Page 143 of The Beast King's Bride

I duck and laugh.

“Your friend,” Talen says to be, “is annoying and disrespectful.” He starts to rise, his eyes glowing, his lips pull back to bare his sharp canines. Ghostly horns seem to curl over his ears. The lights in the room flicker. “Shall I scare him a little?”

“No. Talen, no.” I put a hand on his corded forearm. “Please don’t. Besides… look.”

Jassin has entered the dining hall. He’s glancing around, looking slightly lost. I wonder who he’s searching for. I point at him, and Talen sighs and sits back down.

Pete is staring at Jassin as if the young Fae lord is the sun and the moon. Not playing the role of the servant anymore, since the people of the Sapphire Court started returning in droves, including the staff of the palace, he’s dressed as befits his station in fine gray britches, knee-high polished boots, and a tunic of green threaded with silver that brings out his eyes. His dark hair is tied back, sharply pointed ears adorned with silver. He’s pretty, and Pete has good taste, I will admit.

“He’s smitten,” Talen says with a snort.

“Oh, yes.”

“Not sure I want Jassin to have dealings with your annoying human.”

“Come on, Talen. Pete has a heart of pure gold. I’ve known him all my life. He likes to tease but when he gives his heart, it’s for real.”

“You said he vowed never to love another woman when his mate died,” Talen breathes. “And this is his second chance at love.”

“That’s right. I think… I think he can’t love the same way twice, and I think his heart was broken. I don’t think it really matters if Jassin is a male or not. I only think that coming to this world and finding Jassin gave Pete hope that he can be happy again.”

“Just like finding you gave me that hope.” Talen takes my hand and nods. “I understand. He may continue courting Jassin. I won’t kick him in the balls as I had planned.”

“Talen!”

He smirks and lifts my hand to kiss it. “My lady.”

I smile at him, then glance back at Pete who has gotten up and gone to meet Jassin halfway. I watch as Jassin’s face lights up, as he then proceeds to pretend not to be interested but allows Pete to lead him to the table anyway.

This is going to be so much fun, watching the two of them flirt and nose around each other, until they find their way into each other’s arms—and beds. It’s already obvious they both feel the same way, but are pretending not to.

“A fool in love,” Talen says, echoing my thoughts and as I open my mouth to joke about Pete finding his match in Jassin, he says, “That was me. And I will always be, for you. So yes, I understand.”

“It worked out.” I reach for his hand on the table. “The curse was lifted.”

“Because you…” He draws a too sharp breath. “I don’t want to remember that part. Finding you almost dead. Not sure you would ever wake up again.”

We both sort through our memories of that night and shiver. He releases my hand to put his arm around me, pull me against his side, and I think it’s to comfort us both.

“What about the other courts?” I ask sometime later, as the dinner starts to wind down. His arm is still around me. He doesn’t want to lose the contact, and I don’t want to, either. “Are they still under a curse?”

“The Ore Courts have been taken, as you know, and some of the Gem Courts are suffering. I have sent out my people to ask, find out the extent of the Empress’ plans.”

“Do you know the other kings well? Are all the courts named after gemstones? Are they far or can we visit? Is—”

“Maab.” He laughs, squeezes me against him. “You must be feeling better, my heart, to ask so many questions. All the Night Courts are named after gemstones, though the Day Courts are named after metals. The Ore Empire, we call it. There is even an Iron Court, though the Fae abhor iron. Those Fae like pain. They wear iron on their skin.”

“Huh.”

“Though, as I said, the Ore Empire is already under the Empress’ heel. And then there are rogue courts as well, on the fringes of the world. Did you want to travel?”

“I want to get to know your world. Our world. Our people. I want to stop the Empress, protect our two worlds.”

His smile widens, reaching his eyes, lighting up the blue with sparks like shooting stars, the flecks of amber and bronze twinkling. “Then that’s what we will do, once we put our kingdom to rights.” He lifts a hand and blue sparks fly, turning into butterflies that flutter over me. They turn in a circle, forming a garland and then turn into flowers. I gasp as he plucks it out of the air and sets it on my head. “We have time, my queen. And I want to take every moment with you. All I’ve ever wanted since I met you was to share my life with you.”

Like he said all those months ago. He had meant it. He had meant everything.

And I love him with all my heart.

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