Chapter 20
Chapter
Twenty
MAX
It takes me the better part of the day to scour the halls for the heir. There aren’t any guards—again—who I can ask for directions, and the siblings are off doing whatever they’re supposed to do. The servants bow but hurry away from me, as if speaking to me would result in their deaths.
I’m used to that. The Coven children acted the same.
Finding myself on the lower floors, in a quieter part of the castle, hand on my dagger, I listen for footsteps.
The fact that it’s so quiet, the hum of palace life distant, with no other Fae around puts me on edge.
This castle has become claustrophobic with the number of officials everywhere, but here, it’s completely deserted.
The first four doors I open are either servant’s corridors or storage rooms of plain linen. One room holds old furniture, covered in dust and warped from age. But no heir.
Then, as if a flame ignites inside my chest, I sense him. Is this the bond? A physical tether between us? I’ve never felt it before. In fact, I actively fought the bond, trying to keep its influence small.
By opening myself up to him, in the forest, did it rekindle, solidify somehow?
I follow the pull, the flame growing larger, brighter, a beacon in these long, dark halls. It leads me to the end, around the corner, to an opened door.
My body trembles at his lilting voice drifts out.
It’s been days since I’ve seen him and I sigh, relief palpable. After the night in the forest, he all but disappeared, his siblings recalling he was needed elsewhere. I tried to play it off as if it didn’t bother me, but now, hearing his voice, feeling his heat through the door, I want to weep.
I’ve missed him.
That relief is tempered by the realization he might have killed an innocent female. But I’m going to find out for myself who Sose was and what happened to her, and how it relates to me.
Before I push through the door, I wait outside, listening to his conversation.
“It’s still not enough,” he growls, slamming his hand on a table. Something rattles and falls. Someone shifts, groaning loudly. “We don’t have enough.”
“Calm yourself, nephew.” Oslo. His gentle tone is at odds with Kaden’s sharp irritation.
“I am calm.”
“Tell that to your shadows.” Reid. I look through the crack, only able to see Kaden, the room darkening as he glares to the side.
Darkness weaves into the air, smoky air that’s thicker than regular shadows.
“Relax, big brother. You’ve spent the last few days talking to sympathetic lords. We’ll get the numbers we need.”
“Not soon enough.” He slams his fist into the table again. “Zelos is close to securing his deals. The other Fae are ready to follow him into battle. I don’t have to remind you all what that means.”
“He’ll use her,” another voice responds. Fee. “We’re not going to let that happen.”
“Everything rests on getting more lords to our side. Without them, the coup fails. And I will not see him take her away from me.”
The possessiveness causes goosebumps to break out over my arms and a delightful warmth rises inside my gut. And embarrassingly, I grow wet.
Kaden tilts his head, an animal listening to a far-off sound of danger, before he curses under his breath. “I know you’re there, kitten. I can smell you.”
Godsdammit. Those amber eyes catch mine through the crack and I shove it open. No use in pretending I’m not there.
Stepping into the small, but tastefully decorated office, I see the table at the center is covered in papers, the chair pushed to the side, the walls covered in bookshelves lined in old books and maps. The room doesn’t smell aged but of campfire, secrets, and spice.
Around the table are the siblings, Kaden, his uncle and no one else. Clandestine.
He leans over the desk, staring at me, smirk lining his lips. I don’t know how, but I know he’s imaging me from our night together, as his eyes drag over my skin, a lover’s touch that leaves a trail of heat behind. I know he can smell my arousal and I cross my arms.
“A coup?” I ask, Fee rushing to close the door. “That’s what you’ve been planning? That’s what you’ve kept hidden?”
Why keep something like that from me? Did he not trust me?
Or did he not trust these halls?
“How much did you hear?”
Glancing to Fee, my hands wave over the parchments. “Is that really why you’ve been training me? You all are going to start a coup and needed me to fight?”
She sighs, taking the vacant chair, her black dress blending into the shadows. “No.” With her one word, I feel her conviction. She taught me because she cares. “And I told you a war was coming. I just didn’t tell you which war.”
“We have literal enemies coming here,” I hiss, stepping close to the heir, finger poking his chest. I ignore everyone else and their furrowed brows.
Apparently, no one is brave enough to do this to him.
“Griffin is still out there, looking for me, trying to get to me. And your father wants to use me. And you want to start a coup, because why?”
We’ll have two enemies. He can’t think it’ll be easy to fight both at the same time.
Kaden grabs my finger, pulling me so we’re pressed intimately close. The raging inferno between us breaks out into a delicious burn, and my body relaxes, as if it’s found something it’s been missing.
The bond. It’s missing its other half. It’s painful apart, but comforting when close.
“I’ve had this plan in motion for decades,” he mumbles, voice deep. “Zelos is not the right king for the Shadowlands. He is not the ruler we need. Villages are hurting, people starving. But things have changed, recently.”
“Why?”
He looks away, avoiding my eyes.
Fee sighs. “Tell her.”
He curses quietly. “Because of you, Max.”
My heart drops, stomach warming with his words.
Fee, Reid, even Kaden said he was risking everything for me. I changed the plans. I assumed that meant world domination, a power struggle against the Humans he hates. Not this.
These people, who were never my enemies, allowed me to believe it to protect me. To keep me safe. Everything they’ve done has been for everyone else, regardless of the consequences to themselves.
My admiration doesn’t win over the hurt at being lied to—again.
“You lied to me,” I breathe, heart and mind warring.
“You said I’d be safe here with you. But you’re bringing a war to this palace.
You’re going to rip this kingdom apart.” I step away, unable to fully breathe.
I admire what they did—what he did—but this is insanity. “People will die because of me.”
“Niece.” Oslo steps forward, kind eyes and smiling face calming the anxiety in my gut. “Kaden has been planning this for some time. But we’ve only sped up the timing to help you.”
The heir stalks to the wall, leaning against it, eyes glaring at me. Crossing his arms, he’s effectively shutting me out. Again.
“Would you rather I let Zelos finish his plans and allow him to use you?” His words cut into my heart. “Would you rather be his pet? Because I can attest, it’s not pleasant. Everything I’m doing is to keep him away from you. I’m protecting you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask softly. “Why didn’t you trust me with this?”
Kaden’s jaw clenches. “These halls are not safe, kitten. Everywhere has eyes, everywhere has ears. You should have learned that in Griffin’s palace. Here? It’s much worse.”
Although the explanation makes sense, my heart focuses on other things. Things he isn’t telling me.
“You didn’t trust me with the information.” I nod once, fists grabbing at my dress. “You thought I’d use it against you.”
He smirks, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “You wanted to escape. You could have easily used that information for freedom. Told my father of my plans, used it to barter a way out. I had to be sure you wouldn’t use it to upend all of our hard work.”
Prick.
I don’t let that hurt get to me, and instead go on the offensive.
“Fine. We’re sharing secrets now. Tell me, who is Sose?”
The smirk slides off his face and he closes off. Gone is the prince and only the beast stares back at me, emotionless, cold.
“No one.”
“You’re lying to me. Still.” I scoff, shaking my head. I meet the other occupants’ eyes, all of them silently watching our exchange. “You want me to choose you and you claim to choose me, but still, there are secrets. I assume you all know her. I had to find out about it from someone else.”
Quick as lightening, the heir is in front of me, grabbing my throat to peer into my eyes. It’s not a painful touch, but holds me captive as he scans me. His nostrils flare, inhaling deeply, scenting my clothing.
“Nectar. You were speaking to Fenrir?”
“He’s the only one who tells me anything,” I retort, venom spewing from my lips. I shove at his chest to push him away, but he doesn’t let go. “Release me.”
“Fenrir doesn’t tell the truth, Max. Stay away from him.”
“He at least speaks to me.” We glare into each other’s eyes, neither of us backing down. Old hurts, past betrayals and the uncertain future simmer between us like a boiling pot. “Sose was your first love, am I right?”
There’s a flash of something in his eyes—sorrow, grief—and I know I’ve struck true.
He may not like Fenrir, but in this, the Woodland Fae told me a secret Kaden would never divulge.
“How can you expect me to trust you, to love you, when you withhold all these secrets? Do you think I’ll follow you blindly?”
Kaden leans close, holding me with one hand, while the other grabs my wrist—the one going for my dagger.
“I expect you to have faith that I won’t hurt you. I expect you to have faith in me.”
“You’ve already hurt me,” I whisper, anger rolling over my skin like a serpent. “You’ve hurt me in ways no one else has. You broke my heart, destroyed my trust. And for what? A carefully laid plan? How can you assume I’ll have faith in you when you won’t trust me in return?”
Kaden drops me suddenly and I stumble, heels catching on my dress.
I expect something, a retort, a claim, maybe a threat. But he just stares, body cold.
Nodding to myself, I whisper, “More secrets.”
I don’t wait for him to say more, ignoring Oslo’s mouth opening to offer a weak explanation as I exit the office.
I didn’t mention how my ears hummed, the distant beat of heartbeats in my ears, alerting me to my magic resurfacing when I spoke to Fenrir.
How it picked up in the room with the royals as we fought.
At least Kaden didn’t lie about discontinuing to drug me, but I won’t be telling anyone my magic is coming back.
They will not take it from me again. Especially the heir.