Everyone laughs at that, but if I never have to decipher another cryptic message, it’ll be too soon. No offense, Grandma Moira.

“Finnian, Taryn,” Caiden continues, “may your reign be long and your love eternal. Congratulations to both of you, for everything. Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

As I clink my glass against Finn’s, I feel the weight of the past lift, replaced by the promise of the future we’ll build together.

“Cheers, solnyshko,” he says in my ear.

“Cheers, my kind, bright, warrior king.”

“You forgot the vicious part,” he teases.

“Sorry, I stand by my cinnamon roll assessment. Unless you want to show me how vicious you can be?”

His eyes flare wide before narrowing with clear intent. “Are you topping from the bottom, brat?”

Batting my eyelashes, I say, “Me? I wouldn’t dare, sire.”

I can’t help the wide grin spreading across my face as I watch the change take over him, going from gentle and sweet to dirty and dominant.

Finn shoves to his feet. “We have to go up to our room, we left the oven on.”

I snort-laugh. “We don’t have a— Ahh!”

My squeal when he picks me up and tosses me onto his shoulder is decidedly unladylike, but my king cares not. “Thanks for everything, Your Majesty, we’ll talk more later. No, make that tomorrow. Or next week.”

“Finn!” I shout through my laughter.

He starts to stride toward the exit, still talking to my mother over his shoulder—or, over my ass, to be precise. “You know what? Don’t find us, we’ll find you.”

I laugh the whole way up to our room until he tosses me onto the bed and I see the wicked glint in his eyes. Then I have a whole different reaction, centered at the apex of my thighs.

Biting my lip, I watch him with hooded eyes as he begins stripping off his shirt, revealing all those delicious slabs of muscle. “Careful,” I warn teasingly. “I’m still new at this whole One True Power thing. You make me too hot, and I could set you on fire.”

“Ah, little sun, I’ve told you before. Nothing can keep me away from you.” He places his knees on the bed and climbs up my body, bracing over me on his forearms. “Yesli ya goryu, ya goryu.”

If I burn, I burn.

And burn we did.

FORTY-TWOFINNIAN

Of the three living members of the Dark Fae royal line, I am no longer the inconsequential one. No longer the double-spare heir. No longer the one people underestimate.

I am, however, still treated like the baby of the family. That will never change, and I’m okay with that. Because to everyone else, I am now the One True King of Faerie.

A king of kings, just as my grandmother predicted I would be.

I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around it, to be honest. I don’t feel all that different. I still drink protein shakes for breakfast and workout and train with Taryn and the other warriors.

I still watch bad reality TV with my sisters-in-laws and the Woulfe brothers, I still hang out with Dmitri, and I still frequent the Devil’s Dungeon with the sexiest rope bunny in either realm.

Aine keeps saying to wait for the first time I open the court for the fae to air their grievances, then it’ll hit me, and I’m sure she’s right. If I didn’t have the love of my life beside me, I don’t know if I’d have the confidence for such a weighty position. But Taryn’s belief in me, her constant support and encouragement, gives me the reassurance that I can do this.

Plus, if my goofy-ass rebel of a brother can learn to become a great king, anyone can.

Tiernan pauses in straightening his bowtie and squints at me. “You trash-talking me in your head?”

Clapping a hand on his shoulder, I wink at him. “I would never, little-big bro. What’s this here?” I point at his chest, and when he looks down, I give him a light slap on the face and walk away laughing.

“You’re so lucky this is your big day, Finni, or I’d pummel you for that.”

I snort-laugh at the idea and turn around so Caiden can help me slip my tux jacket on. “Careful, Tier,” Caiden says as he smooths the jacket over my shoulders. “Our baby bro has an extremely powerful fiancée who can turn you into a newt if she so chooses.”

“Oh, she did that already,” Tier says casually. When we both stop what we’re doing and stare at him, he shrugs. “What? I got better.”

“Something’s not right with you,” Caiden replies.

“You’re just jealous because I’m better looking. Hurry up, you two, it’s almost time. I’ll go hold off the masses and the paparazzi.”

Once he’s gone from the small dressing room in the back of the ToR, I frown in confusion. “Nobody’s here except friends and family. What’s he—” Then it hits me. “He’s gonna find Fi for a closet-quickie, isn’t he?”

“Definitely,” Caiden says, trying to keep the amused grin off his face.

I chuckle and check my cuff links. “Good to know some things never change. Speaking of change, how are you doing? Bryn’s starting to look like she’s carrying a soccer team in there.”

“If you value your life, little brother, you will never let her hear you say that. She’s liable to explode your head before she remembers you’re her favorite brother-in-law.”

“Solid point. And I knew I was her favorite.”

“Don’t bother poking Tier with it, I’ll deny everything.”

Sitting on a padded bench, I get out my dress shoes and start putting them on. “Yeah, yeah. Seriously, though, I know this pregnancy hasn’t been easy on either of you, and she’s due like any minute now. How you holding up?”

Caiden sighs heavily, and I’ve noticed lately he always has stress lines around his eyes. “Ask me again once the baby is born healthy and my mate has made it through without complications.”

Finished tying the laces, I stand and place a supportive hand on his shoulder. “They’re both going to be perfectly fine. You’ll be up all night and changing dirty diapers before you know it. And if you or Bryn need anything, let me and Taryn know. We’re here for you both and the baby, always.”

“Thanks, Finni. You’re going to make a great uncle.”

“I’m going to make a great favorite uncle,” I say, glad to see the joke helping to lift some of the tension from my brother’s expression. “And I know I said it before, but it bears repeating. I’m glad Bryn accepted my offer. You were both meant to be rulers. I know you’ll do great things for the Light Fae.”

One of my first official acts as OTK was replacing the Day Court ruler. Since Bryn’s late father, Uther, had been Edevane’s cousin and only relative, it made her next in line. And as it was Edevane who murdered Uther and his mate Keira in cold blood, Bryn becoming the Light Queen after Taryn ashed him was a special kind of poetic justice.

“We’re looking forward to it,” he says genuinely. “Who’d have thought the three Verran Kings of Vegas would become Fae Court Kings all at the same time? We’ve made history a few times over, I’d say. Mother started lording it over all the other highborns at Temple services.”

I chuckle picturing it. “Just wait until she’s officially back in Tír na nÓg with her added power. Then she’ll really lay it on thick.”