The Fae King's Ruin

The King and The Condition

"What?" Avery asked, unable to comprehend what Catteline had just said to him.

If it was at all possible, her already slitted eyes narrowed even further. "You heard me. I am not telling my mother that I'm getting married and you will help me keep that lie."

"But why?" He shook his head. "Why lie to her at all? Don't you want her to be at your wedding?"

"Of course, I do!" she exclaimed exasperatedly. "But this is not the wedding I am inviting her to. This one will not count.”

“That's going to be impossible, Catt. The marriage between you and the General needs to be legitimate."

“I also know that. Gods, Avery," she sighed tiredly. "Do keep up, will you? I’m not proposing that we falsify the marriage. It can be as true as you want it to be. But it would absolutely break my mother's heart if she knew that my marriage is a sham. She would do everything to forbid it from happening."

The moment Catteline said the words, he suddenly realized that his uncle would have a fist waiting for him in the Afterlife for what he was making his daughter do. He felt guilty that he would be causing pain to his aunt who was still grieving the death of her mate even after so many years have passed. Catt was right that his Aunt Freyja would never agree that her only daughter's marriage would be for something political. She always wanted Catteline to marry for love just as she had done with Avery's uncle and had initially objected to Catt's appointment as his heir apparent.

Just like Catt, Aunt Freyja had known that her daughter would eventually be required to do something for the crown despite Avery's promises. And though he was ashamed to admit that she was right, lying would be an especially bad option for a number of reasons.

Except he already owed his cousin, not to mention that if they could not find an alternative, they would need her cooperation.

He groaned quietly, still mindful of Aislin sleeping behind him, and turned to look pleadingly at his cousin. "Please tell me you aren't really sure about this, Catt. Your mother doesn't deserve to be lied to. And what about Grishan and Calix? Would you lie to them too?"

Catt shook her head. "My brothers need to know—”

"And your mother doesn't?” he almost shouted.

“—because they need to help me keep Mother in the dark as well,” she finished, glaring at him for the interruption. “Gris and Cal would help me. I know it, even if they would say it’s a bad idea. Mom… she spends her days sitting in her room and looking at my father’s pictures.” She glanced away, pinching a piece of bread flat with her fingers. “I can lie about being single, but not about being married to someone I barely know. She would instantly see that I’m not in love with him.”

“And would it really be bad if she knew?”

Sorrow clouded her usually bright eyes, causing Avery to still and hold his breath. A single tear escaped from her eye as he heard her whisper, “She’s about to fade, Avery. My brothers and I have known for a while now. Her heart is not as strong. And I don't want to cause her any more heartache than what she has already been dealt with."

He ran a hand through his hair, the news feeling like several heavy blows to his gut. There was a reason why most magical beings lived for so long. Unlike humans who have a predictable lifespan, all magical creatures could choose to ‘fade’ into the Afterlife peacefully. It was a process that not many choose to make for themselves since surrendering magical souls or anckorachs required a lot of self-reflection on their part. The fading only reaches completion when there was full acceptance of one’s fate. Because the destination of a faded soul is absolute. There would be no Limbo for them.

For his aunt to choose so… Avery could not say that he didn’t understand. She had not really been living once his uncle died and almost immediately transferred the dukedom of Montfoltier to her eldest son, Grishan, to mourn the other half of her soul. His Aunt Freyja never did find a way around a broken heart, but she knew what to do with a cleaved soul. 

“I didn’t know,” Avery mumbled apologetically. “I… is there something we can do to persuade her to stay?”

Again, Catt shook her head. “She isn’t happy anymore. And Montfoltier is in good hands with Gris. Her children are all grown and happy. With the exception of Cal and me, she at least got to spend some time with her grandchildren. There is no reason for her to stay.”

“What about you? Are you happy?”

Catteline scoffed at his question with such incredulity that Avery frowned. “Happiness is such a little word compared to duty, cousin. You know that. And I suppose I’ll be a tad happier once you marry Sleeping Beauty over there and pop some babies out.” Green eyes glanced behind him. “Seriously. She must be faking her sleep because no one looks like a fu*cking doll when they’re dead to the world.”

Avery glanced down at his own bride, unable to keep himself from smiling at her sleeping face. While he wasn’t expecting a mate in this lifetime, he knew that he would probably be as desolate as his aunt if Aislin ever went before him. He would probably abdicate if their offspring was old enough and take the time he had left to mourn the one who’d made a beautiful future possible for all fae. The one who had given him his heir. The one who’d made him feel… loved.

Even if Aislin was not his mate, Avery thought she was the next best thing in his life.

And so, he nodded, agreeing to his cousin’s stipulation. He’d lie for her to save her aunt more heartache, even if he wished there was some other way to avoid all of what lay before him.