“Right,” I agreed.
“Awooo!” Seth howled and I fucking howled too because why the hell not?
The Heirs joined in and Darcy and Tory did too until our voices were echoing all around the royal quarters and beyond, the sound turning to laughter. I crouched down, casting a splash of cold water against Geraldine’s face and she woke with a wail, lunging at me and wrapping her whole body around me, nearly choking me out as she sobbed.
“Oh, your curse is lifted, I no longer feel the need to look over your shoulder and imagine you are anyone else but the Power Shamed Fae you are – were!”
“What do you mean?” Darcy gasped, dropping down beside her too as she helped prise her off of me.
Geraldine wiped the tears from her eyes, clutching Darcy’s face as she stared at her Elysian rings in wonder. “My sweet, dear, queen, he has proven his worth. He has risen up the food chain like a whelk to a whale.”
“What are you saying, Geraldine?” Orion demanded.
“Don’t you see, my beautiful fanged forager?” she rasped, clasping my face with her other hand as everyone else leaned closer. “This will exonerate you. For how can you be shamed for foul-playing fornication when you have been chosen by the stars as my lady Darcy’s one true mate? No one in Solaria will question their decision. You are a fine and true steed, and you will serve my lady well, you will set the ultimate of fires in her loins, you will birth heirs born of valour and loyalty. Your story shall be made into a ditty that will be sung from every hill in Solaria.” Tears rolled down her cheeks and I looked to Darcy in shock, unsure if this was true and if I could bear getting my hopes up in case it wasn’t.
“What’s all this ruckus?” Hamish’s booming voice carried to us and everyone stepped back as I drew Geraldine to her feet and wound an arm around Darcy’s waist.
Well, I guessed this would be the test that proved it.
I looked to Hamish as he bustled along the corridor towards us in a stripey night cap and matching open-toe slippers, his chest hair peeking from beneath his gown.
“Gerrykins, move away from that Power Shamed cret-” he was about to retch when he paused in front of us, his gaze settling on my eyes then moving to Darcy’s, then back to mine.
His mouth opened and closed, gaping like a fish out of water, all words abandoning him.
“Papa, the stars have chosen our lady Darcy an Elysian Mate,” Geraldine cooed.
“Well bless my salty crackers on a bed of kale. Twist my dough balls and call me Uncle Dunberry. Tickle my turnip and bury me in a pile of battered beetroots.” Hamish reached towards my eyes like he was close to the sun and couldn’t resist a feel of it, but before he could touch me, his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed to the floor in a heap.
I snorted a laugh, serving me a glare from Geraldine as she ushered Max forward to help her pull her father to his feet.
When he woke again, he lunged at me, picking me up in his huge arms and spinning me around and around.
“Oh-ho! My boy! You’re saved! Rejoice we shall! Let us sound the bells, let us ring the cherryhocker and bang the drumble to celebrate this finest of days! Oh-ho! Oh-ho!”
He placed me down and I smiled awkwardly before he lunged at Darcy, swinging her around too and Geraldine grabbed hands with Seth and Tory, forcing them to make a ring-around-the-roses circle and join hands with the others. Even Darius let himself be dragged around so it was just me, Hamish and Darcy in the middle as Hamish threw his head back and amplified his voice so it carried out through the entire Burrows.
“Rejoice - rejoice! You must awaken! It is time to celebrate this most momentous of occasions, for our Princess Darcy Vega has found her Elysian Mate!”
There was a moment of quiet then a stampede of footsteps sounded out all around the tunnels, the excited chatter of people carrying from every direction. I laughed as our friends swept us along in the direction of the dining quarters, keeping a tight hold of Darcy as our fingers threaded together. I watched her as she laughed, unable to believe the stars had really offered me her like this. I’d always known we were meant for each other, even wondered if we could be Elysian Mates, but until they’d proven me right, I had never felt worthy of her.
Now, I wore the rings which told me I was enough, that said I could give her everything she deserved, and I would honour this bond with my entire life. I would spend every day worshipping my queen, my mate, and I would know with all my soul that there was no other Fae in this world who could do a better job of that than me.