6

A miracle happened and people reacted well to the parts of the interview we released. More than that, people all over supe social media were cheering that the Underground was no more and calling me the hero of our society.

Wow, what a change five years could make?

Going from the unknown who didn't belong in their society to the hero of our society in that short of a time frame was a bit of whiplash.

People also pulled up the original livestream where I met Luke and all of the unflattering press coverage trying to embarrass me that I was a whore, etc. Now it was all about how smart I'd been to use that meeting and situation to my advantage to help everyone and how clearly it had worked.

I was glad that things were going in my favor but… I was salty.

Hell, I was fucking resentful. It was ridiculous it took the mountain of good things and miracles I'd done to get this sort of support and reaction finally .

And I clearly wasn't the only one who felt that way.

Those who had been with me from the beginning and suffered through it all looked disgusted more than a few times.

But it was still better than getting more shit.

Now that it was truly all over, I kept my promise to Luke and had everything arranged to bury him and his mate. I thought a few of the guys would come to support me or be there in case I needed them, but all of them came along with Izzy, my dad, and all of the commanders.

"No matter his crimes, he kept you alive," my dad said easily. "He taught you what you needed to combat the corruption in Faerie, and you might not be standing here without him. That earns him the respect of many, Daughter."

I turned and realized there were a lot more people there. Katrina, Anya, dozens and dozens of fairies. I nodded, glad people appreciated the truth.

"Somewhere green and gets snow just like I promised," I told him after the caskets were lowered in. "You're still a dumbass for trying to protect me when it wasn't needed, but you're a dumbass we won't forget, Luke. I know you did the best you could. I know you think there's no redemption for either of you, but I pray to the gods you're wrong again. Find peace, my friend."

I dropped a lily onto each of their caskets and moved off to the side, watching as everyone gathered to do the same.

"Why a lily, cream puff?" Lucca asked as we watched the others. "I thought roses were normally for funerals."

"Lilies symbolize redemption," Neldor answered. "We're hoping for their redemption if they make amends with the gods."

"It's a fairy thing?" Lucca hedged.

"No, it's a me thing hoping that things aren't so black and white in the afterlife," I answered.

After everyone was done, I used my magic to move the dirt back over the graves and then to protect the area so no one could mess with it. Even if I owned the land and we had Guardians there, we couldn't be everywhere all of the time and this was a secluded spot on the back of the property.

That was the way Luke would have wanted it. There were several huge trees nearby, but still they would get sunlight. It was honestly a gorgeous spot, and everyone who cared for me made a point to say I'd chosen it wisely.

I hoped so. I hoped he liked it and they could pay for their sins and then find peace.

Eternity was too long to pay for the crimes they'd committed. Not when he'd done it for the greater good and she'd been pushed over the edge into where she ended up.

I hoped I could also feel the same about Queen Elora one day too, but I was nowhere close to there yet.

Not yet.

I gave one last look at the nice headstones that I'd bought and had engraved for them with their names and years alive. That seemed simple and nothing—he'd yell at me if I put more or even did that probably.

Then we left. We weren't really doing a luncheon more just we were going to have food after and settle with it being over. All of it even.

"I waited to show you this until after when you needed the smiles," Izzy said as she handed me her phone. She nodded that it was okay and knew I probably wasn't in the mood.

But it was Izzy, so I caved.

I frowned as a video loaded with a woman I recognized. I couldn't place her at first, but then I swallowed a sigh. She was an anchor for a supe news show that did in-depth pieces—or that was what she was known for mostly. She was fair and mostly impartial. She'd called me on shit but also my accomplishments, so I had no beef with her.

I simply wasn't in the mood.

"What is your favorite part about being on Princess Tamsin's detail?" she asked.

The camera showed Ara, Wynn, and five other Guardians who were regularly on my detail.

"Dealer's choice," they all said together and burst out laughing.

It made me chuckle too. I gave Izzy a wink and shook my head at their antics.

Ara recovered first and hurried to explain. "We're garbage disposals as fairies, even worse when our wings come in. Then add in the amount of magic the princess has and uses for all of us—even she cracks jokes that there's no way to elegantly eat as much as she does. She compares herself and Prince Neldor to snakes trying to unhinge their jaws to shovel it all in after training."

"It's really funny how affronted he was at first, but now he asks if he can at least be a venomous snake and not like a cute one," Wyn snitched, the others trying not to laugh.

"I would want the same," Ara chuckled. "But things don't always fall into place because her schedule gets turned on its head or some meeting gets finished at almost midnight. Unlike other important people, the princess is not going to make the hobgoblins or staff jump to it and make her food then."

The others snorted as if it was a ridiculous idea.

"So she gives one of us her debit or credit card and says ‘dealer's choice,'" Ara continued. "Meaning we get to pick where the food comes from and to get enough for us as well. We know what she likes from just about anywhere. It's just really nice that she's so considerate that we get that as a perk of our schedules thrown off too and appreciated."

"That is nice of her and yes, unlike other leaders," the interviewer accepted.

"Except she steals it back from Wyn sometimes," one of the other guys busted. "It's hysterical. And we all thank her. He'll grab it and she'll snatch it back and give it to one of us and say, ‘Enough with the fried chicken. We're all going to start clucking. Someone pick anywhere else.'"

"This planet just has such delicious fried chicken," Wyn muttered, setting the fairies off all over again. He gave the interviewer a sheepish look. "It is fair especially since I'm normally lead on her detail and she knew me best to give me her credit card with no limit. I wasn't paying attention and just defaulting to comfort food.

"But—I think it was over one of her breaks and there wasn't even a schedule there was so much going on and it was just hopping from one fire to put out to another. One last-minute meeting to this and—my head was spinning. And she just kept giving me the card and I got food. I didn't realize until the fourth day where she said she was going to pluck me."

"It was so funny," one of the other guys agreed. "But seriously, it was like three full days of fried chicken and more fried chicken. You got it once for breakfast , Wyn."

"Oh dear, that's quite the addiction you have to such an unhealthy food," the interviewer said lightheartedly. "What is the worst part of being on her detail?"

"When the commanders yell at us," a female Guardian admitted, shrugging when the others gave her a look to shut it. "The princess wouldn't hide it and I won't either. They are better, but they were too overbearing. We all were and—everything changed, and we were all terrified after what happened in Faerie. I think we all have to admit that more and apologize to the princess.

"But she would handle something and they would yell at us and—she's the boss of us all. What did they expect us to do? They were yelling at us because they couldn't yell at her either . We're grunts. And—our job is to watch her back while she's distracted at meetings or school. When she's going into danger though she puts us in barriers or freezes us to keep us safe.

"The princess knows what she's doing and is the strongest of us. We're not able to do what she can and we all know it. I adore her for always making sure that I'm as safe as possible. It's why I would die for her. I watch her back when she is learning what she should, doing what I cannot, or governing. Then she protects me from what I cannot go up against."

"Yeah, she cares for each of us like that," another Guardian agreed. "And yes, that part was really rough for a while. I even understood it. I had an ancient ask me about her menstrual cycle and sexual activities, berating me when I didn't know more and wouldn't answer to him. Everyone takes things too far and… I'm really glad it's different now."

"It was a lot to adjust to for those of us who weren't ever on a royal's detail," Wyn agreed. "We all got dumped into roles we weren't used to because so few of us were awake to start, but the princess just kept rolling with too much. She would correct mistakes or use things as learning opportunities and move on. But that was the worst part."

"Besides when you startle any of her dogs and get a bit of a heart attack because they're so protective of her," Ara added. "They had to do so much for so long and fly under the wire without help and—they're still so on guard all of the time. I cannot imagine how much they all suffered while we were frozen. It's like they cannot let go of that trauma response for everything."

"I never thought of that," one of the other Guardians muttered. "I just assumed they thought we were taking their place and wanted more spoiling from the princess."

"No, a few others familiar with fae dogs who helped shut down the fighting ring said it's all trauma responses," Ara said. "Even from before meeting the princess. Being constantly chased by the dust collectors. Never having somewhere safe—all of it. The fair folk suffered too much."

"Yes, yes, they did," the interviewer cut in before the fairies completely took over the interview. "So she feeds you well and yes, it's common that people go too far with a leader's security, spies trying to get information from them. That's not limited to the princess or even fairies. I want to ask more about how she—it's publicly known how often she ditched her security."

"Part of that was she didn't ever want to bother us," Ara defended. "She—the princess wasn't raised with any of this. I know the conversation she had with Prince Hudson, and she said she just needed someone to put it into ‘Tamsin' for her. She kept equating us with like the fire department. If no one calls on them then they can read and have a relaxing shift.

"They can catch up on stuff and sleep or even play video games—not be bothered. They're paid to be there ‘if needed,' and the princess felt the same, trying not to need us. The prince explained how it's different. Yes, we might relax a bit when we're at her residence, but we're still patrolling or—we're still on duty."

"So we might as well be entertained," one of the other guys said. "Especially with the food challenges and all of the fun stuff the princess does. That more than makes up for what she sees as ‘bothering' us. It's not a bother. We protect her so she can protect all of us."

"And the rest—she should have ditched us," Wyn admitted. "We messed up. The commanders couldn't let go. Fairies wanted her caged in her family castle for their benefit. It was all ridiculous to treat the big boss that way. She made the point she needed to and got people back in line. We deserved it and I'm glad she did. Things are much easier now."

I was really glad to hear that. Really, really glad to hear it because I believed them.

They talked a bit more about funny moments being on my detail and sidestepping the more in-depth questions the interviewer pushed to try and get information. She wasn't petty or over the line—she was a newswoman. It was her job. I wasn't even angry.

It was all just stuff that we didn't share and was smart to keep secret. She handled it graciously, and honestly it was fine. The whole interview was good and I was glad it worked out.

I handed Izzy back her phone with a smile, thanking her for showing me. It was a needed smile and feeling like something was going right when so much hurt and felt too big.

Did it heal me from losing Luke and so many others dying to the Underground?

No. No, not even close… But it was the hope that things could maybe get better.

"What's wrong?" Hudson asked sighing when I gave him a look asking if he was kidding. We were basically at an after-funeral luncheon. Most people weren't happy there. "Something else is irking you or on your mind. That's what I mean."

I winced, apologizing for my sarcastic look then. "Oh, I was just thinking of the last thing Luke said to me. I'm salty with him that he left me hanging on what he meant, and then I'm shallow for thinking that because he didn't leave my text on read, he died." I shrugged, focused on my food.

"‘Them' is those who have faith in you, Tams," Neldor said gently. "That's how I took it." He waited until I looked at him. "He said don't let them suffer, it all has to mean something. Not verbatim but something like that, right?" He smiled when I nodded. "‘Them' is those of us who believe in you.

"He told you to be a good queen. Luke kept saying we don't deserve you and not to lead us until we deserved you, treated you as we should. You told him everything had changed and Faerie was finally behaving better. He was saying to deserve that faith too. Yes, there was probably more though because he was your cheerleader and knew you would never fail us."

I bobbed my head, thinking it fit, but wishing Luke had told me himself.

I wished a lot was different from what happened.

But there was still time to change a lot too.

And no, I wasn't going to let people down who had faith in me… Starting with my own mate.