Brynn's POV
We walked through the forest, which didn't seem so large when I ran through it earlier. Now I see how vast it is and how lucky I was to even be found. I was a mix of emotions. Frightened, angry, but for the first time in close to five years I was finally at peace. Jason did today what I couldn't do even after years of therapy. He helped me see that I needed to let the blame go and how much it was destroying me.
While I am still very hesitant about accepting Arlen's offer, I have decided to hear him out. I owe the man that much. We'll see how today goes and I'll decide whether to stay or go.

We made it to the clearing where I had watched Arlen burn the woman's face. He was still standing there and when he saw me, relief and happiness radiated over his handsome face. He walked halfway towards me and stopped himself.
"Brynn, I need to explain this to you." Arlen said.
"Why don't we talk about this? Just the two of us?" I asked. He nodded and I followed him through his beautiful kingdom. The homes were all a light beige with blue shutters and well maintained. I noticed several fae men who were using magic and saw glitter of all colors in the air. Suddenly two of them flew midair and landed in trees. I glanced back at Emma whose jaw was on the ground.
"What are they doing?" I asked Arlen.
He laughed a little bit. "Just practicing their magic. They don't hurt each other when they do this, in case you are wondering."
Two guards stood at a large brick home in the center of this paradise and as soon as they saw Arlen, they bowed and let us enter. Inside of Arlen's home is absolutely stunning, with marble columns and paintings all over the foyer. I noticed a dual staircase right in the center.

"Jason, Emma, we will be in my office. Please link me if anything needs my immediate attention." Arlen asked Jason who nodded. We went inside the office and I smiled as soon as I walked inside, seeing just how much this room was Arlen. He sat behind his massive mahogany desk and motioned me to sit down in front of him.
"You won't be sitting in front of me if you become my Queen, Brynn." Arlen smiled and gestured to the chair off to his right side. "That is where you will sit."
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I thought.
"So. Here we are." I stared at him, basking in how gorgeous he is. I really wish I could be so free and confident like Emma.

"Where do we start?" Arlen asked me.
"Good question." I said, feeling butterflies in my stomach.
Please Arlen. Give me something to make me stay. I really want to trust you.
"We haven't exactly had much time to get to know each other. Maybe we should do that first before I explain what you saw earlier." Arlen said.
"You start first." I watched him carefully. It's long been time that I put my therapy to use and try and discern red flags.
"I've been a King since I was 16 after my father passed away. My mother passed away several years ago and I have no other family. This is the only life I've ever known. I've never had a long-term girlfriend, though I've had some dates and lovers through the years. I'm a man after all. For a long time, Brynn, I thought my true mate had died! Because I felt the pain a fae feels when their mate dies over four years ago. Now I know that was because you were almost killed. Even after thinking you were already dead, I dated among my kind looking for a chosen mate who could live this life with me. But none of them met my standards." I raised my eyebrow at that.
"Yet you want some human nobody with social anxiety and a traumatic past? Do you know how contradictory that sounds?" I countered back, not missing a glimmer of a smirk on his face.
"You are the one my Goddess gave to me. I don't know why she gave you to me, but I am crazy about you Brynn even though we just met. Not just because you are breathtakingly beautiful, but the way your mind works absolutely fascinates me. You are intelligent and empathetic, and you have a strong sense of right and wrong that not many have. So yes, you are the one I want. I will have no other." I doubled over laughing and Arlen looked at me like I'd lost my mind.
"Why are you laughing?" Arlen said confusedly.
"You think I'm beautiful? Compared to Emma I look like the Raggedy Ann doll!!" I sputtered out between laughs. Arlen stared at me like I had two heads.
"Well Emma isn't my mate. You are, and I am so very happy about that because I've always had quite the affinity for redheads." I don't miss the lust Arlen's eyes. I felt my entire body heat up and dropped my head quickly for a second to hide the flush creeping into my face.
"So what do you want to know about me?" I asked him, looking him in his eyes. Arlen leaned over his desk and stared at me.
"Everything." He whispered.
"I'm from Portland, Maine. My parents died in an accident when I was 19 and I've been on my own since. I met Patrick Jenkins months after they died and yeah, I'm not going into detail about that s**t stain. But I've been in Port Angeles the last few years. I got a job working with Lorenzo quickly and have been with him since. He's rough around the edges, but I really like him and I love my work. I don't want to give it up if I don't have to." I watched Arlen to gauge his response.
"Brynn right now, we have to keep you safe. Earlier you found out two people close to you were killed. Talk to Lorenzo and see what you can come up with, if you need me to help I can. I have a pretty good relationship with him." I had to agree. Arlen was right. I'm a sitting duck if I'm on my own making a delivery and I'm in an area with no phone signal and no way to get help.
"Does Lorenzo know what you are?" Arlen nodded.
"He's a supernatural too. Well half of one, his mother was a human."
"NO WAY!! What is he!!" I shrieked, completely shocked out of my mind.
"Brace yourself. Lorenzo is half demon. That's all you get from me the rest comes from him. It's a sad story." Arlen thoughtfully said.
"Wait demon demon? Like with horns and all that?" I sputtered out.
"Yes. When Lorenzo found out what he was, he came to me for help. He met a human woman and wanted to live a normal life, so I helped him bind his demon powers so he can never use them. For gratitude he offered me his delivery services. Grimes, our regular driver, is also a supernatural though I'm not sure what he is."
"Grimey's smelly a** is probably a gremlin!!" I muttered under my breath causing Arlen to double over in hysterics.
"Jason and I joke we always know when he's coming. Just follow the smell of smoke and beer." Arlen said laughingly.
"Arlen, I've been in therapy for the last four years. My social anxiety gets really bad and I get overwhelmed easily. Crowds are a big trigger for me and always have been. I'm very much a homebody and like my peace and space. It took Emma months just to get me to finally come out to the Old Port with her. That's why I'm very shocked your Goddess or whoever mated me to you. I think a Queen would have to be social at the very least." Arlen smiled at me softly.
"Now that we've talked about ourselves and our vulnerabilities, I don't know what to say except how sorry I am you had to see that today. Just know it was never my intention to come off as a monster. But it had to be done." Arlen said.
At least he didn't dodge the subject I was wanting to discuss.
I took a deep breath and looked right into Arlen's bright blue eyes. "Jason told me why you punished that woman. It's no secret that I don't understand your world. Hell, I may never fully understand it. I am just a human, but I am also a woman who was the victim of a horrible act of violence. Seeing you do that was very disturbing and Jason tells me you did this to someone else recently. Again, he made it clear that there were extenuating circumstances, but there has to be another way to show your kind and other supernaturals your capacity as a ruler without maiming someone permanently." Arlen stared at me and surprisingly, I saw no anger in his eyes at all.
"The other woman was the Witch Ruler, Desdemona Banker. She hid the fact that a wolf/witch hybrid named Luca Lombardo is her nephew. Luca teamed up with another wolf named Brent Serrano and to make a long story short they murdered a guard, a human woman, and both have probably been responsible for more. Desdemona cost us valuable time and resources. Did I act in haste? Perhaps and I admit a bit out of aggravation too. But do I regret it? Absolutely not. Desdemona is a very captivating woman and well known for her wiles. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Luca Lombardo is very dangerous, Brynn. He has the power of invisibility and is causing mayhem at a wolf pack I am trying to figure out a way to stop!"
I took deep breaths to keep from getting overwhelmed. This would be what I deal with if I accept this life. Battling enemies and people who Arlen displeased in some way, all while trying to help him run a kingdom!
"Brynn, tell me what you are thinking?" Arlen coaxed me.
"This is a lot to take in. I think I get it now though. If I accept you, I can't let my humanity get in the way." I told him softly.
"Your humanity is what's going to make you a wonderful Queen. It's one of the things I love about you already. To survive what you have and to maintain that part of you without lashing hurt and anger on the world is nothing short of a miracle." I felt a stray tear run down my cheek and quickly wiped it away.
Jason was right when we talked earlier today. Arlen can't afford to show mercy. And if I choose to stay by his side, neither can I.
I know just who I want to feel my wrath and see just how unmerciful I can be.
"There is something I want you to do for me, someone I want you to show absolutely no mercy too." I don't know where the darkness in my voice came from but it made my blood run cold.
"Your ex." Arlen raised an eyebrow at me.
"I don't care how you and Jason end him. But do it and do it soon. Patrick's trial is next week, and he can very well walk out a free man considering he's offing witnesses left and right. I'm done running, Arlen. I want that piece of s**t's blood and brains all over his cell!!" I hissed out, shocked at how feral I am sounding.
Arlen stared at me both in shock and admiration. "Consider it done, my girl." Arlen assured me.