowed as he passed, and it was a little disappointing to find that they knew who he was now. He had hoped that wouldn’t change things, but he had seen it with Colin. His title changed everything.
Devin made it to the bridge, and Turner came walking across it.
“She’s alone?” Devin asked.
“I told Lindsey to scram as soon as you arrived. He just told me that you were here, so yes, all alone,” Turner replied. “I guess this means you really are going to ask her?” Turner grinned.
Even Turner knew what the plan was. Turner, Gemma, and Ronan were all rooting for him. Devin was nervous, yet very excited. He was starting the change with the sidhe by changing his own life. Devin had never imagined being married, but now he couldn’t imagine life without Nessa. Change was coming, and it was starting with him.
“Yes, I am,” Devin replied, brushing his fingers through his dark blond hair. It was longer than he had ever had it as he’d had no time to get a haircut since he met Nessa, but she didn’t mind. The sidhe wore their hair long enough to put into a ponytail, so even at the length it was, he still wasn’t there yet. Devin took a deep breath and pushed Turner away.
Devin walked over the bridge that brought outsiders to the sidhe village. He could remember walking that bridge only days ago, not having the slightest clue that it would lead him to where he was now. He never thought he would be staying, let alone caring for the people beyond the bridge. More than that, he never thought Nessa would be his forever. Devin paused at the edge of the bridge. Nessa sat in the clearing, playing with the flowers that Mara had graciously put there for Devin. The field was a mixture of purple, pink, and blue. Her dark curls were a stark contrast to the light-colored flowers basking in the morning sun. Devin could have stood there and watched her for hours. He always saw her as a wood sprite when she was surrounded by nature. It was time to ask her. She didn’t move as Devin approached.
“That was quick,” Nessa replied when Devin stopped behind her. She didn’t turn around but kept winding the flowers she picked into a crown.
“It didn’t take much. They, all three, were really excited to be there. They basically pushed me out the door to start their new lives,” Devin replied, moving in front of her. Nessa looked up at him and smiled. Returning the smile, Devin gently tugged on her curls, enjoying sitting amongst the flowers that now surrounded them.
“King Devin,” Nessa teased as she placed the crown of flowers she was making on his head. “This is beautiful.” She ran her hands over the flowers. They came in all shapes and sizes, and the sun rising on the horizon made Nessa’s eyes sparkle as she looked at them. He didn’t see the flowers any longer. All he saw was her.
Devin took her hands in his. The moment was perfect. He needed to tell her now.
“I never knew it was possible to love like this,” Devin began. Nessa looked like she was going to speak, but Devin placed a finger on her lips. “I need to get this out.” Nessa smiled and nodded. “You know about my past. You know that I was raised well and taken care of, but I never felt this emotion before. This is all new to me. I cared for Arianna, but there was nothing of the spark I feel with you. It’s different when I touch your hand, or your face.”
Devin gently rubbed his thumb along her cheek. Just that was enough to make him want to kiss her and forget everything he had planned. Nessa leaned into his hand. She enjoyed the feel of him as much as he enjoyed touching her. He had to stop or he would never get his question out.
“You have
made me feel something I didn’t know was possible. You make me into the man I want to be. You believe in me, you trust me, and you make me feel like I’m perfect for this world I know nothing about. Nessa, I didn’t know I was lost before you came into my life, but let me tell you, I was. You found me.”
Nessa smiled and took his hands in her own. She didn’t interrupt him, but sat and listened. He could see her happiness at his words. The bond between them was open, and there was nothing hidden between them. He was speaking the truth and she knew it.
“I didn’t know the first time I met you what it was I felt. The emotions that went through me were foreign. But I can tell you now. I love you. Vanessa McKinny, I love you.”
Nessa leaned forward without replying and kissed Devin. His hands snaked to her waist and pulled her down on top of himself, onto the ground amongst the flowers they already crushed when they sat. His emotions were running wild, but so were hers. They were feeding off each other, and growing stronger together. Again he found himself completely distracted. Devin wanted to keep kissing her longer, but he was on a mission. He needed to ask her. Devin sat them both back up and pulled back just a little. The contact made him want to continue kissing her, but he needed her to know exactly how much he loved her.
“What?” she asked, wondering why he’d suddenly stopped.
“I need to finish what I came here to say. You are such a distraction,” Devin replied. Nessa grinned and sat back on the grass across from him. She found his need to talk amusing. Devin couldn’t help but grin back. “I love you, and need you in my life. This bond between us is forever, and I know you’ll always be mine. But I want more.”