Her Forever

Nissa’s POV

(Orion’s Mother)

Everything happened so fast! My joy had radiated through the Winter Fae Quarter Palace as I got the invitation to the coronation ceremony just a few weeks ago. It took everything within me not to show up the next day at the main palace. My first son had finally found his mate!

Orion had waited too long for someone to love. He saw what Nyx and I had, even though his father could be a complete a*s. Yes, an a*s. With a capital A. Nyx was different around me; he was tender, gentle, and sexier than any fae I had ever seen. However, he did have his shortcomings, and I wasn’t talking about his manhood.

Nyx trusted his friends too much; he had a heart of gold, and growing up with his friends meant everything to him since his own father died while he was very young in the shifter wars. His mother did the best she good, bless her soul, but once her mate had died, it was up to the Court to raise him, in other words, most of his friend’s parents. They preened him into the king they wanted, the docile and respectful king to the court members, which was the ultimate demise of his reign.

As the saying goes, if you throw a toad into a pot of boiling water, it will automatically jump out, so it doesn’t die. Take that same toad, put it in a pot of cold water, and slowly heat the water. It eventually dies of the heat. That is what exactly happened to my dear mate, and he was slowly being boiled alive. The Court overthrew him, gave him less and less power, and he was too blind to see it to those who had raised him.

By the time I came into the picture, he couldn’t be swayed. I did the best I could, but to no avail did I sway him. He respected them as his own adoptive parents, and I knew even our bond couldn’t change that. Once our first child was born, Orion, he tried to instill those same features onto him.

Secretly, I showed Orion the true colors of the Court and how their power had grown too much. The lies, deceptions, and betrayal that went on were too much. Orion did his own digging when he was older and was outraged that people of his own country would commit treason. Orion did what he had to do to obtain the crown from his father, and Orion may have overdone it just a bit.

The last fight that caused us to flee the palace after his coronation was enormous, and with a swift good-bye, I left my eldest. Nyx and I were bonded; we would both become weak and sick.

Orion continued to write me and send me more and more information that I could never obtain in my queenly status. The evidence was astounding, starving innocent children, high taxes, and ripping mate bonds to shreds to obtain higher status in courts. As the years dragged on and as Nyx was further away from the whisperings in his ear, he began to open his eyes and see.

For years he had become depressed for a nation he did not provide for and protected. Our bond had also strengthened more over the years, and with much pushing on my part, he had somewhat forgiven himself. He blamed himself for the torture he made his son go through, realizing just how strong Orion was.

Orion was strong, and through much pushing on my part when he was a child, he became a ruthless warrior. His anger did grow with his father, but it was for the best. It fueled his drive on the battlefield and the fire within him to change our nation. The many years that Orion suffered not having a mate was treacherous on his soul. The haunted look I saw in him as we drove away the last day we saw him haunted my dreams.

He was lonely and longing. The rumors being spread about him didn’t help either, but that was for the best, he said. It was so no one got close to him and try and to hold anything against him and know his true colors.

As Orion wrote me, he mentioned how he couldn’t do the final push until he found her. The drive was leaving him as he became more depressed, not having a true mate. The impulse from the court also didn’t help as they wanted him to mate with Sibille, the daughter of the speaker, Onyx. I continue to still roll my eyes at that piece of information. They knew Nyx instilled that into Orion to find his true mate.

Willa came at the perfect time for Orion. Who knew she would have a fire within her as well? She’s spunky, funny, and able to handle Orion’s temper very well. Willa isn’t one to walk on like a doormat. She didn’t fall for the bond initially, and that really shows her strength. A great head on her shoulders will prove to be a great asset helping Orion rule.

I smiled as I stirred my last bit of sugar cube into my coffee. Today, I would hold up my end of the plan and retrieve Elaine from the Mateless home in the woods of the South.

I smiled as I stirred my last bit of sugar cube into my coffee. Today, I would hold up my end of the plan and retrieve Elaine from the Mateless home in the woods of the South.

“My Queen?” Nyx came to me as he kissed my forehead as he sat across the bistro table. “Are you sure going alone is the best thing?” I chuckled at his thoughtfulness as I laid my cup down.

“Of course, dear. Besides, I won’t be alone. Sammy, Willa’s werewolf friend, is accompanying me. The poor thing lost all his close friends to mates, so he is dreadfully bored.” I tapped the napkin to my lips as I stood up and pecked my sweet mate on the lips. “I won’t be long; I should be back by evening if Elaine is willing to come on her own and not by force.”

Elaine was part of Willa’s plan to get Sibille to surrender and gently stop the B***d Coven. If Sibille agrees to drop the mess and tend to her mother properly, and protect her with the promise of the Royal Family, it will save the kingdom from many hassles and unnecessary lives.

“I wish I could accompany you but sending warriors in blindly has Orion and I uncertain on their safety. Even though I haven’t fought in quite some time, I think I still stand a punch or two.” Nyx smiled as he raised his arm to flex. I instinctively grabbed hold and awed as he flexed for me.

“You are more than capable, my love. In fact, you might have to wish me a proper goodbye while using these,” I winked as I pressed my breasts to his chest. A playful growl escaped his lips as Annan walked through the door.

“Gods no! Not you two as well! Everyone is getting some but me!” Annan sighed as he sat in a nearby chair, sulking. Nyx went over and slapped him on the shoulder. “All in due time, son. I’m sure it is right around the corner. The goddess won’t let you suffer for long. Besides, Sammy is still looking too. Maybe at the coronation?”

Annan rolled his eyes and stood back up, adjusting his uniform. “Are you ready, your majesty?” Nyx gave me one long k**s before departing as I walked to the large open window.

The sky was clear, just a few clouds hovering above the palace’s highest towers. I had always loved living here; the light sources were bright, and the moon was often just as bright on a complete cycle. I unbuttoned the back of my dress with my nimble fingers and let my wings unfold. They glistened as the sun’s rays shone on the lightly patterned swirls.

Sammy was waiting at the bottom of the tower next to the carriage in wolf form. We weren’t aware how bad off Elaine was, and if she would be able to fly, so the carriage was our mode of transportation today. Fluttering down and landing with the most grace I could muster since it had been so many years, Sammy opened the carriage door for me.

“I’ll travel in wolf form along with the coachmen. We should arrive within the next hour, You Majesty.” Sammy bowed as his bare chest flexed to show the power his wolf held. He was one of the best trackers in the Warrior Pack, and I knew I would be in good hands if things went awry.

….

The carriage ride went faster than I anticipated. Thoughts ran through my head of what I was going to say. Will Elaine come on her own accord? What will she say when she finds out her daughter is trying to overthrow an entire kingdom and that her chosen mate has been locked away in the dungeons? Would she be happy? Would Elaine be coherent at all? Over the years, they say one will lose themselves slowly, letting the madness of not finding their true mate kill them slowly since she had no say in the bonding at all.

Pain rips through me, thinking how she was forced. I remember the day vividly as she cried, begging Nyx not to do this. She knew the pain her mother had when she had mated with her father because he was too impatient. Once he finally found his true mate, he left her birth mother, and she died shortly after, not being strong enough without any bond. Elaine had not had the easiest life; once this is all said and done, I can take her myself all over Bergarian to search for her mate, if he was still even alive.

As we pulled closer, the building was more like a cottage. Moss overgrew on the roof, and vines dangled from the rooftops. It was a single-story building with beautiful roses and butterfly bushes decorating the sides of the cottage. The picket fence was in pristine condition and would be a perfect retirement home for a human.

Stepping out of the carriage, several solemn faes were rocking in chairs, not even looking up to see their new visitor. Sammy had changed and walked beside me as he took in the sight. Several caretakers came by to make sure they were drinking and eating as they saw us approach.

“Your Majesty!” One of them bowed while the rest in question followed. “This is King Nyx’s wife, former king of The Light Kingdom!” Several others went to bow, but I waved them to stop. I was no longer queen, only a servant now to my son and his mate.

“Please stand up, and I don’t need any of that. I’m actually here to find someone.” Several of the residences looked up, some with confusion and others with sadness. They knew that my husband allowed chosen mates for faes to climb the social ladder, so I would not blame them if they hated me. I should have done more.

After explaining who I was looking for, the two caretakers speaking with me nodded and led me into the cottage. There was a woman with beautiful, dark purple hair rocking in front of the fire. She had a quilt lying on her lap. Her face was gaunt, she hadn’t been eating, and dark circles hung around her eyes. For someone that shouldn’t age, she had undoubtedly looked to be much older. The heavy sigh left her lips as she closed them, rocking her chair a few more times.

“Elaine?” I spoke gently as I put my hand on top of hers. Elaine didn’t advert her eyes as she opened them and stared into the fire.

“What do you want?” Her voice was void and hollow, with no emotion to her words.

“I need your help; it is about your daughter.” Elaine didn’t turn her head as a rogue tear streamed down her face. Her face contorted as she looked at me; my heart sunk as her eyes met mine. She had given up on life, and she was almost an empty vessel.

“I will tell you what I told her: leave me. I have lost my chance to find my mate, raped, tortured, and bruised. Let me live what is left of my pathetic life.” Elaine’s eyes returned to the fire, but I pressed on.

“She is trying to protect you; she wants you safe, but she is doing it in all the wrong ways. She wants to take over the kingdom! Sibille is planning to rip the bond between King Orion and Willa. You have to help us,” I pleaded with her. Elaine continued to sit in her chair but paused her rocking.

“Is King Orion Sibille’s mate?” I sat beside her in shock, not knowing what to say.

“No, she is trying to take Orion as a chosen to protect you and to gain power. Orion’s true mate is Willa.” A large sigh left Elaine’s lips as she gripped the quilt. Using as much strength as she could, her voice grew louder.

“I’ll come with you. I can’t let her do what her father did.” I helped her stand up, thankful she was willing to come along with us.

Several other men and women eyed us in curiosity, and my heart sunk to the floor. All of them needed help; they just wanted their mates. These people were rejected just before the bond became strong, their mates took on another instead of waiting, or their mate died after a child was born. They needed a second chance, and if the goddess granted it worthy, she would deliver. She had to, and I had faith in her that she would offer these poor souls a second chance.

“You are all coming with me,” I spoke loudly, enough for the caretakers to hear. “There is a coronation and binding ceremony at the end of the week, and the entire kingdom and many unmated men and women will be there. I pray the goddess has a second chance for all of you,” my voice grew weak as my sentence trailed. Many gave a slight smile, and a few still hung their heads in defeat. They had given up, but I wasn’t going to.

I was going to help write the wrongs, and Nyx was going to help me do it. His new attitude and guilt demand it. “Sammy, grab a messenger fairy and send for more carriages.” Sammy smiled and gave a bow as he ran outside to have a message delivered.

The palace would be filled with commotion, but it was the right thing to do, and I know Willa would have wanted it as well.