Chapter 17
Kaden
“You’re going to get us killed,” Fee warns, sword glinting in the firelight as she sharpens the edge. Her amber eyes flicker across the camp and back, body tense with worry.
Dressed in her leathers and weaponry, she’s no longer the princess my father thought to mold. Here, she’s my best warrior.
“No, I’m not,” I say, stretching as I drop on to the rotted log.
The rest of the lords huddle together among community bonfires, while my siblings and guards keep our own site. Our fire is small, our perimeter patrolled.
We know what hides in the woods behind us.
Every firstborn royal who had the curse I possess was cast out, sent into the Eternal Night Forest, kept at bay by the barrier that locked beasts within.
Growing, mating with the other monsters, the beasts turned this forest into their domain, hunting anything that entered.
They particularly don’t like anything more powerful coming into the forest—it upsets the balance of their land.
Max is the biggest fucking threat here. Soon, they’ll sense it and come for her.
Carefully, I let my eyes sweep the camp, locking on to the dark tent at the far edge, closest to the woods. She’s right on the barrier. It’d be too easy for a claw to grab her under the flap and whisk her away.
The stubborn woman should have moved closer. If not to my site, than to the fire; it’d offer some kind of protection.
I only care because if she dies, she’s of no use to my father—to me. Not because the mere thought of something killing her turns my blood cold and halts the air in my lungs with dread.
“Then explain to me, dear brother, why we’re here.
” She gestures to Reid, who looks up, chewing on jerky.
“You were very clear in what was to happen: infiltrate Griffin’s palace, find a weapon, go home.
Going on an expedition wasn’t part of that plan.
Now, we’re off chasing one of your idiotic plans—the worst, mind you, and praying it all works out. ”
“It’s not idiotic, Fee.” I give her a hard look. “We both know my plans always work out.”
She snorts. “Not all of them.” She’s referring to the time we tried to sneak into the kitchen for pastries. We were young Fae, so that hardly counts.
“The plan was to find a weapon—I’ve done that.” I jerk my head to the tent. “I just need to get her back to father.”
“Yes, of course,” she mocks. “By charming her? The court ladies always spoke of your arrogance, but this proves it. You think you can have any female you want, but this is different. She is different, Kade. If she’s to be our weapon, then trying to bed her, will only complicate things.
” Her eyes soften around the corners and my jaw clenches.
“There’s not been anyone who lasted longer than a night. Not after Sose—”
I stand abruptly, hands fisting at my sides. “This isn’t about her.”
My sister shrinks back slightly, but her eyes harden. “It always comes back to her, Kade.” She tosses aside her sword, watching our guards make their rounds. “You always think you can out-plan every move. See every ending. Tell me, brother, what ending do you see here?”
Dryly, I stare at her. “The one in which my throne is under my ass and my people safe?” I refuse to acknowledge the wedge of guilt in my chest at the mentioning of Sose.
“That is the ultimate plan.” She taps her leg in thought.
“But right now, I’ll tell you what I see happening.
I see you charming and bedding a scared little woman, in this big bad forest, and kidnapping her back to father.
I see you giving her to father, and consumed with guilt for allowing whatever he plans, happen to her.
Will you really be able to stomach what you’ve sentenced her to become? ”
The threat hangs in the air. I hate how it pulls on my conscious.
My father will break her, mold her into the perfect weapon. Like he did to me. Like he tried to do to my sister.
With Max’s magic, Zelos would be unstoppable.
But that’s a problem for another day. Right now, I have to focus on my current needs.
“You’re cruel, Kade,” Fee mumbles, gazing into the fire. “But you’re not heartless. In fact, that’s your greatest downfall.”
“Because I’m not heartless?” I snort.
Fee stares at me. “Exactly. You’ll condemn her a fate worse than death and lose yourself in the process.”
Seti’s Hell, I hate when she’s right.
“We can try to find something else,” Reid offers softly, tossing his spent piece to the ground. “Another plan, another weapon.”
“No,” I snap, eyes flaring black as my shadows dance along my arms. Smoke rises into the air, darkening the flames. “We need something to bring back to Zelos. She’s the best tool we’ve found.” My eyes drop to my sister. “Do you want to go back empty handed?”
“But—” Reid looks pitifully toward the dark tent.
“Stop.” I pull my darkness back, ignoring the cold magic that sinks under my skin. “We continue on with the plan. Charm the advisor, gain her trust, bring her back to Zelos.” End of discussion.
Except Fee can’t let it go. My little sister, who has seen me at my worst, always has to provoke a debate. She does it to get under my skin, but I know this is her way of expressing concern, of getting me to see the bigger picture when I’ve become fixated.
“And when we return, with our prize, how will you let her go?”
“As easily as a dream.” I roll my eyes.
I am a cruel bastard. Taking an innocent to my tyrant of a father should bother me more, but it doesn’t. This is war. A war I’ve been planning for decades. Max is just one piece to the puzzle for my end goal.
Reid whistles. “There’s the heir we know and loathe.”
My eyes narrow on my little brother, his disdain evident. Fee scoffs next to me, sinking into the mud.
“And for the Matriarch’s brother?” Fee glances to the tall man, who has gathered a circle of volunteers around him. “They’re close. He’s not exactly going to let her go to the Shadowlands.”
I shrug. “He won’t really have a choice.”
“Planning on killing him?”
Shrugging, I grab a wine sack, filling an old chalice. “I’ll do whatever means necessary to win, Fee.” Max is the key to everything. I won’t let some inbred Witch stop me from finally finishing the work I’ve started. I’m too close to risk it.
She snorts, rolling her eyes. “Your arrogance is astounding, brother. You really think your cock is that impressive?”
“Such language for a lady.” She flips me off as I laugh, eyes darting back to the lonely tent. “And it won’t be just my cock to convince her. I’ll make her fall in love with me.”
It should be easy enough. She’s uncomfortable with attention, not used to being desired. I’ve seen it in our interactions.
Given her blood magic, it would make sense. Simple men would be terrified for her and that could play into my game. A few kind words, passionate touches and the sheltered woman would fall into my hands, all too eager to leave with me.
Has any man seen that delectable body under her heavy cloaks and sharp tongue? My beast rises in my mind, roaring along with my sudden lust. A possessiveness consumes me, only tempered with the realization I’ll be tricking her into loving a monster.
Swallowing the wine, I try to erase the bitterness on my tongue.
There are always casualties in war.
Reid mumbles something under his breath, but I ignore it. My brother is too sensitive for this world, seeing the good in everything, always being hopeful.
He’s never been on the receiving end of our father’s temper. He doesn’t know the risk we face in not procuring this for him.
Placing a hand on Fee’s jumping knee, I shake her slightly. “I’ll be fine, Fee,” I assure her. “We’ll all be.”
Because that’s what her irritation boils down to— her worry over our safety and the precarious control I have over the curse that weights down my soul.
“You can’t make that promise,” she mutters, biting her bottom lip.
“I can and I do.”
Glancing once more to the advisor’s tent, I solidify my resolve.
Max will fall in love with me. Even if I have to force her.