Page 165 of A War of Three Kings

Aldrin nudges Cyprien in the ribs. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Me either. I tried to have a conversation with her, and she dragged me into this mess.” Cyprien bows his head to Caitlin, and she laughs.

The music kicks up and the dance begins. The women take the lead for this song. We spin around and around, take steps forward and back. On the final spin, I let go of Aldrin’s hands, leaving him in his position as the entire line of women moves to the right.

I take up Cyprien’s hands. The fae frowns at me, looks to the woman at my left, then shoots Caitlin a look of wounded betrayal for making him dance with other people. We miss the first turns, but then he begrudgingly continues the dance with me.

“Your sister thinks she is incredibly funny,” he grumbles, but the quirk of his lips tells me he is secretly enjoying himself. At the very least, it is good for diplomatic relations if the fae intermingle with the humans.

The dance sweeps me up and I am taken away by the fast beat of the music. When I move on to the second unknown man, Aldrin’s voice rings in my head.

I am trying not to be a crazed, possessive fae, but I do not like you dancing with all these other men.

There is definitely a jealous rage building within him, but it is tempered by a film of amusement.

A smile forms on my lips.I am glad you are that self-aware,I poke, but the beast within him rumbles.If any man makes a pass at me, I promise I will slip the air out from beneath his feet. When I dump his ass on the ground, you will know which man to murder. Besides, they already know I have a scary fae fiancé who went to war and killed for me. They wouldn’t dare provoke you.

I don’t point out that the men in question only hold my hands. It’s not like I am waltzing with my body pressed up against them.

Hmmm,he responds.You are scary enough yourself, king killer.

I smile as I am swung from man to man, because all I can hear, feel and think about is Aldrin andthat beautiful presence he takes up in my head, heart and soul. I never expected to share this mate bond with him, but now it is a thing I could never live without.

The next man in the row is Drake, and he beams at me with a huge smile that creases his silvery face tattoo as we spin around. “Should I expect Aldrin to go into a mating frenzy and destroy any man who touches you during this dance? I just need a heads-up, in case I should start running now.” Drake’s glittering eyes shoot over to Aldrin, who mock-glares at him.

I laugh.“Oh, he is barely containing his murderous rage, but I think he will spare you.”

I will not,Aldrin quips in my head.

When the dance finishes, he stalks straight to me and bundles me up in his arms, not releasing his clutch on me for three more songs.

When the music stops, heralds blow their trumpets. “It is time to bid the bride and groom, the king and queen, farewell and good luck!”

Servants carrying huge branches filled with orange blossoms rush out to the revelers, who form a tunnel of bodies across the dance floor. I take a branch, a few of the petals raining down on me, and hold it above my head until it meets Aldrin’s opposite me.

More servants rush through the center of the tunnel and scatter white petals. I cringe at the sudden image it brings up, at the scent of crushed roses and the bruised lines born across their delicate forms as I stepped on them to reach Finan at the end of the marital aisle. Bile rushes up my throat?—

Look at me, Keira,Aldrin’s voice booms in my head. Warmth and love radiates from him.It is me who stands opposite you, not him.

I drag my eyes up from those petals to Aldrin’s face. I can suddenly breathe again.

With their arms linked, Niall and Brianna step down from the dais and glide toward the tunnel of bodies. As they pass under each couple, the branches are pulled backward. It looks like the canopy unravels with their steps.

They stop to speak to each person, Brianna holding the queen mother’s hands and talking to her in a soft voice. She embraces our father, then our mother, while King Niall speaks with his own mother.

I am entranced by the change in my sister.

Her usual shyness evaporates further with each encouraging smile from her new husband. She is no longer that child who stands in the shadows of her older siblings. The one who is tooinexperienced to go on hunts, too young and soft to go to war. The little girl whose bedroom was a few doors down from mine. Who followed me like a shadow and appeared when I needed her.

Now she will use her greatest strengths of social intrigue and compassion to lead this kingdom with her husband. I know he will treat her as an equal.

When Brianna reaches me in the procession and the servants take the branch from my hand, her lip wobbles. “I always thought you would be the Queen of Strathia. I’m so sorry that…”

Her words fade out, but I know what she means. That Finan turned out to be poisonous. For me, it would have been a title and nothing more. I paid so dearly with so much pain for ever wanting that title and being forced into it.

“I walked away from it three times.” A tear rolls down my cheek, a mixture of sorrow from my trauma and pride for my sister. “I only want to be one man’s queen, and I would choose him every time, even if he had no titles.” We both glance at Aldrin, who tips his head at us.

Brianna hugs me tightly. “Tonight, I have been given everything I have ever wanted, and so much more.”

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