Page 35 of Queen of Thorns
“I don’t understand...” Caelynn whispers.
“We’ve all had our differences,” Rai says. “But I trust in Reveln’s judgment. And as I considered what a new High Heir would want as a gift—jewelry, gems of power, spell books, stags. They make good gifts, but they are not things you need or really desire. You’ll have your fair share of those as prince and eventually king. So instead, I decided on something more personal.”
Caelynn absently stares at the glittering rigid stone. In a few days, she’ll be able to step through the stone archway to go home.
Her home. Not mine.
“It’s a wonderful gift,” Caelynn says with a nod, then her eyes turn sharp, one side of her mouth upturned. “But it’s also a political move.”
I flinch. “What?” I turn to Rai, expecting him to take offense, but he only smiles right back at her.
“Creating something of use for the High Heir,” Caelynn explains slowly, carefully, “that no one else yet has. It connects him to your court in a profound way.”
Rai chuckles. “Do you blame me for it?”
“Not at all,” Caelynn answers.
“You will make a good ruler, Caelynn.”
I have to resist the urge to hug Rai a second time.
Rai clasps his hands behind his back as he steps forward, toward the soon-to-be portal. “To be honest, I didn’t know what kind of impact a portal might have when we started the project two days ago. It may only have been a symbol of good faith. Or perhaps it was a chance for the mate of the High Heir to travel home periodically. Now that I know you will be ruling your own court, I realize it will have more use than I’d initially anticipated.”
I shake my head. “You have no idea what this means to us.”
Rai smiles sincerely, his eyes sparkling. “You’re wrong about that. I know what it means. There is no greater gift than to simply make your mate happy.”
My heart twists in the most beautiful way.
“Thank you,” Caelynn whispers.
“Yes,” I say firmly, “thank you. I doubt anyone could top this gift.”
“The queen may have forbid you from marrying, but she cannot take away affection or connection.”
“Is the rest of the council going to figure it out?” Caelynn frowns. “How will they react if they do?”
I sniff. “We’ll deal with it as it comes.” The politics in all of this will get interesting, I’m sure. Perhaps once, I would have cared. But now, there is little I care about except Caelynn and winning this war. I refuse to fear the judgment of a few powerful fae.
“Some will scramble to support the Shadow Court to earn the High Heir’s favor. Others will push back at every turn. With war already looming... Well, things will get worse before they get better. But I hope that this gesture will bring you some hope.”
Caelynn steps beside me and curls her fingers in mine. “It does. Thank you.”
My heart soars at just that small touch. At just the smile on her face.
“We won’t be waiting for the portal to be complete, though,” I say quickly, eyes still on my beautiful mate. Her smile so rare it takes my breath away
Rai frowns.
“We will travel to the Shadow Court the long way. We have a few things to attend to on the way.”
Raijin nods. “Would you like to travel with my workers? They will be leaving in a matter of hours, and there will be space.”
I slip my hands in my pockets and rock back on my heels. “So long as they’re okay with a short stop in a Whisperwood village, that would be wonderful.”
