CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Rave
It’s hours and hours later when Soren tracks Vera to the Shifter Kingdom. I don’t know why the fuck she chose to go there. Maybe because she knew I wouldn’t want to start a war with another kingdom, or maybe she has connections there. She’s drained from zipping when I find her sitting in her room at an inn, her head in her hands. Although she is a truth-sayer, Vera isn’t otherwise magically powerful, and she only zips in emergencies—like trying to escape me after I found out she is a traitor. Vale isn’t in the room, and it’s obviously why Soren was able to trace her.
“Where is Vale?” I ask, and she jumps, taking in Soren and me. Our arms are crossed, and our feet are spread apart.
“He got upset,” she replies, leaning back in her chair. “He wanted to go home and tried to run.”
“Where is he, Vera?” I seethe, slamming my hands down on the table. “Where is my son?”
“I’ll tell you once I know that you’re not going to do anything to me,” she replies, lifting her chin. Her red hair is disheveled and purple circles are under her eyes. Her emerald gown is ripped and has something spilled on the front. She’s usually always so put together, but now she’s a fucking mess on the outside, as much as she’s always been on the inside. I just don’t know why she has done this. I’ve given her everything, not for her, but for Vale. And yet she has no loyalty to the crown her son will one day wear.
“You betrayed our kingdom. You got my father killed. Why did you do it?” I ask, my brow furrowing.
Her gaze turns speculative. “You were meant to be mine, Rave. I did everything I could to have you. I got pregnant and gave you a son! And what did you do? You found your fated mate and tried to brush me aside. You didn’t even let me in the castle anymore. Did you think I was just going to take that?”
“So you did purposely get pregnant.”
I’ve always known she did it to trap me, but I want to hear her say it. Although I could never regret Vale, no matter how he came about. It’s time for the truth-sayer to finally speak her own truth.
“Of course I did!” She smirks, her green eyes flickering with satisfaction and spite. Her red, chipped nail taps along her mouth. “I wanted you tied to me. I wanted to be queen. And I would have been if it wasn’t for that fucking common peasant you decided to bond with.”
“Say one more word about my mate, and I will make this ten times worse for you,” I growl the words out in a deceptively calm tone. “Where is my son?”
Bane, Kai, and Axe arrive, stepping into the room and taking in the situation. Kai steps forward unthreateningly and approaches Vera, tilting his head to the side as he studies her. “Vale is with a friend of hers not far from here. He’s safe. She planned on hiding him and raising him to hate you and then come back to kill you and claim the crown one day.”
Vera’s jaw drops, and then she stands abruptly, the chair falling to the floor behind her. “Get the fuck out of my head.”
Kai can mind read?
I’ve only ever met a few people who can do it, and I see the quieter of the brothers in a different light now. He’s probably so fucking quiet because he’s always listening in. Although, with my strong mental shields, there’s no hope of him hopping around in my head.
My shadows reach out and restrain her, one covering her mouth so I don’t have to listen to any of the evil sprouting from the lips I once kissed. “We’ll bring her with us until we find him.”
Kai keeps searching her mind for clues until we stumble across the house. Being a void, Vale has never been more inconvenient, and knowing Soren will never be able to track him in an emergency like this is a fucking worry in itself.
“Keep her back until we get Vale out of here,” I say quietly to Soren, who nods and steps away with her while the rest of us enter the premises.
We find Vale outside, practicing with his sword, slicing the small blade through the air. No one else is home. All I feel is pure relief that he is okay and will soon be back where he belongs. I never once thought Vera would try to take him from me, from his legacy, but I’ve now learned the hard way that she is more spiteful and vindictive than I ever gave her credit for. She thinks no harm will come to her because she is the mother of my firstborn child.
Looks like we both underestimated each other.
“Vale?” I call out, and he turns with a grin and runs straight to me, jumping in my arms. I kiss the top of his dark, silky hair.
“I knew you’d come,” he says, hugging me. I hold him for a few warm moments, thanking my lucky stars I found him. His icy-blue eyes, so like my own, look up at me with apprehension.
“I didn’t want to leave, Dad. I don’t understand why we had to.”
“I know,” I say, taking a deep breath. “It’s going to be okay. Are you here alone?”
He nods. “Mom’s friend, Milana, was here with me, but she went to the markets to get us something to eat. She’s really nice.”
I don’t give a fuck how nice she is. She helped Vera, so she is now my enemy.
Axe, Kai, and Bane walk out of the house in unison, like a team of professional assassins who have been working together for years. And they probably have.
“It’s all clear. No one is around,” Axe says, grinning when his intelligent green eyes land on Vale. “Well, hello there, little prince.”
“These are Astrid’s brothers,” I say, hoping the comment makes Bane uncomfortable because I know the bastard wants to fuck her. “They are going to take you home, okay? And I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay,” Vale murmurs, letting me go. He turns and faces them all. “Want to spar when we get back? I’ve been practicing.”
Axe and Kai chuckle, and Kai rests his arm on Vale’s shoulder. Looks like my son might have picked up a few more uncles.
Bane doesn’t follow them. Instead, he lingers with me, his dark eyes not giving away anything.
Together, in silence, we go and find Vera and Soren. The closer I get to her, the tighter the knot in my stomach becomes. I know people think I’m a heartless monster and I can kill with no conscience, and in some cases, they would be right.
But this is different.
What happens next is going to affect Vale. And that’s what hurts the most.
I’m not going to enjoy it, but it’s something that has to be done.
Vera is a threat to Astrid, to the kingdom, and now to her son.
And no one fucking threatens what’s mine.