cloaks and heavy armor that could blend into the terrain should the need arise. Ryder wore the same obsidian armor he’d worn while chasing me during the Wild Hunt celebration. He pretended to be the dark prince when, in fact, he was the very king the hunt was honoring. Thick leather straps studded with onyx jewels set in dulled silver crisscrossed his chest. They held a variety of wicked-looking blades that I’d witnessed him using a few times before as he had effortlessly taken down his prey.
Ryder’s warhorse turned its head, eyeing me with blood-red eyes. I smiled, nodding to the wild horse before looking back at his rider. Hounds and men surrounded the warhorse, protecting the king even though he wore the protective armor as well.
Ryder shouted above the noise of his army, telling them they would soon begin their trek to the valley. I sifted without thought, standing in front of his warhorse, lifting my hands to pet the silky mane along his neck. Stalling their forward march, I peered up into golden eyes that studied me as the men moved the protective barrier around me too.
I opened my mouth to speak, needing to tell him how much I loved him, but I couldn’t. My gaze moved to the red cloaks of the dragon riders, to the iridescent cloaks of the light fae, sent to us by Abiageal, the holder of the Light Kingdom.
My head lifted slowly, and my eyes locked with Ryder’s stare, displaying everything I wanted to say that simple words couldn’t convey. He studied me carefully while remaining silent atop the huge battle-ready warhorse that stomped the ground and snorted as he spoke inside my head.
“You were supposed to stay put, woman. We don’t say goodbyes, remember?”
“I love you; I love you so much, Ryder,” I repeated it, closing my eyes before I spoke loudly. “Kill every last one of those motherfucking mages, My King. Bring me their skulls so we can drink our wine from them while toasting your victory. I need new drinking horns, and they’d be welcomed here to remind our enemies how the horde responds to threats.” I swallowed, noting how his lips curved into a wicked smile that left me boneless.
“Do you hear your bloodthirsty queen, horde? She wants the skulls of our enemies so we may toast to our victory from them!” Ryder shouted, and the horde erupted in cheers around us.
He reached down, pulling me up onto the horse before his lips brushed against mine. It was the first and only show of affection he’d ever allowed the horde to witness, other than the day we’d been wed, surrounded by them in the meadows.
Ryder’s hand captured my hair, twisting my head so he could claim my mouth in a hungry kiss. My power rushed through him and then shot out, seeking the surrounding men who scrutinized us until shouts of wonder and pride echoed at their king’s choice of mate. He didn’t stop kissing me until I was panting against his lips, lust rushing through us both, and the need to seek the privacy of our room intensified.
“You’re my fucking unicorn, woman. My bloodthirsty queen, you own my heart. Do you understand me?” Ryder’s hand cradled my cheek, his forehead resting against mine before he pulled away, and the horde continued to cheer for him.
“I do,” I admitted, sifting back to the battlement. His head turned, and his eyes took me in, burning with pride. I held my hand up, signaling for the braziers to be lit, signifying that the queen and king were no longer within the castle, but an heir had remained. This was an important maneuver in keeping up the pretense that I had left the stronghold with Ryder.
I smiled, thinking back on the words he had said in front of the horde. I understood their meaning. Ryder had just told me he loved me the only way he could with the horde standing around us. He’d admitted to his feelings long ago, but this time, it meant more. Ryder had just shown his army that he loved their queen, and that was a huge step for us. My heart clenched, tightening with