All fae have a One--One person who strengthens their magic and enriches their life. A perfect mate. So why can't I find mine? What is a fae princess to do when she can’t find the prince she’s meant to spend the rest of her life with? I have to find him now, for the sake of my kingdom. Evil forces are moving in, and the only way I can come into my full power is to find my perfect mate. If I don't, the magical barrier that protects us will crumble because my magic won't be strong enough to hold it. But... I feel this strange pull to not on, but four different men! What in the world is going on? Can I be mated to all four of these men and still save my kingdom, or will what seems to be an asset turn out to be our undoing? The One is the first in a new reverse harem series by the author of Realm of the Chosen and Ember’s Flames.
View More*Maerilee*My barrier hums around us, seemingly unnoticed by everyone but Permiton. His hand squeezes mine and the tension in my chest eases as I realize the barrier may not even be necessary. Permiton hasn’t led us wrong yet, and I know that he’s seen something in the future that makes him confident the rebel’s aren’t hear to harm us.I drop the barrier as a measure of good faith, my fears easing as Caelan steps forward, his sword sheathed, and drops to one knee. The other rebels follow suit, their heads bowed in reverence, their arms crossed over their chest in a sign of Altinnian allegiance. Tears spring to my eyes as I realize that Caelan didn’t come to attack us. He’s here to help us.Caelan looks up at me, his expression steady and filled with deep respect.“Princess Maerilee,” he starts, his voice carrying a weight that quiets even the rustling trees around us. “I apologize for the
*Maerilee*The morning light filters through the canopy of trees, casting soft golden rays over our little shelter. Through the leaves, I can see the waters shimmer, still and peaceful, as though they’ve forgotten the chaos of the day before. River is still sleeping soundly, his arm draped around me as his chest slowly rises and falls. There’s nothing left on his skin but a faint silver line from where his wound healed.I carefully extract myself from his arms, surprised at how reluctant I feel to leave him. His face is peaceful, an innocent smile playing on his lips as he dreams. I place a gentle, chaste kiss on his forehead before I dress.Once I’m decent, I go to stand at the edge of the river, the sound of the waterfall a soothing backdrop, but my mind is anything but calm. Something inside of me has irrevocably changed since this journey began. It isn’t just my relationships with my Four, but there’s a growi
*Maerilee*The world around me blurs into chaos as the guardian rises from the water, its iridescent form casting a ghostly glow over the riverbank. It advances toward our group, though it seems done with me now that River has been shot. I hear the sharp, metallic twang of arrows and the clash of magic as Akin and Brook fight it off, but my focus is solely on River.He’s sprawled on the ground, his face pale and his chest heaving as blood pours from his wounds. My hands press desperately against his chest, trying to staunch the flow, but the crimson warmth seeps through my fingers, relentless and terrifying. I can’t make it stop, and he’s fading fast.“Stay with me, River,” I demand, my voice trembling. “Please, don’t do this.”His skin is cold to the touch, his breaths shallow and ragged, raspy and labored. Panic claws at my chest, threatening to choke me, but I force myself to focus. I tear a strip of cloth from my tunic, pressing it against the wound near his heart, but it’s not en
*River*The air shifts as we cross through the remnants of the barrier, its hum of magic dissipating behind us. For a moment, I can only focus on the ache in my legs and the burn in my lungs, the physical strain of the journey catching up to me. But as the path widens, my breath catches for an entirely different reason.Past the barrier Permiton’s just broken is a large, expansive grotto. It stretches before us, a breathtaking expanse of green and blue, shimmering like something out of a dream. A massive waterfall cascades from the mountain above, its waters glowing faintly in the dim light. The air is thick with moisture, cool and refreshing, and the sound of the rushing water drowns out everything else.A sound like rumbling rocks comes from behind us, and we turn to see that the barrier we’ve just come through is back up. My heart falls, crushed by the thought that we’ll have to go through that again. Though Permiton did most of the work, he still drew a lot of power from all of us
*Maerilee*The sun shines down brightly on us as we press forward, the air thick with the promise of something monumental just ahead. My chest feels heavy, not from the climb or the journey, but from the weight of everything riding on us reaching Bright Waters. Time feels like a noose tightening around my neck, pulling tighter with every passing moment. This journey has already taken much longer than I’d ever anticipated. If we don’t get back to Altinna soon, I fear what we’ll find when we return.Brook walks by my side, quiet but focused. Recently, I’ve come to rely on his calm, steady presence, in his new sense of confidence and authority. And now, my heart swells with the love I have for him, something I did not expect at all. It took me by surprise, knocking the wind out of me, but it makes trusting him, relying on him, that much easier.“How much further?” I ask, my voice a whisper against the rustling leaves.Brook glances at me, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Less than a d
*River*The path winds endlessly through the rocky terrain, the air thick with the hum of magic. I should feel some sense of triumph, I suppose. After all, we’re nearing Bright Waters, the mythical source of all of the power in Oceana. Legend has it that it is the single greatest source of power in the entire realm, maybe in all of the realms. But all I feel is frustration, a simmering anger that burns low and constant, its flames licking at the edges of my thoughts.For days now, I’ve watched Maerilee grow closer to everyone but me. Akin is always at her side, a steady rock she leans on without hesitation. He, at least, I can understand. He has been her bodyguard for so many years. There’s been a trust there that runs deeper than Bright Waters themselves. Even if I don’t exactly like Akin, I can respect their bond.But how the hell has she allowed Permiton to worm his way back into her good graces? None of us missed the way
*Brook*The air at the top of the cliff is cooler, sharper, and the electric hum of magic is only getting stronger the closer we get to the Waters. My body aches from the climb, but standing here, looking out over the rugged, unforgiving terrain below and the shimmering haze ahead that marks Bright Waters, I feel an intense rush of dopamine. We’ve made it this far, and we’ll make it the rest of the way too. I also begin to understand that we’re only going to make it together. For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.The rest of the group takes a moment to catch their breath, their exhaustion palpable. Maerilee has nearly collapsed against Akin, who has her in a tight grip. After her fall, he’s completely unwilling to leave her side, though he isn’t the only one who feared for her. Still, I know that he needs this more than I do right now, so I don’t let it bother me.
*Akin*I wait for Maerilee, but she doesn’t come back that night. It turns my stomach, nearly sends me into a rage when I realize that she’s spending the night with Permiton. What does she possibly see in him? What smooth words can he possibly offer her to explain away his indiscretions? It’s not that she’s with another man. I’ve gotten used to it. It’s that she’s with him!He’s a traitor, pure and simple. I don’t care what she believes. This is one point I can’t trust her on. I’ve followed her here, and I’ve seen that she is often right, but for some reason, Permiton is a blind spot for her. I eventually slip into a fitful, restless sleep, often hoping I’ll wake up, and she’ll be beside me, but when I awake in the morning, she and Permiton are walking back to our camp, looking freshly fucked and bright as the sun.Part of me wonders what would happen to Maerilee’s powers if Permiton were to “accidentally” fall off the cliff to his death. It’s a selfish thought, of course. She clearl
*Maerilee*The sun beats down on us mercilessly as we trudge forward, the rocky terrain stretching endlessly in every direction. My legs ache, and every step feels heavier than the last, but I push on. We have to. There’s no room for weakness now, not with the stakes as high as they are.Brook leads the way with Akin and River close behind, their sharp gazes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. I follow, and Permiton lingers at the rear, as silent and enigmatic as ever.The landscape changes as we go. The jagged hills grow steeper, the vegetation sparser. By the time we reach the base of a tall cliff, the sun is sinking low in the sky, casting long shadows across the ground. The cliff towers over us, a wall of stone that seems almost impossible to scale. My heart sinks at the sight of it. There doesn’t seem to be a path around it.Brook turns to face us, his usually lighthearted expression somber.“This
MaerileeThe dog treat trembles in my hand, faint pulses of magic swirling around it like threads of silver. I close my eyes, focusing on the barrier I’m trying to create. The energies stretch from my fingertips, encasing the treat in an invisible shield, or at least what I hope is an invisible shield. My breath slows as I concentrate, willing the magic to hold steady. A faint hum tickles the back of my mind. My magic is attempting to do what it’s supposed to but deep down, I can feel how weak it is, how flimsy the barrier must be.I open my eyes, my gaze flicking to my dog, Duchess, curled up in a ball on my bed. Her small body rises and falls softly as she sleeps, completely unaware of the challenge I’m facing.The barrier needs to be perfect. If I can’t even manage this, what hope do I have of fortifying the one protecting our kingdom?“Just focus, Maerilee,” I murmur to myself. My fingers flex, sending another ripple of energy through the shield. It looks solid enough, a faint shi...
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