She woke up to see the fire still going and Milori sitting near the door of the cave. She got up and wrapped her cape around herself to go over to him.
He looked up with a gentle smile and held up his hand to help her sit.
"Are you alright?" She felt his brow to feel it slightly warm.
"I fell asleep by the fire all night. I'm feeling better."
"You should have awoken me." She leaned back to look at his wings, but they seemed alright.
"You needed to sleep. Are you feeling better?"
She nodded.
"We need to get you back home." He started to stand, but she caught his arm to keep him there.
"Milori...I'm sorry."
He sat and slipped his hand into hers. "It's alright," he said calmly.
"No, it's not," she protested and looked down at their hands. Gently extracting hers, she looked down at her lap. "I was awful, and you shouldn't forgive me. I almost cost you your wings."
"And almost paid for it with your life," he interjected and looked out over the majestic mountains as the golden rays of a new sun touched the peaks. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have made up that kidnapping story." He looked at her intently with concern furrowing his brow. "You are a very strong-minded fairy, and I was scared of you getting hurt. You have a tendency to disregard your own safety, especially when it comes to others. It is an admirable trait but also a dangerous one. I lost my temper...and Clarion?" He slipped his hand into hers again. "I do not laugh at you. Your temper delights me-most of the time," he added with a small smile and she blushed in embarrassment with her own small smile. "I simply like seeing you passionate because you are always so composed and distant. I deeply respect you, and I hope it doesn't come across otherwise."
"Thank you, Milori," she answered softly. "I did think you were laughing at me, which only infuriated me more."
He sighed and turned his gaze back out to the view. "Just because we are rulers doesn't mean we aren't fairies too-prone to mistakes and regrets. There are stresses and burdens we carry that at times will make us snap. And yet we're expected to handle these with wisdom and grace while being alone."
Her head whipped around to him, and she tucked a stray lock of auburn hair behind her ear. "You do not have a mate?" Belatedly, she realized her rudeness and covered her mouth.
With a sigh, he shook his head. "I was born when Pixie Hollow was a day old. A mate arrives within the month, and it has been nearly two decades."
She stared at his profile, her mind racing. She had been born the day Pixie Hollow was born. Could it be? But their kinds could not possibly mix. Her eyes searched the snow at her feet. Was one of them born on the wrong side? It couldn't be. They were both rulers, meant to be alone so they could focus on ruling-that was it. It wasn't because they were destined. He irritated her to no end, for Neverland's sake.
"Are you alright? You look pale," he frowned and cupped her cheek.
There was that electricity again where he touched her skin. Her eyes flew to him, searching for the answer within.
When she didn't respond, he gently pulled her to her feet and scooped her up to fly back to the border.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she looked up at his face so close to hers and saw him for the first time. He was beautiful but also gentle, forgiving, and wise. And irritating. He was nothing like she imagined in a mate. And suddenly it seemed so preposterous. He was a winter fairy, for Neverland's sake!
He set her to her feet at the border where the guard was still waiting.
She stepped back and wasn't sure what to say for him helping her again. "Um...thank you. Again."
"Queen Clarion, you are far too late for your treatment," the guard interrupted.
"Enough, Bernard," she said quickly and held a hand up to him.
Milori's brow furrowed. "Treatment? You didn't mention you needed to get back for a treatment."
"It's nothing," she rushed out.
"My queen, we must go. The healers were adamant about timing."
She turned to Bernard with a warning look.
"May I ask what treatment?" Milori inquired.
"Nothing," she said, turning back to him.
He dropped his eyes from hers with a nod. "You need to get back home and rest."
She sighed, feeling guilty for not telling him when he had been so generous. "I'm supposed to put sugar on my back and honey on my wings every few hours."
"Honey?" he frowned.
"To keep them down so my back heals."
He carefully pulled aside her cape to see her wings start to lift. She hissed in a breath, and he quickly lowered her cape.
"You must go." He scooped her up and carried her to the guard. "Fly her home. Her wings are opening, and her back cannot take that strain without her wing support frame breaking." He handed her over. "Go!"
As the guard flew away with her, she looked over his shoulder to see Milori standing at the border looking worried.