Eloraâs POV It worked, the curse on the Fae was broken. What I wasnât prepared for was the searing pain radiating through my back when I woke. My death was peaceful and with it, I felt my mates drop, their link to me severing only to renewed stronger. I could feel them on an entirely different level, Matitus and Silas stronger though. It is hard to explain but maybe it was because they already bare my mark.
Waking up, was a strange feeling like I had been holding breath, and I suddenly had to force myself to breathe. But the pain in my lungs was nothing compared to the pain radiating from between my shoulder blades. The sort of pain where you would rather death, my spine felt like it was be rearranged.
It was all I could focus on as I clawed at it trying to get it stop. When I felt something within me snap, like when an elastic band reaches it limit, the force of my magic bursting made me scream before I felt a violent rush leave me, the pain in my back leaving me breathless before it suddenly stopped. I could feel the warmth of my blood trickling down my back and something else, something I had never felt before. Looking over my shoulder I gasp at what I see. I had wings.
Fae used to have wings, my grandmother didnât even have wings, but I heard stories of what they represent from her. Only the blessed were granted them. Those that possessed them, were considered gifted or had made our gods proud through a good deed. Only those blessed by the fates and of a royal blood line carried wings. The last Fae on record to possess wings was the king of Fae. My grandmothers great grandfather was the last known royal to be granted wings by our ancestors.
So, it was shocking to me that I was blessed with them. I had done nothing remarkable I didnât think.
They were beautiful and, crystal-like and light but so strong. I could feel my magic flowing within them, feel the power I possessed. I was so awe struck by them I hadnât realised what was going on around me until I heard Claireâs little voice. âThe Queen of Draquin has been rebornâ
Thatâs when I noticed them, looking out at the crowd I almost cried at the sight before me, glowing brightly back at me were my people, Fae the silver light in their eyes left no doubt. We werenât extinct, Fae survived just like I believed, hiding in the shadows like had. We had survived. The crowd moving, letting them through. Around a hundred Fae moved forward out of the crowd stepping before me.
Silver eyes glowing with excitement and also another set of eyes, ones I had only heard of because they were the eyes only given to those of noble blood. Dazzling Aqua eyes stepped forward and I knew instantly that some of the royal families survived, those my family ruled alongside of.
The man stepped forward and I got to my feet, his blonde hair tied into a ponytail. Looking at him he carried himself a certain way that oozed authority, even after decades of failure he was proud to be Fae, proud to be royal. What shocked me was when he stepped forward and dropped in front me on one knee.
The Dragon kings stepping beside me, although they looked like they were still recovering from what happened yet that didnât stop their jealousy of a man being near what is theirs.
âMy queen, I am Aldrin of the Royal bloodline of Helcateâ He says bowing his head slightly.
âI know my lord; please rise you donât need to bow for meâ I tell him a little embarrassed that he did. He shakes his head.
âOur families have ruled beside each other before the war, we all owe you a great amount for what you have just blessed us with, for what you have returned to usâ He says.
Silas growled stepping forward at his words. Aldrin puts up his hands in surrender and I could tell he meant no harm, no insult to the Kings I just hoped Silas could see that.
âForgive me my lords, I am not here to take your mate. This isnât me coming forward and asking her hand, I know she has mates and I have my ownâ He says and Silas growls before Matitus steps forward.
âThen what are you doing then Faeâ He asks looking out at the crowd I could feel their shock, they truly felt they eradicated my kind.
Another Fae steps forward with a child. The woman was a common Fae but the child in her arms was no doubt of the royal blood of Helcate.
âThis is my wife, Talia and my son Aldoâ I nod when suddenly she drops to one knee, I try to get her to stand embarrassed that everyone thought they need to bow to me, we are the same.
âPlease donât bowâ I tell her, but she shakes her head when suddenly everyone takes a knee, like wave the entire crowd even the humans bow down making me gasp. When I hear Aldrin voice echo through the night, his voice melodious and clear.
âI Aldrin royal blood Of Helcate, pledge allegiance, to Elora Aziza Queen of the Draquin kingdom and Queen of the Faeâ He says making me stumble back slightly shocked.
The entire crowd in a collective murmur speaking. âWe pledge Alliance to our Queen Elora Aziza Queen of the Draquin kingdom.
âYou want me to rule?â I asked shocked.
âYou are the rightful heir those wings on your back prove it, you were born for this. Blessed with gifts bestowed by our ancestors, you blessed us and who better to know the struggle of the kingdom better than a Queen who lived through itâ Aldrin tells me.
âBut this isnât my kingdom, this kingdom belongs to the Dragon kingsâ I tell him.
âWhere ever you go we will follow my Queen, whether it be here or somewhere else, we promise to remain loyal to the Aziza bloodline. You sacrificed your life for your people and the people of this kingdomâ He says and I see the entire crowd agree.
Silas growls but no one moves.
âI will not hand my kingdom over to the Fae, this is my kingdom. Fae started the warâ He says stepping forward when Matitus grabs his arm.
âYouâre right my king but she ended itâ Aldrin tells him, âeither way she is your mate is she not, or were you keeping her against her will?â
I had to give Aldrin one thing he was brave standing up to a Dragon, yet his stare was unwavering, he held no fear and had faith that I wouldnât allow Silas to kill him for speaking out. He was right I wasnât going to let my people down even if it is against my own mates. I have sacrificed enough and so have the Fae, so has this kingdom.
Dragus walks over to Aldrin and I thought at first, he was going to do something, and I stepped forward my magic on ready on the surface, I was willing to protect Aldrin and the rest if needed. But Dragus didnât do anything. Instead, he dropped to his knee alongside him before suddenly Matitus joined him.
Two majestic Dragons bowing for a Fae, for someone lower on the food chain.
âI king of Draquin pledge allegiance to my Queen, Elora Aziza the Queen of Draquin and promise to rule alongside her for as long as she will have meâ Dragus spoke, his eyes not leaving mine before Matitus announced the same thing. Tears springing in my eyes, they would give up their kingdom for me, just to keep me by their side, they would sacrifice their kingdom for me and the people in it.
Everyone looked to Silas and I could feel his burning anger through the bond, he felt betrayed. Felt like I took his kingdom from him. That betrayal only worsened when he felt Matitus and Dragus agree to it.
âYou would hand our kingdom over to the FAEâ He bellowed.
âNo, I hand our kingdom over to our mateâ Matitus answers.
Silas roars the dragon part of him coming forward, his entire body trembling. Yet I remain calm turning toward him. âThis was supposed to break the curse on the Dragons, not turn my mates against me, not bring about all thisâ He yells at me.
âThis is my kingdom. I will not bow down to the Faeâ
When I say nothing, he turns on his heels storming away.
**Author Note**
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