1

Several things changed after I woke Elora and she cut my connection to Faerie. The big one for me was that I started spending more time in Faerie. It wasn’t the place I feared anymore, and it was simply a place—a planet… Where I belonged.

It was fucking glorious.

While everyone was focused on the tradition to lay her to rest and what should be changed given what she’d done, my mind was somewhere else.

Somewhere probably a bit selfish.

I found floor plans, maps, and blueprints of my castle and made copies of them so I could do what I wanted with them.

And I wanted to do a lot.

Because now I could. Now I could see my future of living there and residing in Faerie.

“ Agra? ” Darby whispered when he found me in the dining room after second or third dinner going over everything. “What is all of this?”

“I’m plotting some renovations,” I admitted, clearing my throat nervously since I wasn’t sure what his reaction would be and I hadn’t told anyone yet.

“Yeah? What are you thinking?” he asked easily as he moved over to me. He rubbed his eyes and put back on his glasses before doing a double take at whatever was on my face. “I would do the same, Tams. It’s your home, but it hasn’t felt that way because of Faerie’s hold on you. Fuck, I think wanting to update your castle is the calmest, nicest reaction.”

Meaning they’d been worried I could have other ones?

I ignored that and showed him where I was at when he asked. “I can’t touch my mom and dad’s suite. I can’t. I won’t.” I cleared my throat again and hurried on. “Plus, it’s not enough room. I think I close off this hallway in the residence wing on the fourth floor and make it one huge suite. With six bedrooms.”

“Six,” he repeated. “Smart to plan ahead. Sure.”

“Yeah?” I hedged, not sure it was smart or was too much.

He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Always nice to have an extra room or two even if someone doesn’t use it. We have a lot of crap after all. Hell, the castle might not be big enough to fit us.”

I chuckled. Of course, Darby would make this easy on me.

I showed him my rough sketch of how to make it work. There were currently three suites on each side of the hallway so six total. But we didn’t each need our own sitting room and study. I thought we should keep a couple of studies there just in case we wanted to work for the day but not have to deal with people.

Yes, I was actually an introvert at heart. I knew people didn’t believe that, but all the people of my meetings were the exhausting part.

Not the content or work itself.

But we would all need offices or studies to work from. I knew that.

“I think you should do a full new tour,” Darby muttered as he went through it all. “Even ask for advice on like a fairy interior designer to work with Izzy and Irma. It’s a new age of not just a Vale queen or of the light realm, but Queen of Faerie. You want to incorporate all of that.” He smiled at me. “It gives you a fresh start but also Faerie .”

“I love that big brain of yours just as much as I love you, my prickly pear,” I whispered, touched down to my soul that he fully understood and saw what I needed.

He smiled and hugged me, giving me a soft kiss and asking we go back to bed because I needed the rest. He won.

I went, but my mind was racing with ideas and possibilities now.

The next morning, I brought the guys, my dad, and Izzy to Faerie to help. Irma was already there since she was in charge of everything day-to-day. There was an actual castle like… Historian? Keeper? I wasn’t sure the official royal title he had, but he was a very timid and quiet man.

But powerful. He was ancient and powerful. I could feel it and knew that was why no one fucked with him. I thanked him for joining us on such short notice.

“Now that I can live in the castle, I want to start getting things ready including some renovations for my needs,” I explained to all of them. “I’m open to suggestion—of course—and I do want to be warned if I’m about to step in something. But…” I glanced at my dad. “It’s time for a clean slate for a lot of things.

“Including this won’t just be the home of the Queen of the Light Realm. I want to incorporate some of the dark realm and the human world as well. This is a fresh start for them, not just me, but any ruler of Faerie to be free of the hold Faerie had on us. It’s also a new start of peace for the people of Faerie. I want to—I can’t touch your suite, but I have ideas.”

“I think that’s more than expected and not something that would upset anyone as long as you are careful with the history of the Vale castle, Your Highness,” the man said, but with a hesitant look.

That was fair. He didn’t know me.

I smiled at him. “I have five mates, and I want to accommodate that even if I’m not at the place of living with all of them yet. Also, Lucca will mostly live with his sloth but of course have a room here.”

“Thanks, cream puff,” he whispered, sounding touched. “I’m glad you’re doing this. Do you know where you want to start?”

“Yes, the throne room,” I answered, clearing my throat and hurrying off that way trying to hide my nerves.

“Your mother would be very proud,” my dad promised as he fell in step with me. “You’re doing what she always wanted but said she was too scared to know where to start and balance. She would want you comfortable. That would be her priority. Always.” He glanced around. “She actually didn’t like the castle. It felt more like a prison than a home.”

I nodded, glad he told me but hating that for my mom.

But completely understanding it, and that was why I wanted to make changes.

I cleared my throat again as we entered the throne room. I gestured to the whole wall full of regal paintings of my family. “I want this all gone.”

“What?” a few people gasped.

I nodded. “I want them all boxed up and stored with magic or however. There’s huge storage here and—”

“What would you put up instead, Your Highness?” Morgan blurted.

I glanced back and saw most of the commanders had joined us. “Seriously?”

“Fairies are nosy by nature, and I was talking to Irma when you sent word asking for her to join you,” Shael muttered, sounding like a kid who got caught with her hand in the cookie jar. “We were supposed to be silent observers though.”

“Yes, of—I apologize,” Morgan mumbled. He was one of tradition, so I understood his shock.

I simply didn’t want to deal with it, but I did, repeating what I’d said earlier.

“What are you planning to replace these paintings with, Tams?” Hudson asked, glancing around.

“I want to try and find any paintings of the original—well, I guess not the original since that’s thousands and thousands of years old.” I waved off the questions from not making sense. “All the castles. The oldest art of Faerie’s leaders—light and dark.” I moved along the wall and gestured to another section. “And here, huge portraits of today. Each castle from maybe—”

“A drone shot!” Izzy gasped, nodding when I did. “Yes, I get you. What about any blueprints or maps of the older city layouts and town squares? Then you could do paintings or more shots of today. On the other wall?”

“I love that,” I agreed, nodding my head. “I was thinking the temples. Lots of fairies have never even seen temples in the realm from where they were born. There have to be the original sketches or—”

“Yes, there are,” the castle keeper cut in. “Sorry, I apologize for interrupting, Your Highness.”

“It’s fine, this is completely informal,” I easily forgave. “But you know where they are?”

“Yes, in the castle archives, protected with magic and preserved.”

“I believe we have the same in my castle,” Neldor muttered, glancing all around.

“So we could magically make copies and keep them preserved?” I checked, glad when they both nodded. “That would be so cool.”

Neldor cleared his throat and waited until I glanced at him. “I would have reservations on that being seen as regal decoration for the throne room.”

“I disagree,” a few people said, but Onas continued. “Some of the most elegant and profound places are museums and fine galleries, Your Grace. There is a way to—most of the elegance here is the frames and lighting. Otherwise, they’re just paintings.” He dipped his head to me in apology.

“No, I completely agree,” I said easily. “And I’m not going with the originals, so it’s not like we have to put them behind bulletproof glass or anything. Even with that, the Declaration of Independence looks cool though. Some of the most notable prints are pictures of famous locations like the White House or Buckingham Palace. There’s a way to do it.”

“Especially the temples,” Lageos muttered, glancing around. “It’s a profound statement to have—light or dark fairies believe in the same gods and always have. It’s one of the many things that brings them together. It also shows your determination to be humble and take the warnings of the gods as you have already done.”

“I absolutely agree with that sentiment,” Stefanie praised. “It was my first thought as well. Not having grown up here and still accepting the gods, praying to them, and asking for their blessing is astounding. Many of us believe that, Your Highness. Always reminding yourself—and your people—of that in this sacred place where you will enact laws and hold court is profound.”

“I stand corrected,” Neldor said, looking embarrassed.

“No, it’s not like that. We’re just talking, and I get your concern. Thank you for making sure I didn’t step in it,” I told him, glad when he seemed lighter.

I was shocked he was even there or jumping in with all he had on him. I could feel his emotions all over the place and how he was struggling.

Next, we went to the rooms I was talking about combining and remodeling into what I would need. It would be nice because it was the end of the hallway but also a bit tricky since it was at a corner of the castle and only some of the area had balcony.

“We’ll mostly be in your room, my sweet mate,” Julian reminded me. “So make it the biggest and have the prettiest view with a few bed-type chaises or couches since we prefer that instead of my snuggling up to Darby again like a git.”

“Amen,” Darby snarked without any malice.

“We can figure out the details and stuff that I gloss over with this sort of thing,” I promised. “I just thought this the best spot and…” I shrugged. “Now we can. I can.” I smiled at my dad when he sniffled, obviously happy about this step.

Me too. I hated that I was practically scared of my family castle.

They were shocked that I didn’t have any more input or things I wanted to go for. I told them that it would all come naturally. We could find the right rooms for our studies that fit our vibe.

Why force it?

“Actually, there is one more thing,” I said and changed direction. I went to the family dining room that was still bigger than any dining room in a normal house or even mansion but nothing like the formal dining room.

And certainly tiny compared to the ballroom.

“I want this room redone top to bottom,” I declared firmly. I moved in further and found the spot, smiling. “And I want our wedding photo here. The one with all of us and my dad. This is the place for family.” I smiled at my dad. “There has to be a painting or something with you, Mom, and me, right? That had to be like a royal thing done.”

His eyes flashed shock since I’d never asked for anything like that. “Yes, a few even. Also, in your mother’s desk in her room, the right-hand drawer has the rolls of film from the pictures taken of us. Iolas and your godsmother who died in the war joined us for some.”

I nodded. Perfect. “I want a new set of those pictures developed and we can pick which will be framed and hung here. Maybe one of each. Then we’re finally going to do the photo shoot Julian bought me for my birthday. I want to add on pictures of Neldor and me with the commanders who have supported us. I want pictures with Izzy and my aides.”

“Everyone who is welcome to eat with family,” Julian figured out, smiling when I did. “I love it. I think it’s exactly what this place needs.” He smiled as he glanced around. “And there’s a lot of wall to keep adding to. Slowly.” He met my gaze again. “Over our many, many years being happy.”

“Yeah, exactly that. With peace.”

“It’s a wonderful sentiment, my daughter,” Lageos agreed before coming over and giving me a hug. “I love it. You will have a piece of us always join you for meals even after we’re gone, surrounded by the people who you’ve let into your heart. Yes, perfect. Your mother would be clapping at the move.”

I hugged him back but realized who I forgot, smiling at Irma. “And all the hobgoblins who got me here and kept me safe. One with the kids too.”

“You honor us, Your Highness,” Irma rasped.

“You’re the reason we have a Faerie to have peace in, Irma. The honor was always mine.”

I was lighter when people accepted it and had their marching orders. I did really like the table, but the stain was off so I could fix that later after the room was updated. Same with the chairs. They were nice big ones and more comfortable than most dining room chairs, but the pattern on them reminded me of 70s retro and not in a good way.

Izzy and I headed outside to go see the babies and give the parents some love. Amethyst looked tired from nursing and just being a mom.

Gambit was his normal over the top self but not being selfish which was nice to see. He immediately demanded more treats for his awesome mate who was giving so much and tired. And I needed to visit more. Plus, she needed to see her sisters and, and, and .

I chuckled and told him to calm down. “Yes, I will talk to Neldor, and of course her siblings can visit and meet their niece and nephew. You’re right, we should have thought of that.”

Immediately, that chilled him out, but he also demanded I give her some healing because she was the miracle mom who carried two unicorns.

Again, more than fair. I noticed she was a bit sore and stiff. I kissed her head. “Yeah, I can’t even imagine giving birth and to twins is terrifying. You did great, girl.”

I also told the attendant that I wanted the fair folk healer to check on her two to three times a day given having twins was a miracle. Also, I wanted a mattress for her. I knew it would get ruined, but her joints seemed to be the problem after carrying so much extra weight for that long.

It made sense after all. I’d heard moms of people say the same and the time after giving birth their bodies were just a mess. I didn’t know if more treats would help her lactation, but at least an extra marble now and again as her body could use the extra sugar.

“You’re doing great advocating for your mate and kids, Dad,” I praised Gambit. “But you need to stop hovering and get some of this energy out. You went through something big too, and you were kept separate from it and couldn’t help her the way others could. That’s a lot on you too.” I chuckled when Amethyst gave me a grateful look for understanding that.

Yeah, she looked a bit like he was the reason she was worn down. Too much love was still too much of something to deal with.

“I’ll come do some of my training here the next couple of weeks,” I told Gambit. “Check on our girl and we’ll go for rides or just runs so you keep fit for her and get this energy out.” I gave him a look that it wasn’t up for debate.

He got it, but his request was someone stayed with Amethyst and the twins then, not just the caretaker was around.

Overbearing but fair. He was—he’d been through a lot and was worried about losing anyone else. More than fair.

I did one better and said I would have two Guardians stationed here just for them for the time being. At least while Amethyst was vulnerable and the twins were getting their sea legs.

Gambit gave me all of the kisses. I also said I’d leave a few fae dogs to do laps around the area and make sure nothing was off.

“How does it feel?” Izzy asked me as we wiped down the twins. They weren’t like dirty, dirty, but they stumbled a lot and… They were babies.

“You feel it too,” I chuckled. “Being around them is like touching happiness. It’s just a bummer we can’t give them names, but I get how it is with fair folk.”

“No, I meant being in Faerie now that the connection is cut,” she whispered, clearly worried she was overstepping.

“Like this is home now instead of a threat and most of my anxiety,” I admitted. I glanced around at the grounds. “I feel like I’m seeing Faerie for the first time almost, and now I can finally see what others have been telling me about.”

“That’s a lot,” she hedged.

“Yeah, it is, but that’s why I’m taking it slow or at my pace. Some wouldn’t want me to do this until I’m queen, but… This is what I need. I want to feel things are ready for me, not the other way around, you know?”

“No, not at all, but that’s okay because I get wanting to feel more comfortable and settled.”

And then she looked away from me like she was uncomfortable. So clearly, something was going on with that.

Izzy would tell me when she was ready. I was someone who needed to be pushed, but she’d been pushed too much, and now she needed people who accepted her timeframe.

So we just babied the babies and enjoyed our morning. It was exactly what we both needed.