Bound (A Faery Story 1)

powers from sleeping with my wife. I feel wonderful, I do, and I’m

definitely looking forward to consummating my marriage. I promise

I’ll work my hardest to ensure you have some babies to take care of

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next year, but I won’t become a Green Man, and Beck won’t be a

Storm Lord.”

“Just because you don’t have faith doesn’t mean others don’t,”

Flanna said with a superior look in her eyes. “Tell me something,

Your Highness, what does this mean for the rest of us?”

Cian pulled out a small gold ring. There was a sun on the signet. It

was the symbol of the Queen. Bronwyn had pressed it into his hand as

she lay dying. His sister had died trying to retrieve the ring from their

mother’s rooms. It was all he had left of their mother, and now it

belonged to the rightful Queen, his wife. “It means we have some

decisions to make. I’m sure even now our aunt is trying to convince

her daughter to start funneling money our way. We’ll need it if we’re

going to bribe the Unseelie to back us.”

Cian didn’t want to talk politics. He had more important things to

do. He turned the bag over. The rest of the contents tumbled to the

table, making a delightful clinking sound. He did a quick count and

was well-pleased. Flanna reached out and slapped his hands.

“You’ve been keeping money from your brother,” she accused.

Cian shrugged. There was no point in denying it. “He would have

spent it on something boring, like food. This was my drinking stash.

Now, it’s my get-my-wife-dressed-properly stash. Do you think you

can come up with something nice for this?”

Flanna seemed placated that he was using the cash on Meg instead

of at the tavern. “I happen to know that the dressmaker in the village

is almost done with a beautiful gown for Liadan. I believe she was