The captain stopped in his tracks. "Prince Oron?"

Prince?

Around them, the guards froze instantly. The hands holding her let go in shock. She immediately returned to Darian's side.

"What is going on here?" A soft feminine voice demanded.

"Your Majesty, Prince Oron has returned, bringing a feral and a witch with him," the captain reported.

"Oron? Feral?" A tall, willowy figure stepped into the light. Amelia had never seen a more beautiful woman in her life. She embodied every human fantasy of what the fae looked like. This woman was the Queen of the Fae and the heart of their race.

The queen looked down at Oron's feet and gave a low wail. "Darian! My son!" She hurried over and dropped to her knees.

"Prince Darian?" the men around them whispered.

Oron knelt beside the queen. "Can you help him, Mother? This is his mate, Amelia. She is the reason we were able to get him through the portal."

The queen didn't answer. She waved a hand over Darian, and he quieted instantly. Seconds later, the roots were gone and she was pulling him into her arms. She rested his head against her breast and rocked back and forth, keening softly. "This is all my fault! I never should have said what I did. Please Goddess, do not punish my son for my foolishness. Take my light, let it pass to him." A warm light enveloped them.

Oron stood and walked over to Amelia who watched in shock. He wrapped an arm around her and held her close. "If anyone can save my brother, it's her."

Wiping her tears, she also prayed to the Goddess.

Please. Please don't take him from me. We have only just found each other, I need more time.

After a few minutes, the queen looked up confused. "I don't understand. This should be helping." She looked back at them. "Has he claimed you?"

Amelia shook her head. "He didn't dare. He knew how close he was."

The queen shook her head. "It's as if a piece of his light is missing altogether."

Amelia's heart stuttered. "What did you say?"

The queen blinked. "He has a hole in his aura, the core of his light is gone, not dim, gone. Normally, that wouldn't be so critical as fae return regularly to Éire Danu to recharge their magic, but he hasn't been home." Her voice broke.

Amelia stepped forward. "I have it! He gave it to me when I was a child, so he could find me." She clutched at her chest.

"Come here!" The queen ordered.

Amelia knelt down beside Darian.

The queen hesitated. "This may hurt."

"I don't care, help him!"

The queen nodded and lifted a pale, slender hand. Amelia looked down as a small sphere of golden light was lifted from her chest. She felt its loss, but knew she could live without it, Darian couldn't.

Amelia watched as the queen gently pushed the sphere into Darian's chest. His body jerked once and slammed back down. He gave a shuddering sigh of relief, and his face became peaceful.

"Thank the Goddess! It's working!" The queen continued to bathe Darian in light. Amelia felt a wave of dizziness. Oron was at her side immediately helping her to lie flat.

"Amelia, Amelia can you hear me?" A soft voice called.

Amelia nodded with great effort.

"You need to stop fighting and let your body rest. It has to adjust to the absence of Darian's light. Sleep daughter of mine, and when you wake, your mate will be waiting for you."

"Promise?" Amelia asked.

"I promise, dear one, now sleep."

Amelia learned that when the Queen of all the Fae tells you to sleep, you sleep.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Amelia woke slowly and instinctively turned toward the beautiful masculine voice. The words were familiar; she had heard them before. Soft words sang of a candle's flame and a love that would endure wind and rain. Stepping from his dreams and into his life. When she opened her eyes, the singing stopped.

"How do you feel?" Darian asked, his voice soft and gentle.

She looked into his enchanting lavender eyes and began to cry. He was the prince from so long ago. She must be dreaming.

"Oh, my love, don't cry. I can withstand anything except the sight of your tears. Why are you so distraught?" He pulled her into his arms and rubbed her back.

"You're my dream prince, which means I must be dreaming." She sniffed. "You're probably really dead, and I've snapped, and this is a hallucination!"

"You really are related to Meryn, aren't you?" he asked before tilting her head back. Slowly and deliberately he began to kiss her face--her forehead, between her brows, each eyelid, her nose, and finally, her lips.

She blinked up at him. "This is real?"

He propped himself up, resting on his hand, and grinned. "You and my brother managed to achieve the impossible by bringing me home. Mother returned the light I gave you, and by being in Éire Danu, I was able to restore my inner light." He smiled. "I remember now, that dream from so long ago. After I gave you my light, I woke up, and the memory of you and the dream were gone. I thought I was turning feral, but in reality, I was adjusting to the loss of my light."

Amelia gasped and sat up in bed. "Oh my Goddess, this is all my fault! If I hadn't..."

Darian quieted her by placing a finger over her lips. "I remember feeling completely panicked as you stared up at me, so tiny and innocent. When I saw the fear in your eyes at the idea of being forgotten, I didn't even stop to think, I gave you my light. If we're placing blame, it should be placed solely at my feet. But in my defense, I had no idea that losing my light for such a short amount of time while I was unable to visit Éire Danu would almost turn me feral. "