Night Fae (Dark Fae Kings #3) - Meg Xuemei X. Page 0,26

purged her poison. Without being tended by the healers, the long slashes on my face had sealed, leaving only faint lines.

Rydstrom’s wrath was inconsolable, even though I kept assuring him that I was fine. The Night King left the Summer Court after the healers convinced him that the Summer King would recover. Rydstrom was injured as well. He had a deep wound in his thigh and another across his shoulder. He needed to return to his Night Court for further healing and to prepare for war in the meantime.

I’d wanted to go with him and help him in any way I could, but I couldn’t leave Baron behind. My heart was torn between the two kings, but Rydstrom made it easier by kissing my lips farewell.

“I’ll come for you later, love,” he’d promised and departed with his knights.

Baron murmured my name in his sleep, his fingers curling around mine, unwilling to let me go. I wiped beads of sweat from his forehead with a hand towel. Somehow, he still had a slight fever.

The king tugged me to him. I crawled onto the bed, nestling against him, and he sighed in contentment.

Golden plants draped from the top of the ivory canopy of the bed, shimmering with sunlight and earth magic. Wherever I looked, the king’s chamber exuded extravagance. Even the dragon chairs were finished in gold. I felt like Alice in Wonderland in the wake of the Fae king’s wealth.

While I stroked Baron’s arm to make sure he rested better, I raised my head and leaned on my elbow so I could peek out the window and study the vast, ancient tree that bore golden blossoms. The tree must be Elowen of Summer Flame, the central power of the Summer Court. It drew magic from the land and sustained the Summer Kingdom.

There were over a dozen Summer knights guarding the magical tree around the clock.

It was mesmerizing to watch its sunset-colored leaves fall from high branches and drift in the wind. As soon as they fell, new leaves sprouted and blossoms bloomed like clusters of tiny flames.

With my Fae senses, I could feel its essence and the old magic in its core. I’d kept my Fae form ever since battling Brigantia. There was no need to put back the old glamour unless I was among humans.

“Elowen of Summer Flame isn’t what it used to be in its glory days,” a royal healer from the Summer Court had told me sorrowfully. “It’s become weaker every year. I’m afraid it’ll fade when magic finally leaves Elfame, and it’ll happen if the Dawn Queen rules faerie.”

I shut my eyes for a second, not wanting to dwell on the gloomy future.

The air smelled of lush greenery, blossoms, and the mulled wine that mortals should never taste—once they did, they’d crave it until their death.

With golden sunshine warming my face and with beauty everywhere in this land, I wished I could stay here forever, yet dangerous reality reared its head as soon as I opened my eyes.

A squad of the Summer knights patrolled outside in the garden. Baron had given his generals orders to secure every inch of the border before he allowed himself a healing nap. The Summer King had also revealed my heritage as the rightful queen of the Dawn Court and that I was his mate. The generals had bowed to me in respect, though there was skepticism and wariness in their battle-hardened eyes. The Summer knights who had fought with me, however, all took a knee in front of me and placed their fists on their chests to swear their fealty.

I’d come so far. Baron and I had come so far. A couple of months ago, I’d vehemently resisted moving too fast in our relationship, but war waited for no one.

Soon I’d have to leave Baron’s side. Time was short, and I needed to spend half a day with my family. I needed to say farewell just in case I didn’t make it out of the Wild Hunt. My chest tightened at the thought of never seeing my mates and family again, but then a sense of serenity washed over me. My parents had returned and resumed their former positions in the Silver Circle. The heavy burden of keeping my siblings safe was lifted from me. They were in good hands now.

My gaze drifted back to the large, warm body slumbering beside me. I snuggled closer, letting his heat banish the residual chill in my bones. I might not have much time