Warrior Fae Princess (Warrior Fae 2)

She steeled herself and took a chance. If she was going to get rejected, it wouldn’t be because she was vague about what she wanted.

“I belong with you,” she said.

His chest deflated, as though he had just lost a battle. “Karen, the Seer, said I had to leave,” he said, taking a few steps toward her before stopping himself. She could see it took him effort to do so. “I would’ve done it anyway. You deserve to be in that beautiful place with your people. You deserve a crown, Charity. I’d just hold you back.”

Her heart broke and tears came to her eyes. Kairi had been right—he hadn’t wanted to leave her, and it had cost him dearly to do so. She could see the pain vibrating through his body. Wow, had the tables turned from when they’d first met.

“Go inside,” she said to Hallen and Kairi. “Go figure out the electronics.”

“The what—” Hallen grunted, probably because Kairi had elbowed him.

They backed into the house, leaving Charity and Devon alone.

“Remember when we first met?” she asked, smiling through her trembling lips. “You thought I would hold you back. And yet you let me stay. You helped and protected me, even though I was a huge pain in your ass.”

“It was my duty,” he said, taking another step. “And I quickly saw it was worth it.”

“It is still your duty. Is it not still worth it?”

He shook his head. “My duty was to leave. To walk away so that you could have a life.”

Like a puzzle getting its last piece, it all clicked together. She laughed and looked at the blessed blue sky overhead.

“Your duty was to drag me out of the Flush, and the fae with me,” she said, blinking through the tears. “Are we positive that Karen doesn’t work for Vlad? Or that Roger wasn’t resorting to Vlad’s tactics?”

Devon shook his head, his eyes roaming her face. His hands balled into fists, clearly his attempt to keep himself where he stood.

“Do you know what the Seer told me, Devon? She said, ‘When you find your true home, you will know. And with that home you must stay.’ When you left, you took my home with you. You gave me no choice but to follow you.”

“I don’t…”

“Understand?” She stepped toward him, all her uncertainty melting away at the longing on his face. The blind hope he clearly didn’t think he had a right to. “You are my home, Devon. You are the walls that protect me. The roof that keeps the elements from reaching me. The person who grounds me and assures me that I have a place in this world. The Flush was ugly and empty without you. The Brink would be, too. I was living a temporary life when I met you, chasing a future without putting down roots. You’ve changed that. I have found my purpose within your pack. I have finally found my people.”

He took another halting step, as if he couldn’t help himself. “But what about your father, Charity? What about your status and your position?”

“He came with me. I’m still the Third, and my father and his people are currently figuring out how to order takeout in their borrowed homes downtown. They’ve also picked a fight with the elves, I think. They killed a few of them on the way.”

Devon’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.

“I know, right?” she said. “My father didn’t seem worried about it. I think Emery nearly shit himself with glee. He’s always been really aloof, but not after that. Suddenly, he was on Team Fae. Given he and Penny are the most powerful mages in the world, and Roger is one of the most powerful shifters, it seems my father is already connecting us favorably in the Brink. It’ll make it easier for them to stay for a while.”

A smirk pulled at Devon’s full lips. He took another step forward, nearly reaching her. “You’re already thinking like a princess.”

She shook her head. “I’m no fae princess. I’m a half-fae, half-human in love with a shifter. I’m an anomaly. I know you were trying to do what was best for me by leaving the Flush, but Devon, you are what’s best for me. I don’t care where I am, as long as I’m there with you. I love you,” she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Please don’t ever leave me again.”

He rushed her, wrapping her into his arms and holding her tightly. “It nearly killed me to leave you.” His breath was hot against the shell of her ear. The warmth of his body comforted her. His power and strength grounded her. “It tore me up. Please forgive me.” He pulled back, and his beautiful brown eyes, the green and gold specks dancing, showered her with deep, heartfelt emotion. “I lost Dillon, and then I thought I’d lost you. Two of the most important people—”