The Source (Chronicles of the Elements #1)

Chapter 18

Aiden turned to Liam ready for the next step which was their first appearance as Queen and King Consort of Siog Riocht because that is what she wanted him to be.

"Are you ready to take your place by my side, King Consort?" she asked him nervously.

"I am ready to stand by you in whatever role you need me to fill," he assured her with a kiss.

"What about Danu?"

"I think I pretty much proclaimed to all the realms that I love you when I yelled at her in the war room before leaving Earth Kingdom, which means we will be having the blood oath conversation again later."

"How is your head feeling?"

"Subject change I see. I am fine besides the bruised ego. I cannot believe I reacted that poorly to the illusion, but the state I saw you in and what I knew he was fixing to do was just..."

Aiden quieted him with a kiss. After she healed him and he woke, Liam told her about seeing her chained, battered, and broken. She looked into his hazel eyes and assured him, "I am right here. I'm sorry that I left. It was foolish, and I should have never done anything without talking it over with you first. I do not want us to ever have secrets from each other."

"You are forgiven, but you can make it up to me tonight," he smiled onto her lips pulling her in for another kiss.

Since word was surely out that their desire for each other went well beyond the bedchamber, Aiden and Liam walked hand in hand into the throne room right up to the dais taking their rightful places in the two shining thrones where Nuada, Taranis, Brigid, Danu, and Manannan joined them taking seats in thrones magically transported in for all the Original Powers. Aine flanked Nuada. Mairead stood beside Manannan. Taranis and Brigid were joined by top generals from their kingdoms as well. Aiden had Beck and Cillian join her and Liam and would have included Darren, but he stood against the back wall staring daggers at her and her lover.

Aiden took a deep breath and stood bringing the quiet chatter around the room to a close. "Welcome to Siog Riocht. I wish the circumstances of our gathering were of a happier nature, and maybe one day they can be as we embark on a new era of Fae and human cooperation. Danu, you may speak now to update all on the current situation."

"Thank you, Queen Aiden, and thank you to all of your people for being so welcoming to us. We have missed this beautiful kingdom and feel grateful to be back here once more. Let us plan and rid all the realms of the one who seeks only to destroy so that we may live in peace. We have learned that Olc has gathered many from this realm and our own, meaning this battle will not be easy due to those strong allies in combination with his use of forbidden magic, but we will prepare as best we can. We must be wise and cautious in dealing with this foe. Aine, please provide us with the most up to date intel your Valkyries have gathered."

"Most of the illusion traps have been disabled, but the enemy is working to set new ones as we speak. Aoibhe and her company faced a new one on the outer edge of Faoi Gheasa before reaching the mountain range. My Valkyries will continue to disable, but it can take time. We have learned that Olc could possibly have a shifter or create illusions simulating the gifts of the shifters, so all must be wary."

"I believe that concern can be eased. Olc did have one actual shifter. She escaped my kingdom before I could met out punishment for her betrayal, but I am sure Queen Aiden can confirm that the female is no more with a description verifying her identity," Taranis informed them.

"That is reassuring news. Thank you, Taranis. We have also heard from enemy prisoners that the armies Olc has assembled are not fully trained, aside from the ones he has leading and the few captured Chosen, but those forces are exceptionally loyal having been fully swayed to his cause."