19

"Be careful, Your Highness," Calarel whispered after I was cleared. "We need you just as much as she does."

I smiled at her. "I'm not the one taking the hit this time. I promise." I saw the question in her eyes but didn't answer, simply heading out and leading the way to what came next.

And into the fight that was brewing.

"Silence!" I yelled as I saw things had reached a boiling point. I waited until both sides—fairies versus witches and warlocks—backed down. "I know I promised that we would be completely transparent and share what we learned but things change . Grow the fuck up." I turned to the fairies. "And they're valid to be pissed, so don't make it worse."

I was glad when they all seemed to accept that, even taking a few steps back to make it clear they were settled.

I focused back on the witches and warlocks gathered, several being council members. "We will allow Anya White to witness what we do because she has agreed to lock it in her mind like she has other secrets of Faerie being a cousin to us. This is not a negotiation. This is new magic, and we don't know the cost to us and how it will even work.

"It's not for people to know, and the last time we trusted people to keep their mouths shut, the world found out it was my husband's birth mom who was at the center of it all!" I felt better when that seemed to take the wind out of their sails. "This might be the only time we can do this. I don't know. I'm not going to get people's hopes up."

"Nor allow you to be smeared as failing everyone who could benefit from this because that is on the minds of too many here," Shael added. She sighed when I couldn't hide my upset at that. "One is too many, Your Highness. After all you've done, one is too many to think that."

Fair enough, but at least it wasn't a lot of people there.

Or maybe that wasn't what she'd said. I wasn't sure.

"I'm sorry we're kicking you out of your own facility," I told the witches and warlocks. "But we can't risk doing more damage moving her so you're not inconvenienced for a bit. So for the moment, this is being taken over in the name of Faerie's security and our future."

"Almost everyone is evacuated besides the children," Ara assured me. "And all security and recording devices have been disabled. We will use magic just in case any have been missed."

"Well done. Thank you." I glanced at everyone. "I plan to let you right back in and with good news if not the best news. Until then, I appreciate your patience and understanding. Now, we're wasting time, so yell at me later—or be smarter and just stop."

I was glad when several people on my side snorted.

We headed inside, and I saw Guardians doing a complete sweep of the facility. It was basically a hospital for witches and warlocks who didn't have the knowledge or power to heal themselves and open to all of their species. It was actually something I supported, and we were planning on having a Guardian stationed there to help or alert us if issues arose.

But that was tomorrow. Today, we had a little girl to save.

"They say you're going to do something horrible to my sister if you won't let people watch," that girl of about fourteen I'd met before called from down the hallway.

I turned to look at her. "And what do you think?"

She studied me. "That you're protecting someone. You don't care much if you get hurt, but you give everything to protect others."

"She's smarter than most adult supes," Onas praised quietly.

I nodded, keeping her gaze. "I can't do it alone, and a price has to be paid for magic. People ignore that part and demand what they want. Wouldn't you do the same?"

"Yes." She moved closer. "You can save her arm and leg? Let her be a normal kid again? You're sure?"

"No, but the gods are, and so far what they've shown me has come true, so it's hard to doubt then," I answered honestly.

She frowned but then anger filled her eyes. "Why did they answer you? Why did they agree to help you and not the rest of us?"

"Because she doesn't ask for herself but to help others like your sister," Anya said easily. "If she prayed to save her mother or father, they wouldn't grant that wish either. She prayed asking how to save your sister."

She met the councilwoman's gaze and was unflinching. "I asked for the same."

"It's bigger than your sister," I cut in. "I asked for them." I swallowed a snort. "Plus, apparently, I really am the grandchild of one. I still can't seem to wrap my mind around that." I sighed when that didn't seem to be enough for her. "I don't know your mind could handle a vision from them. Plus, you don't have the magic to do this. So the answer wouldn't—"

"They wouldn't believe me," she grumbled. "Or would try to use me because I got a vision. Abuse what I saw or twist it around. I also don't have the power to protect myself the way you do, and I don't mean your magic."

"Seriously, you are way smarter than most supe adults," Onas muttered.

I snickered. "Keep your eye on this one, Commander. We'll want to recruit her for one project or another. I feel it." I turned to leave, but her next words froze me in my steps.

"Will it hurt?" she asked quietly.

"No, I promise. She'll be unconscious the whole time."

"I meant you. Will it hurt you?"

I swallowed loudly and glanced at her. "Not me, but someone has to pay the price of fixing what can't be fixed. Someone has to take on that price so she doesn't."

"I'm sorry for that and grateful," she rasped, hurrying to wipe her eyes. "I'll repay that someday. I swear it."

I nodded and left with a smile. Good girl. Seriously, good on her for being so brave and noble in a world where too many were selfish and entitled.

We went over the plan one more time before people got into place. The commanders were going to put a barrier up around the whole building so no one could tell what was going on inside. Nor feel the magic… Or who it was coming from.

"Walk me through this again," I interrupted when Neldor was going to start.

He gave me a soft look and rubbed my arm. "You're going to use the rune to cover your ears basically. I'm going to put the new rune on her that will keep her unconscious and transfer her pain to me. Then you're going to pull off another miracle like you always do, baby doll. Just her arm. We heal her arm to make sure this works."

Because if it didn't work, making a mistake with her arm would have less effect on her life than a leg. Horrible to consider and balance but… True.

I nodded and let out a slow breath before putting the rune on me. I couldn't hear and it was like I was underwater. I focused on the girl after I felt Neldor's magic flare and he gave me a thumbs up.

I was also glad when he stepped back and out of view. This could get bad, so that would be distracting to see.

He was my mate after all.

I made the purple flame of fae fire and sent up a quick thanks to the gods for letting me do this before reaching for the girl. Magic rushed out of me as I touched her skin, but it was nothing like healing a wing. I ran my hand along her arm and the fire shut itself off without me even doing anything.

So the bone was healed? Auto shutoff?

Seriously, my magic was so cool.

I pulled away and took off the rune to make everything silent before turning to check on Neldor.

"I'm okay, baby doll," he panted from where he was kneeling. "I'm okay."

"How bad?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"Worth it."

"That wasn't what I fucking asked!" I snapped.

He raised his head and met my gaze. "I've endured much worse and it wasn't to heal. Feed me something nummy and I'm fine, I promise."

I nodded to the royal healers to check the girl and they were beyond astounded when they were done.

"You did it," Calarel assured me. "Her bone is—I can't tell there was ever a trauma. No chip or piece missing even. It's flawless. Exactly what a ten-year-old girl should have."

"Can we do her leg?" Neldor asked.

"No," I snapped, giving him a look to shut up.

"Yes," the other healers answered, Calarel continuing. "Prince Neldor also transferred the shock or dissociation her body would normally have with this sort of rapid healing. It's best you do the leg now because there are possible complications with keeping her sedated too long with magic."

Fuck. Seriously, just… Fuck.

"I'm fine," Nel promised. "I want those stuffed waffles I got for you and I'm all good." He frowned. "And probably protein. I want burgers and waffles. That's weird even for me."

"You're probably pregnant," I snarked.

Everyone there with us tried to curb their need to chuckle, but it was someone in the hallway who burst out laughing. My money was on Onas, but I didn't care enough to check.

We repeated the process, and the healers confirmed that the little girl's leg was perfect as well.

"I understand why you don't want people to know this," Anya said gently as she extended her arm to me. "Thank you for saving one of mine. It weighs heavily on me to protect them now that I'm in charge."

I snorted. Yeah, I felt the same every fucking day.

I used magic to lock the knowledge away in her tattoo, glad when it didn't seem too painful. Or she was so used to it that it didn't really bother her anymore.

Both?

Neldor looked a bit beat up, and I went over to him and gave him a bit of power along with a healing rune.

"The healing rune didn't do like anything I've experienced even at your power," he mumbled. "I'm telling you so you have the facts, and I don't want to keep things from you, not to make you feel bad."

"I know. Thanks, Nel." I let out a slow breath. "Can you walk out of here like you didn't just do what you did?"

He rolled his eyes at me. "Don't insult me, baby doll. I've done way more. Let's go eat and celebrate your win."

"Our win." I nodded when he glanced at me. "We did this. There was no healing if I had to torture her. I couldn't heal her and bear the pain. We did this." I leaned in and kissed his cheek. "I'm sorry that I'll be the one to get the credit for it only."

"You're also the one that gets shit on alone too often, so it's just balancing the scales."

He was always fair like that and I was grateful.

What I wasn't grateful for? My dad never showed up. It was our class time and he just didn't show… After how he talked to me before.

He hadn't even contacted me since.

That wasn't fair, and—I was mature and said I needed a bit to think. He didn't even reply. Fine, he rarely responded to texts and simply showed up, but this wasn't okay.

"It worked," I told the girl who was pacing in the hallway. I chuckled when she hugged me, waving back my security. I leaned down and pressed my lips to her ear. "You call me when you want me to heal you too, honey. You did nothing wrong to carry around the scars you have. I'll make them go away when you're ready."

"Thank you, Princess," she rasped.

People were curious when we relinquished control of the facility back to them, but really were just relieved.

Mostly.

"We will—" one of the asshole councilmen started to say.

I lashed out with my magic and made him kneel, shocking everyone there. "You need to learn your place, asshole. You can't even fight me. You can't even access your magic to try and start fighting me if I don't allow it ." I met his enraged gaze with my own. "I will humiliate you like this every time you even think to treat me like your pet fairy.

"Or whatever bullshit your tiny, tiny brain keeps thinking of. I'm not your anything . You won't call on the leader of a fucking planet for anything. You are not remotely important enough for that. You're not even the head of your council. So seriously, get your shit together because next my dogs will mark you for insulting me."

"Oh, I bet they will for this," Shael chuckled darkly. She dipped her head to Anya. "We will speak if you find any such cases as I'm sure you'll start inquiring about. For now, the gods were clear that the healing can work on children . That is who the leader of our people will consider using her power on when there is a list who need it after our war ."

"I appreciate it, Commander, and I will make sure no one else insults the future Queen of Faerie. Not any of my species at least," Anya said firmly.

I was glad when several of the council members there gave the asshole a hard look. Enough was enough. Seriously.

He was truly going to tell me he'd call me—like me directly—when they needed me to heal people going forward.

Obviously, the fucker was losing his mind.

We got food for Neldor and then promised he was going to take the day to do easy paperwork and refuel. I was glad he would actually be distracted and headed to class.

"Good luck for whatever you're up to, and may the gods bless your path," Professor Sontar said when class was over, clearly knowing I was distracted.

I didn't bother trying to brush it off and met his gaze. "There will be one less threat to our people tomorrow. I think the gods will be all for that."

"Yes, I would think so. Congratulations on your upcoming victory."

I smiled. I liked that and how much faith he had in me.

Yeah, I might steal that. It had a nice ring to it for sure.