Page 43 of A Fate of Wings

“Don’t stay away too long,” she said, with her face flattened into my chest.

“I’ll have duties in the Autumn Court, Tay,” I said. “We’ll come to visit when we can.”

She sniffed but let me go. I stepped over to my brother and clapped my hands on his shoulders. He did the same thing to me and stared into my eyes. His eyes were dull, rimmed with red blood around his ebony depths.

“You should ease up on the tonics,” I reprimanded my older brother.

“You didn’t have to wait a millennium for your mate.” He clipped me over the ear.

“What was that for, jerk?” I let go of him to rub my ear.

“Don’t talk to your king like that.” He threw a glance at Thea’s guards and handmaiden.

I winked. “Right, oh great Demon King, I won’t do it again.”

He smiled and then took Thea into his arms in a warm embrace. “Come back soon. It’s been good to become acquainted with my brother’s mate.”

“All right, get your grabby mitts off my mate. Didn’t you dance with her enough last night?” I grumbled.

“Not my fault you’ve got two left feet.”

Thea giggled before she stopped herself. Every little giggle made me fall more in love with her.

“Let’s get out of here.” I stomped over to the main doors having had enough of my brother’s teasing.

Two attendants, dressed in my brother’s chosen color of black and gold, opened them wide. I marched outside and created a portal with one hand, and clasped Thea’s hand in the other. With one last smile at my family, we stepped through to the Autumn Court.

The difference was immediate. People bustled everywhere. Noise and activity thrived in this place. Beside me, Thea sighed and a moment later, her spine went straight, her expressionturned cold, and as her sister walked toward us, I sensed the first flicker of rage from Thea directed at her sister.

“Thea,” Melanie gasped. “Look at you. You’re bruised from head to toe. What happened? Do we need to declare war on the Winter Court?”

Thea’s eyes lifted to the sky for a second before settling on her sister’s face.

“No need for war.” She clasped a hand over her neck. “These are from my mate.”

Melanie scowled at me.

If the scowl held rage at me on her sister’s behalf, I’d believe her ire, but there wasn’t even a spark of it in the depths of Melanie.

“They’re from a good loving, is all,” Thea said.

Loving? Interesting she didn’t call it sex. Was she having feelings for me too?

“Oh.” Melanie deflated.

I rubbed a hand over the icy tingles at the back of my neck. What was the real deal with her sister?

“Are the preparations ready for the ceremony?” Thea asked.

“Almost,” Melanie said. “Papers are waiting for you in your chancellery.”

“Can’t they wait?”

“I’m afraid not. Some of the trial contestants remain in the infirmary and their realms are requesting an update on their condition. The healers have all the details ready for you, but only the queen can place the seal.” Melanie appeared anything but upset, she almost, dare I think she appeared she was eager to get Thea into her chancellery.

“What about the wolf shifter assassin? Have we heard from the alpha?”

“No.”