Looking up, I observed the crowd that had come to witness this special moment, and two distinct figures stood out: Bayleon and Bastian, who met my gaze with their own, even though their eyes were hidden behind their masks. Our connection had grown stronger in the past seven years, but even more so the past year. Lately, however, something seemed different. The tension was almost unbearable sometimes, and it’d been that way for the past few months. They seemed to be hiding something from me, and a part of me questioned their desire to remain in my court or if they were considering returning to the Tyvar.

  Nonetheless, I was happy to have them here with me today and looked forward to being alone with them tonight in my castle. Maybe with us being separated from my family, they’ll be more willing to open up to me.

  A soft smile touched my lips as I focused on my two protectors. Bastian’s demeanor was alight with mischief, his mouth tilted up in a smirk while Bayleon stood stoic like a statue. He had always been the serious of the two.

  I tore my gaze away from them and focused back on my land. I sifted through the grass, and as soon as I felt the earth beneath my fingers, the land seemed to come alive before my eyes.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a glimmering haze of magic surrounding my brother. It was an incredible sight to behold. I felt a surge of power coursing through my veins and radiating from the ground into my hands, making me feel more powerful than I had ever been before and robbing me of breath for a split second.

  “I’m here,” I whispered, knowing the land could hear me. “I know it took a while, but I needed to feel worthy, to know that I deserve this great honor. I vow to be a good queen, and I will protect the realm with my life.”

  A gust of wind lifted my hair and it billowed softly around me, temporarily blocking my view of the brilliant landscape which had started to take shape in the meadow. I was entranced as I brushed my hair away from my face and looked upon the rolling hills of different colored flowers. Tulip and saucer magnolia trees painted the border between Kale’s court and mine. I felt a wave of energy surround me like a blanket of warm power. I could feel the magic of the Blossom Court pulse through me.

  When I reached up to touch my head, I felt the crown, made of vines and delicate blossoms with sparkling gems in the center. Across from me, Kale’s court was coming to life, shimmering with a winding river that wove its way throughout his Court of Rivers. I heard a gentle, hushed gasp of admiration from behind me and turned to see my aunt Calista and her daughter, Carys. They were mirror images of each other, their blond hair cascading down to their shoulders and green eyes that sparkled with the same intensity. Calista was the only one in my family endowed with the magical ability to manipulate all four elements—earth, air, fire, and water. She could create a city simply by conjuring the elements. Calista had passed the same powers to not only Carys, but to her son, Merrick, as well; he was the eldest of my cousins. My aunt named him after her guardian who had died trying to protect her from the dark sorcerer.

  Carys cracked her knuckles and winked at me. “Are we ready to do this?”

  “You’re really going to build my new home?” I asked.

  Carys quirked an eyebrow. “Do you trust me?” She gestured grandly toward her brother, who strode confidently beside Kale. “We can always get Merrick to do it. I doubt his idea will be what you have in mind!”

  Merrick waved a hand in the air, and in an instant, a majestic palace sprang up in the distance. It was constructed of polished gray stones, each window framed by ornate stone archways. The castle was surrounded by a lush forest, with a winding river snaking through it. It was magnificent. Kale and his warriors, accompanied by the fae who had decided to join his royal court, marched forward with a purpose. They were going to their new home.

  I couldn’t help the anticipation bubbling up in my chest as I looked at Carys.

  Her eyes twinkled with promise. “Ready?”

  I glanced around at my people, who were as eager as I was to see where we would be living. Ember had tears in her eyes, one hand resting lovingly on her pregnant belly while Ren beamed beside her. Bayleon and Bastian stood together, their faces filled with awe.

  Taking a deep breath, I replied, “I’m ready.”

  Carys nodded and raised her arms. Then, the ground began to tremble beneath our feet, and a mere few seconds later, an exquisite palace appeared before us. I had never seen anything more beautiful. The stones were the color of old ivory, covered in thick vines with colorful flowers.

  As I looked around the Blossom Court, I could feel my heart swelling with emotion. Hot tears stung my eyes. I sensed Bayleon and Bastian behind me, their presence heavy as they watched me intently. The others huddled around me, ready to venture into their new home. I met their expectant gazes and smiled through my tears.

  “It’s time,” I whispered, my voice full of hope. “Let’s go home.”

  Carys had outdone herself. My castle was everything I could’ve ever dreamed of, with its tall towers, large ornate doors, and stained-glass windows that shone in the sunlight.

  Ren and Ember’s cottage stood at one end of the palace grounds, a cozy little structure with a thatched roof and a rose garden. Carys had even built several other dwellings around the palace grounds, each decorated according to their inhabitants’ desires. Tiny villages had begun to form, and everywhere I looked, I could see the beginnings of a beautiful kingdom.

  The sun had finally begun to dip below the horizon, and the palace was filled with the hustle and bustle of people settling in for the night. The smell of warm lemon bread wafted through the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

  Ella and I made our way through the Great Room, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the cold marble floor added a sense of grandeur to the space.

  Ella glanced back at me, worry evident in her gaze. “I hope Bayleon and Bastian will be all right with Kai shadowing them. He’s done an amazing job leading our warriors, but I know he’s still trying to get used to our way of life here.”

  I gave her arm a gentle squeeze, offering a reassuring smile. “It’ll be fine.”

  Kai had been an adversary of our kingdom before becoming a king. Since then, the Frost Court had experienced incredible growth and now welcomed an assortment of Shadow fae and half-fae from the mortal realm. The Land of the Fae was no longer a place only for purebloods; half-mortal individuals were now allowed to exist here, and our realm had never been more powerful.

  As we neared the two thrones, I beamed at Ella, loving how beautiful she was with her baby bump.

  “How many people have you brought to the Land of the Fae?” I asked her, carefully leading her to one of the royal thrones.

  Ella sat down and grinned as I took my seat next to her. “Honestly, I have no idea,” she admitted, “but I know it’s been thousands. It’s all so amazing. Our kingdom is changing every day.”

  It certainly was. I could only imagine what the Land of the Fae would be like in another five hundred years. Our magic was constantly evolving. Ella quirked a bemused smile at me, and a spark of mischievousness lit up her dark brown eyes.

  “What is it?” I asked, intrigued by the expression on her face.

  She shrugged and turned her gaze to the Great Room entrance where Bayleon, Bastian and Kai were walking through the door.

  “It’s something I wanted to discuss with you earlier,” she said in a hushed voice, moving closer to me. “But with everything going on, we never had a chance.” I couldn’t help but think I knew what was coming. I raised my eyebrows, inviting her to go on. She widened her grin, taking a quick glance over at Bayleon and Bastian before refocusing on me. “Have you told them you love them yet?”

  My pulse raced and I grabbed her hand, clasping it firmly. “Shh . . . not so loud!” I cast a nervous glance toward the men, but luckily, they were still deep in conversation. “And no, I haven’t told them anything,” I muttered, keeping my voice low. “What would be the point? There’s already so much tension between them and me.”

  Ella shook her head. “That’s because they’re in love with you, too.”

  The air grew heavy in my lungs, and I felt my body freeze. Though I was aware Bayleon and Bastian held immense loyalty to me as their princess, and now their queen, they’d never once said they loved me like that. Even if I could sometimes feel their emotions toward me, which I was sure I had, they were noble men; they would never blur the line between duty and feelings. Moreover, there was the issue of loving them both. There was no way I could ever choose one over the other.

  My gaze shifted to Ella’s face. “How do you know they’re in love with me? They’ve never admitted it to me.”

  Her smile softened a bit. “And they probably never will. But I heard it straight from Bastian when he asked me to dance at the Winter Solstice Ball.”

  My heart raced. “What did he say?”

  Ella glanced at Bastian and her lips curved into a faint, sad smile. “I asked him point blank if he was in love with you. His response took my breath away. Even more so when I saw how his eyes lit up when he looked at you.” I was barely breathing, waiting for her to go on. Ella met my gaze with a soft, sorrowful expression. “From the conversation, I don’t think Bayleon or Bastian have expressed their feelings for you yet to each other. But Bastian said you’d never choose him over his brother and that he didn’t deserve your love.”

  I felt a sharp stab of pain in my chest and I clutched it with my hand, praying the ache would fade away. Ella’s words were like a dagger to the heart.

  I could see the two men growing nearer from the corner of my eye, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at them yet. I wasn’t ready. Ella placed a warm, comforting hand over mine and closed her eyes. The faint sound of music floated outside the Great Room, and the light from the giant crystal chandelier danced across the walls.

  “You’re a queen now, Lia,” she said softly. “We’re in the Great Room of your Blossom Court palace, and tomorrow is the Equinox Ball. Everyone is going to be here to celebrate with you and Kale. So maybe it’s time to talk to your guys. If you don’t, it will only make you more miserable.”

  I sighed. “And what exactly do I say to them?”

  Ella squeezed my hand gently and opened her eyes, looking back at me with determination. “The truth, Lia,” she said before Kai stepped up to the thrones and held out an arm for her.

  She glanced back at me again before taking his arm and was whisked away down the two marble stairs toward Bayleon and Bastian, who watched us silently. For the past couple of months, the silence had gotten more frequent.

  Ella looked back at me one last time before they left, and I silently nodded in agreement. Once the Equinox Ball was over, I would talk to them. I was never afraid of the thought of going into battle and fighting till the death, but conveying my feelings was going to be the hardest thing I had ever done. How could I explain that I loved them both? It was selfish to feel the way I did; selfishness was never a quality I had previously connected with myself.

  “Do you wish us to accompany you to your chambers, my queen?” Bayleon asked.

  I looked at them both, their eyes obscured by their silver face masks. It had been a long time since I had seen their eyes.

  “I’m ready,” I replied, joining them.

  We made our way out of the Great Room and into the main foyer of the palace, a tulip magnolia tree at its center with colorful pink and purple petals in full bloom. My heart raced as we ascended the marble staircase and walked down the private hallway to our designated rooms. The guest quarters were on the other side of the castle, so it was pretty silent.

  When we arrived at my door, I took a deep breath and spun around to face them. My heart raced and my stomach twisted as I gazed at them. I wanted to reach out and feel the warmth of their skin, to gaze into their midnight-blue eyes and experience our conversations like before. Bayleon and Bastian had both changed—it was as though they were two completely different people. All the conversations we used to have, all the laughter that used to fill the air between us—it was gone now, and I felt so powerless. I could only wait for them to speak, but they were entombed in a heavy silence.

  Finally, I forced myself to break it. “Have you two discovered anything about the strange magic we felt in the mortal realm yesterday?”

  Bayleon’s brow creased in worry as he shook his head. “No,” he said softly.

  Bastian heaved out a sigh, and despite his best efforts, I could hear the fatigue in his voice. “Nothing yet—but we’re keeping an eye out. I can’t remember ever feeling something like that before.” He briefly hesitated before he continued. “Let’s hope it stays away from here.”

  “Let’s hope,” I agreed, my gaze darting between them. Bastian’s jaw ticked and his fists clenched, mirroring Bayleon’s gesture. Then, a heavy silence descended over us, making their clashing auras of energy and desire almost tangible. “Will you both save me a dance at the ball tomorrow?” I finally said, breaking the silence.

  After a long pause, Bayleon nodded, and even though I couldn’t really see his eyes behind the mask, I could tell he was searching my face as he stepped back.

  “As you wish, my queen,” he said softly, bowing his head.

  Just as he finished speaking, Bastian spoke up, too. “I would be honored.”

  Without another look back, they strode away in opposite directions to their rooms which were connected to mine. I was tempted to use the secret passages between our rooms to try and get some answers, but I knew it wasn’t the right time. They were hiding something from me, and I was determined to find out what it was.

  Chapter 5

  Bastian

  Sleep had eluded me once more. I watched the sun rise over the Blossom Court, its brilliant beams signaling a new day. I was surrounded by life and beauty, but all I felt in my heart was a pit of burning despair. I had been struggling against the torment for ages, pushing through it with all my might. I didn’t know how much longer I could last. Giving into the temptation would be so easy; I could just leave and go back to the Tyvar, get my fill of women and then return to the Blossom Court. I’d have my strength back and the pain would be gone. The thought seemed simple, yet it was anything but. If I left the Blossom Court, it would betray everything I loved and held dear. Even if I were allowed to be with those women, it would never be Lia; she was the one thing I desired more than anything else.

  The Equinox Ball was taking place at the worst time possible. I was already on edge and now had to witness all the suitors vying for Lia’s attention. It was only a matter of time before she would choose her future king and I would have to leave—I had promised to remain by her side and protect her, but my grip on sanity was slipping away. I couldn’t watch her with another man without crumbling.

  I grasped onto the window ledge until my skin split and bled, hoping that if I inflicted enough physical pain, it would nullify the emotional pain, but it didn’t work.

  Taking a deep breath, I slowly exhaled, surveying the thousands of fae from the different courts gathered at the borders between the Blossom Court, the Spring Court, and Kale’s Court of Rivers. My warriors were all in place and I could feel the swell of pride in my chest. I stood before the full-length mirror, fastening the bronze buckles of my vambraces, each one etched with a design of a warrior slaying a dragon.

  As soon as I was finished, I’d join them to do my duty as one of their captains. I had promised Lia that I would save her a dance, but there was no way I would stay at the ball any longer than necessary.

  There was a gentle knock on the door, followed by the gentle hum of a young voice.

  “Bastian?”

  It was Shaylah, one of Lia’s servants. My hair was still damp from my shower, and I quickly ran my fingers through it before slipping on my mask. When I opened the door, Shaylah’s smile widened as she held out a black tux with the Blossom Court crest stitched into the jacket with silver and gold threads and glittering jewels. It was something a royal would wear, not a warrior.

  “What is that for?” I asked.

  Shaylah stood in front of me, her honey-colored eyes sweet with innocence. She came from a long line of wood nymphs who had served the royal families their entire lives, and she was one of the first to ask Lia if she could join her court when she became queen. I remembered Lia’s joyous smile that day quite well, and I knew many other fae would soon follow suit.

  “I’m so glad I got here before you went downstairs,” Shaylah said, her voice slightly shaky. I took the tux from her, and she sighed in relief. “The queen asked me to give this to you. She wants you and Bayleon to be her escorts to the ball.”

  It was the last thing I wanted to hear. Lia and I have been to many lavish galas together in the past seven years, but I wasn’t expecting her to need an escort for the Equinox ball. It was the one event every year she’d go to alone so that potential suitors could court her. I knew Lia was tired of people pressuring her to find a spouse, and typically, I would’ve been thrilled to fill the role of her escort. But tonight, I wasn’t sure I could muster the strength to be near her.

  “Thank you,” I replied, nodding at Shaylah, praying she hadn’t noticed my hesitation. “I’ll go get dressed.”

  Shaylah bowed and stepped back, and her braid, adorned with various flowers, swayed lightly behind her. “Have a wonderful night,” she said with a warm smile.

  She disappeared down the hallway, and I shut the door so I could quickly change. When I opened the door again and stepped out, I saw my brother down the hall, leaving his room dressed in a tux similar to mine. His long platinum hair hung straight down his back and had intricate braids on the side. I ran a hand through my short tresses, and a part of me missed who I used to be. There was a time when I wanted to keep with the old traditions, but it wasn’t as common anymore, not with Lia’s generation. The Land of the Fae was evolving, and I didn’t want to be left behind. Bayleon kept with the old ways, and it worked for him, but I wanted to be a part of Lia’s world, to make her see me differently.