Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
MAX
I’m ashamed at how quickly I fall asleep.
I should have fought harder, longer. I shouldn’t have closed my eyes. I shouldn’t have found his heartbeat against mine comforting, nor how his light breath stirred my hair mesmerizing.
The heir is a burning ball of fire at my back. Although the room is sweltering in heat, it’s the kind of warmth that infuses itself into your body, bleeding out the worry and pain until slumber claims you.
The prick knew what he was doing.
But thankfully, the need to escape was stronger than his aura. I awoke with a start, nightmares strangely absent, his hand around my waist, breath fanning my cheek. Glancing back at him, I take in his strong nose, those thick black eyelashes against sharp cheeks.
It’s not fair that this bastard is so handsome.
Slipping from the bed, I let his hand fall to the soft bedding, my lean form falling to the floor quietly. I stand, staring at him, waiting for movement.
Nothing. A slight snore, but no twitch, no ebony claw pulling me back.
Silently, I thank Cella and Ger and grab my things.
I didn’t expect the heir this evening. After my walk through the gardens with Fee days ago, I let my mind focus on constructing an escape from the Black Palace.
I was done living in the dark, forced into this role, Kaden’s chained mate. Forced to allow him to dictate what I did, or who I was. I never asked to be queen, I never asked for a mate. I never asked for the danger of Zelos one day taking me, using me to harm the world.
The only way to survive was to leave. Escape. It was better than relying on a Fae who would rather shove poisoned food down my throat.
Pausing, I bite my lip. Spending days with his avoidance, it was easy to build him up as the monster. He’s done enough to claim that title.
But now, seeing how peaceful he looks in slumber, it’s hard to see him as a true beast and not the charming Fae who stole my heart in the forest. Who has yet to return it.
Who has been forced to be the monster, like me. Who has seen me and never coward.
I shake my head. No. Escape. That’s the only way the world—and I—survive.
Grabbing my bag, I slip the cloak over my shoulder, throwing on worn training boots covered in sand. Fee had started training me and my body aches from her fists. Soon, she wanted to try swordplay.
Thankfully, I’ll be gone before that.
I sneak out of the bedchambers, into the deserted hall, my mental map showing me where to go.
I stay to the shadows, hand to the wall while the other palms the dagger’s hilt, keeping my steps light.
I’m atrocious in the dark, and Dark Fae can see better, but I have to move.
My only chance is to be quick and get out before being found.
I finally find the door that leads to the gardens. No guards are on patrol, and none are stationed at the exit. I’m not sure what to make of that, nor do I care. I just need to get out.
Maybe the heir was right—I do tend to run head first into danger, whether fleeing or helping.
The dry heat of the Shadowlands strikes me in the face, a welcomed breeze that stirs back my hair.
The red haze is gone, only inky black skies and white stars shining overhead.
They shine so brightly that they guide my path as I stumble through the lava rocks, to the far back trees.
The gardens smell like burnt lilacs and black jasmine, and I inhale.
It smells like freedom. I’m almost there.
I don’t breathe again until my hand touches the bark of the first tree.
Glancing up and back, I wait. No shout of alarm, no stomping boots of guards ready to take me back. There’s a tingling on my cheek, but there isn’t anything else.
Inhaling, I stare into the pitch-black hole of the forest. Here, not even the light of the stars enters, the black gnarled trees blocking all essence from penetrating.
At least that much, Fee was right. Licking my lips, I wait and listen. There are no sounds, nothing to alert me of another presence. No animals, bugs, critters. Just complete emptiness.
I grab my courage and dart inside.
“On Cella’s Crown,” I grumble, promptly tripping over a branch. I can’t see anything more than a few paces in front of my face. The trees are large, with long roots that kick up the sand and rocks, looping along the path.
I trip twice, my boots snagging and I curse under my breath.
It’s going to be a long walk. But I have little choice, picking my way through.
There weren’t any candles to grab and even if so, a light in here would be detected easily.
My only choice is to go slowly so as not to twist an ankle and ruin my plans.
It’s only a few fumbling steps into the tarry mess when a branch snaps behind me.
Cold fear dampens my brow, my spine stiffening. My hands wave into the air, falling against the rough bark and I still. Nothing should be here.
Is it an animal? A creature? Fee didn’t indicate anything was haunting this area, but it would be just like a Dark Fae not to give all the information.
Brushing my hair out of my eyes, I grab my dagger. If it’s a beast, I’m not going to be easy prey, because I’ve had enough of that to last a lifetime.
I quickly rush forward, hands outstretched to catch against the next tree, knee knocking into the trunk.
Biting back a curse, blood scents the air as I press my cheek to the side, willing the pain to pass.
A deep scrap but I’ll live. I just need to stay silent and see if whatever is tracking me will move on.
“You didn’t think you’d escape, did you, Max?”
My body locks, fear and adrenaline coursing through my limbs. Panic claws at my throat, but I fight it down.
Of course, he found me. I was stupid to think the Dark Fae prince would be asleep long.
I have little in the way of defense without my magic, but I have my dagger. I have my wits. And I’m desperate. I might not be able to kill him, but I can take a few blows. If I injure him enough to stall him without seriously injuring myself, I have a chance at escaping.
It’s a long shot. But it’s the only option I have because if not, my freedom is gone and I’m back in chains.
Carefully, I pick my way through the trees, keeping them to my side to block me from his impeccable sight.
“Are you hiding from me?” The voice is further away, echoing in the darkness. A shiver of delight runs over my shoulders, his voice still doing unholy things to my insides.
This bond is horrible. My feet go in the opposite direction, because all I want to do is to turn back.
“Kitten, do you want to be chased?”
It echoes to my left and I turn sharply, going right. The more distance the better.
I try to ignore how my heart beats like a heavy drum in my chest, at the desire that courses through my lower belly. At how my knees shake and lust so tangible strikes me.
At how wet I grow. Fucking Dey.
“I remember in the halls. You smelled absolutely divine. Practically begging for me to take you. Is that what this is?” He inhales loudly, making a show of it. “You don’t smell afraid. In fact, you smell… lustful.”
For the love of all the Gods, I’m in trouble.
I hate him. Hate that he stole me away, pushed me into this union, this bond. He’s taken everything from me. There’s no way I truly want him—want this.
The dampness between my thighs says differently.
There’s a rustling behind me and I dart quickly behind another tree, my toes catching on roots. My shoulder slams into the side, breath puffing from my lips as pain radiates up my arm.
“You know, Max.” His voice is closer, a deadly purr, and I stop, clamping my lips closed to remain silent. “You’ve broken my control. Obliterated it. Turned me into some weak Fae, a drooling beast for you.”
I snort quietly. Nothing breaks his control. Not even me. I might be able to push him, rile him up, but there’s no way I can break him.
Something snaps behind me. Too close. He’s too close. Pushing away from the tree, I run further into the darkness, the trees thicker, growing together into a tangled mess of limbs and trunks. I’m completely off track from the path, but right now, I just need to stay away from him.
Tripping, I fall to my knees, jagged rocks stabbing into my palms, slicing them open. The scent of blood hangs heavily around me and as I curse mentally. I know the heir can smell it. Oh Gods…
A dead weight crashes into the trees behind me as if pulled by invisible threads and I yelp, covering my head as splinters fly by my face. The impact is deafening as a growl echoes along my back. Seti’s Hell, he’s found me.
“Do you like knowing you do this to me?” He stalks closer, voice more animalistic than I’ve ever heard. His fangs clash together and my body shudders. “Turned me into some shriveling mess, begging for scraps from you?”
“Begging for scraps?” I ask, turning to look back at him, mouth twisting. I barely see his outline. “You’ve taken anything you can get. When have you begged me?”
Wrong move as he surges forward. His eyes are black, hair wild, still naked save for the undergarments. His lean, powerful body is coiled with tension. Every muscle clenches as he fights whatever impulses lie under his skin.
His razor-sharp fangs glint and his black claws scratch against the bark. Swallowing loudly, my body hums with delicious dark need. There’s a trickle of fear, to be sure, but that’s not what causes my knees to tremble or dries my mouth.
I stand, planting my back foot.
“I would beg, if you let me.” His chest heaves, body still. “If you would listen, obey me when I try to tell you things. Instead, you’ve left me like this.” He gestures to his perfect physique and I snort.
“So, this is my fault?” I dust the mud from my legs and dart my eyes around. We’re surrounded in shadows and I don’t know which way to run for freedom. “How very royal of you to place blame on someone lesser than you.”
“You wanted me to claim you. Admit it, Max.” He steps closer.
“You told me how you wanted my marks on you, you wanted others to see who owned you. You practically begged me to take everything,” he spews.
“So I did. You offered your heart, so I took it. You offered your soul, so I have claimed it. You wanted me to mark your body, so I did. You have no one to blame but yourself.”
“And what did you do with it?” My heel digs into the dirt. “Used it against me.”
“I had little choice,” he pleads. “And now I’m begging for your trust, your love again. Things I’ve been trying to get back.”
My ankle twists, ready to spring into action. Forget not being able to see, I just need to leave.
Because everything he said is right. I offered myself to him, consequences be damned. I can rage against him until I’m old and wrinkled, but I wanted this.
I won’t say it aloud. “You need to earn those things,” I insist, lifting my chin.
“Maybe I just need to take it back.” He smirks, looking down at my legs, the blood that drips. I grow wetter, nipples pebbling. “Don’t run, kitten. I won’t stop what happens if you do.”
A shiver of anticipation racks my body even as his warning hangs between us. This is the most untamed he’s been, the most uncontrollable. Not in the dungeon, in the middle of battle has he been this wrecked.
Strangely, I enjoy it. Knowing he is this way because of me, because I have the power to do this to him.
I can break his control, his mask, pull out those baser instinct.
I can see who he is at his core. No one else gets this vulnerability, this rawness.
I get to see the monster, the darkness, that calls to mine, that makes me feel at once normal and desired.
It’s heady, this power, over someone like him. And I want to be that person. The only one he begs for, kneels for. Me.
I know freedom is close, but this feels different. This isn’t just escape, this is giving into the bond and instincts, the need to have him take more than just my emotions. This is him choosing me, and me choosing him.
And if I happen to get away? Then the bond no longer matters. I’m free once more.
I can handle that. Mostly.
“Try to catch me,” I whisper before my feet push off.