Epilogue
Rixon crumbled the missive then stood, pacing the length of his study.
His breaths came in short bursts. He couldn’t believe it—didn’t want to believe it.
A roar left his lips and his fist shot out, slamming into the wall.
Pain shot up through his arm. He punched it over and over.
Then he turned to the set of bookcases. Eyeing them, he reached out and ripped them from the wall, books scattering everywhere.
The door burst open. Mina stood there, lips parted in shock. She was dressed in the red gown he liked so much, but even now, the sight of it did nothing for him. Nothing to cool the absolute fury roaring through his veins.
“What is it?” she breathed, eyes darting over the mess he’d made, searching for some invisible foe. “What’s wrong?”
Weeks had passed, and they were three days away from their wedding. Things had been good. Too good. He should have known.
Reaching out, he offered her his fist. “Oh, Rixon.” It was a bloodied mess, the skin on his knuckles so destroyed he saw bone. She rushed forward, her gentle hands immediately healing him. When she moved to open his fingers, to examine his hand, he kept it clenched.
His jaw was so tight, it felt like his teeth might crack.
“Rixon…” She pried at his fingers until he opened his hand. The crumpled up missive fell to the floor. She frowned and picked it up. Her eyes quickly darted over the contents, blood draining from her face.
“Skye…but why would she…?”
“It seems our suspicions are correct. She’s been in league with them this whole time. Three settlements in a single week, and already they are preparing to march and take a forth.”
For weeks, Carthian troops sat on the border, unmoving. He’d nearly grown used to the fact. Had wondered if they planned to just take up permanent residence there, if only to show Raeria that they were a force to be reckoned with. But now?
“Why would the witches ally themselves with Carth?” Mina frowned.
“Probably because King Zachariah has promised them the throne. What better way than to take it right from under me?”
“But…we need to send reinforcements, meet them in open battle before they capture more of the kingdom.”
“Believe me, I know.” He turned and walked several steps towards his desk, then halted. “Ralston already has everything in place. Raeria will not fall.”
“You sound so certain.”
“I am.” He studied her. “In three days' time, I will marry the most powerful witch in the world. She will become the most powerful queen in the world. That queen? She will not let this kingdom fall.”
Mina sucked in a breath. “Then, you plan to go through with this in light of—”
“I will marry you in three days time, if I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you down that aisle myself.”
She bit her lip, eyes flashing with defiance. “But not before punishing me for my defiance first, I hope.”
“No, not before punishing you. We both know what a naughty, needy little witch you are. A naughty little witch who will take her punishment like a good girl.”
“Well, in that case…” She walked over to the desk, bracing her hands on it before turning to him to say, “I was bad today. Very bad.”
His center tightened, blood immediately dropping straight to his dick. He was desperate for this, for something to take the edge off the rage he felt, rage that helped mask the threat of failure. The idea that he could lose this kingdom. That he wasn’t good enough to keep it in the first place.
“Lift your skirt and bend over,” he ordered, his voice a dark command. She shivered and immediately complied, giving him exactly what he needed.