Chapter 26
Chapter
Twenty-Six
KADEN
Shock runs like a hot current over my spine. I was delegated with the task, and I sent spies to fulfill those orders. But now, he’s taken control, ignored my position and forced me into a situation I can’t be in.
My mind whirls, possible scenarios, situations unraveling before me. My heart picks up speed and my lungs struggle to maintain air. If I leave, who will protect Max?
“What of the weapon?” A Fae asks to my right. I want to slam his head into the table for opening his mouth. “The one that will conquer the world for us?”
“It will end Griffin. It will make Neevea ours.” His cold eyes scan the room once more, flickering over Max and my heart stops. “Who is with me? Who will stand on the tides of greatness and be victorious with us?”
Slowly, officials of the various Fae kingdoms stand, pledging their support.
My stomach twists into knots, anxiety rising in my throat. Zelos looks at me, grinning like he won a grand prize. Maybe he did.
“Will you investigate for us, my heir? Take a small group into that bastard’s lands?” He glances briefly to Max again, and I fight the urge to cover her. “I know you have unfinished business.”
“Nothing would give me greater pleasure, my King.” I lie, but I don’t bow. I only bow for Max.
I could bring her with me, keep Zeke here to protect Fee and Reid. At least with me, I know she can be safe.
When my father speaks again, my blood turns cold with terror.
“The Captain of our Guard will accompany you.” He waves his hand. “As will two other soldiers. A small party shall be all you need. After all, you are most decorated.”
Decorated because of the battles I fought on his behalf. For his greed.
Licking my lips, I fight against the panic in my chest and nod. “Of course, Father. I will ready right away.”
“Your mate and I shall await you.” He lifts the chalice to his lips, eyes sharp. It’s a veiled threat—Max stays behind.
The beast growls, and I have to control the urge to leap across the hall to sink my fangs into his throat and rip it to shreds.
She’ll be defenseless here, alone. Everyone I love will be.
And I’m fucking powerless to do anything about it. I can’t defy him and I can’t fight him. Not until the coup is solidified. If I blow this too soon, everything is lost.
Fucking Seti’s Hell.
“We shall be victorious!” he cheers, and the crowd responds. There are shouts, calls, and I drop into my seat, just for Max to stand, fingers blushed.
When I grab for her, she shakes me off, lips trembling.
Fear wafts off of her body like a pungent rose, but is only outpaced by her rage.
My hellcat is ready to fight, to slice out hearts of her enemies, but she can’t find an outlet, not here.
I know she’ll run before she does, pushing through the crowd to the back wall.
Grabbing my chalice, I drink the rest of her wine, calming the ball of fear in my gut and follow.
She glides through the crowd, as smooth as silk. They give her the space she so richly deserves as my future queen. I keep two steps behind her, letting her grab another chalice of wine from the back banquet table.
I promised her safety if she stayed with me, and now, I’m being sent away. She’ll think I’m a liar, that I manipulated her. That I did this for Zelos.
I watch a lord corner her, smile, offer pleasant introductions. She smiles, fear masked behind something polite. I hate it. That’s not my mate, not the woman I’ve fallen in love with.
She is fire and desire, untamed rage and power in a body built for sin.
My mouth itches, fangs elongating. The meal will begin at any minute, but I can’t stand for another to have her attention. I need to make sure she knows this was not my doing. That I will die for her live.
I just gained a measure of her trust back. I will not let it go again.
The lord offers her a joke, and she laughs. It’s fake. I know her true laugh, having heard it on the raid in the forest, when she speaks to my brother. I haven’t heard it yet directed at me, and maybe that’s why when I reach her side, I bear my fangs at the male, pissed.
“I’ll be interrupting now.” I tug her to the side of the dining hall, ignoring the glare from my guest, to the far back where the servant’s door hides behind tapestries.
It’s a small spot, with my looming size and her small frame. Her head barely reaches my shoulder, even in those spiked heels she wears. They could murder a man with a quick jerk of her knee.
“That seems rude.”
“Do you care?” I ask. Taking the glass from her, I finish the rest in one swallow. Her eyes flash with wry amusement and irritation, masking that fear I smell. She’s terrified of what’s come.
Dropping the glass to the side, I crush her body to the wall.
It’s intimate and a servant could easily crash into us, trays so heavy and piled high that they can’t see. It smells like gamey bird and dust but under it, I smell her tantalizing soap of spicy violets; sultry and dark, just like her.
“I didn’t know,” I breathe, foreheads pressed together. “I didn’t know he’d do this.”
My heart constricts at being separated from her. All because of the plan—the coup.
Fuck, I should forget the plan, take her away, run into the Eternal Night Forest, perhaps into the Veil and hide. I’d have Max and that’s all I’d ever need.
“You said I’d be safe,” she whispers, words shaking. Her hands curl into my tunic, pulling me close. Here, in the shadows, she shows me her vulnerability, her desperation and I want to erase it all. “You said so. You said if I stayed, chose you, we’d be safe.”
“You will be.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I swear it. No harm will come to you. You chose me, Max, and I don’t take that lightly. I would soon rather let the world end before endangering you.”
We let silence ring as we absorb the other’s heat.
“What do we do?” She blinks, eyes watery.
My heart shatters to see it.
Quickly, my mind spins, putting together a plan before I can consider the ramifications. I just need her protected. “Uncle will stay. So will Fee and Reid. You will not be alone.” My thumb plucks her bottom lip, thoughtful. “I swear, Max. I cannot lose you. I will not let anything harm you.”
“You can’t make that promise while you’re gone.
” Max stands tall, back like iron. She wars with herself before nodding once, as if coming to a decision.
“My powers are coming back. Sporadic moments when I can hear it, sometimes the pull rises inside of me. Nothing concrete yet.” She pats her belly, indicating that’s her source.
I hold her hand, fingers discolored and feel a weight drop from my shoulders. “Can you hear it now?”
“No. Just feel it.” Her brows furrowed, trying to make sense of something she’s never had to think on. Something she’s never had to worry about, because it’s always been there.
I sympathize with her. When my magic manifested, I could feel it, but never rouse it to function. It took years to compel it. Max has always been in the middle of movement, of energy, of life. To not have it now, must seem strange.
“Does Uncle know?” At her silence, I snort. “Of course, he does. I assume he’s teaching you?”
“We started.”
I could be mad at her refusal to tell me this important detail, but I’m more focused on the fact she chose to share after everything I’ve hidden from her.
And now that her magic is returning, it’s one more trick in her arsenal. One more way to keep her safe.
“Good. He’ll help you control it, harness it. It could also keep you alive should something happen.”
She swallows, licking her red lips. “You won’t tell Zelos?”
“Kitten.” I sigh, shaking my head. What will it take for this woman to believe me when I tell her, I only want her?
“Why would I wish you harm, use you when you hold the most important piece of me in your hands?” I press our bodies intimately close, enjoying how her curves bend for me.
“You are my heart outside my body, the other half to my soul.” Lips gaze hers, wishing for more. But I wait—she needs to hear this.
She has to understand how important she is to me.
“I’m in love with you, Max.” She inhales sharply but I push forward.
“Since the moment I followed you up that ledge, when you almost fell to your death to save some mindless lord, when all I could think of was staying alive to keep you safe.” I scoff, mockingly glaring at her.
“I almost died for one of your na?ve quests of compassion and yet, I fought to remain myself to keep the Fury from you. It took everything in me not to cut any of those Humans who thought to disrespect you. Even now, watching my fellow Fae look at you? Fuck me, Max.” I breathe hoarsely.
“I will happily murder anyone who so much as twitches in your presence. Cut their fingers off before shoving them down their throats, pluck their eyes for daring to partake in your beauty.”
She’s stopped breathing, transfixed. My words have captivated her.
“You don’t really mean that—”
I drop to one knee, head resting against her stomach. I’m at her mercy like this and I don’t care.
“I will vow on my death, that you are the only person who owns me, completely. You control my heart, the very air in my lungs. I cannot breathe without you.”
Her trembling hand falls to my locks, fingers raking through them softly.
“That’s why you get so mad when I don’t acknowledge you.”
I don’t like how transparent I’ve been, but it’s not important now.
“You are my air, Max. Without you, I suffocate.”
Glancing up, I watch her lips lift at that, a charming blush staining her cheeks. I have half a mind to spill my feelings to her every night if I get the same reaction. She’s breathtaking, ethereal in only the way she can be.
“I said you would be safe here, and I will do everything in my power to make that happen. I will not let Zelos have you, I will not abandon you. I just need you to trust me—choose me once more.”
More should be said. To confront the demons of our past, of the brittle trust that was forged weeks after kidnapping her. Of the claiming I laid on her without her consent.
But I cannot break this spell.
Standing, I cup her face, holding her still.
“Do you trust me?”
She stalls, eyes bouncing back and forth, judging my truthfulness. I hold no grudge. I know what I’m asking and what it takes for her to give it.
Finally, after a length, she nods once. “I do.”
I exhale, a harsh breath that stirs her hair. My heart surges with happiness and awe.
“Say it again,” she demands, eyes bright. “Tell me you love me again.”
I don’t hesitate. “I love you more than there are stars in Azure’s realm, kitten.”
Smiling, she pulls me close as I crush my lips to hers. Greedily, I take from her, consuming what she will allow. She tastes like spice and wine, of home and danger. Of blessed love and damnation. It’s everything I’ve needed and everything I’ve craved for centuries.
She shoves me against the far wall, my back slamming as she braces her hands on my chest. I smile, pleased with her aggression. Nipping at her lips, I tangle my tongue with hers and drink down her essence. I want to devour every last part of her, taste every spot on her body.
My erection throbs painfully and her hand lowers, dragging one nail over the tip. I can’t help the dark growl, fisting her hair in my hand. She purrs delighted with my touch and I grab her wrist.
“If you start something here, be prepared for onlookers.” It’s a challenge and she smiles coyly.
“No, this is for me.” She pecks at my lips, a chaste kiss that turns my insides soft. I’m such a weak Fae.
She sobers, glancing to the curtain that hides us. I hear my father call for me, most likely to boost more. My accomplishments are his accomplishments and he never wastes a moment to enjoy them.
“We’ll do this, right?” she asks, warily. “Everything will work out?”
“With you at my side, we can do anything.”