A solid blow hit my kidney again, and pain shot up my spine. Without a second thought, I spun, knocking the weapon from the guard’s fingers and grabbing his throat. His trachea snapped and popped under my grip as I crushed it and threw him across the room. The other guard jumped back, his eyes wide, his face pale, his weapon alight with the Fae power that made the coward deadly. Or at least he thought it did. The stupid fucker was shaking so much I doubted he’d be able to aim it accurately enough to hit me at point-blank range, let alone kill me. If this was the quality of my father’s army, then no wonder he was ready to deal with the Unseelies.
“Enough!”
I cracked the tension from my neck, harnessing the need for violence and blood that was my base nature, and slowly turned around. Seeing Vilderon’s smirking face was enough to stoke every murderous cell in my body. Yet, giving him the satisfaction of seeing my emotions get out of control wasn’t going to happen. Outwardly, I made my expression icy, straightened my tunic sleeves like I was a civilised Fae, and continued walking towards the small dais. Used to keeping my attention on one targetwhile scoping the area around me, I clocked Vilderon’s personal guards lining each side of the grand room. They watched me with unerring focus, but I knew they would only attack if an order was given by their lord. A pity for them that he’d soon be dead—and so would they.
I searched my peripheral vision for Shannon when it became apparent she wasn’t with Vilderon. There was no sign. Confused, I gave in and shifted my focus to the room, but there was nothing, only her faint scent.
When I halted before him, I was close enough to realise I was at least two inches taller and far broader than Vilderon. My nostrils flared, and it was hard to keep my face impassive. Petty? Perhaps, but looking down on him gave me a sense of satisfaction.
“Where’s Shannon?” My question was clipped, and there was no hiding the tightness of my voice. When the shit hit the fan, which it was soon going to, if I couldn’t see her, I couldn’t help her. Yet she had to be nearby if I could pick up her scent.
His icy eyes sparked, but his face kept that annoying smirk while ignoring my question. He glanced at the two guards on either side of the nearest door. “Go to the dungeons and bring the human directly to me. You! Get rid of that body,” he barked at the guard still at my back. Thankfully, his sweat and fear created a bitter stench that swamped Shannon’s scent enough that I didn’t think Vilderon would notice it. I was tempted to turn and grab the guard’s throat, so the stench of his fear lingered and kept her hidden because I had no doubt that if my father thought she was still his prisoner, he was wrong. She was nearby, hiding and waiting to strike. There was no time to consider where, not when a tight smile graced my father’s mouth.
“Well, son and heir of mine, it seems your bride has arrived.”
I couldn’t help but turn and study the Fae entering the room.
A party of eight people walked towards me. Behind the last of the group, the dark and silent male followed. His gaze met mine, a smug tilt to his mouth. Today, I could see his ears. Fae. But he was unlike any I’d come across before. I kept him in my peripheral vision while focusing the rest of my attention on my supposed bride.
I muttered a prayer to the Mother that such a union wouldn’t be necessary, but I was aware even the best-laid plans often went to shit. Well, there was nothing for it. If my plans did go wrong, my father wouldn’t live to hurt Shannon again, and though this wasn’t her fault, this female would die if it meant I could be with my soul mate. A frisson of guilt fizzled in my heart, but nothing, and I meantnothing, would prevent me from being by Shannon’s side. Nothing except my death.
My bride’s face was occluded by a black veil, and her sheer gown left nothing to the imagination. She was slender, her breasts high and pert, her pink nipples dark and peaked against the material. She had bare feet and delicate chains from each of her fingers running up her arms to a band around her neck and down her body, the delicate links glinting with her movements. She had no weapons that I could see, but that meant nothing. She was alluring, her body beautiful, but I felt nothing, no stirring of desire as she walked towards me.
My eyes narrowed on the three males that flanked her. They were dressed in deep grey formal clothes that bore no insignia. Their attire was as neutral as it could be. Even the warriors who followed them didn’t bear any emblem of the House they served. They had no armour or weapons, but neither did they wear empty sheaths or holsters. They either didn’t need physical weapons, or they’d been refused permission to bring them into the ceremony.
It didn’t escape my notice that no other females were in the party. Interesting. Were these pricks as misogynistic as thatmade them seem? Especially if they valued a female's virginity as something to be sold. It was an archaic practice that had faded into Fae history in most kingdoms. Whether she was here under duress or not, there was no way I’d be marrying or fucking her.
I met the neutral gazes of the three males. Each nodded politely, but none smiled. I didn’t bother to return their nods. This wasn’t a political alliance, not for me, and if they got in my way, they’d be nothing more than a pile of flesh and bone surrounded by gore.
My father didn’t look at me; he merely kept his eyes on the procession of dark-haired, elegant Fae, who seemed to almost float towards us over the silver-veined marble floor. His hand on my shoulder didn’t make me jump. I expected it, yet my heart hammered, and I prayed to the Mother that Connor and Ventry would be here soon so I didn’t turn this into a major political incident for Ventry.
“It’s time to show you just how powerful I really am, StoneSilverlakeB’nar Vilderon.”
At the sound of my birth name, my hand shot out, claws extended, but I wasn’t quick enough. His magic froze my movements, my claws about two inches from his throat while his voice filled my head. Sweat beaded my brow as I fought his hold on me with my wolf and my magic. I was almost free—until a blade at my throat stilled my thrashing.
“Stop, brother, this will be less painful all around if you let him into your head.”
I turned my accusing gaze on Airling. She rolled her eyes, pushing the tip of her weapon through my skin—again. “Oh please, did you think Mother had the stomach for seeing her daughter tortured? She gave you up because she never thought you’d be stupid enough to return to this shithole world. Or are you so arrogant that you assume you’re powerful enough to fight an ancient Fae lord’s enchantment?” She laughed at the furiousglare I aimed her way. “By the Goddess of Fae, you are. You’re a fucking idiot. He’s your blood sire; he will always be more powerful than you.” She removed her blade and clipped a mixed iron and silver collar around my neck. My wolf howled, and I wanted to fucking scream at the top of my voice. I’d vowed when I escaped the prison that no one would ever collar me again.
“Do not fight me on this, Silverlake. Did you honestly think I’d be stupid enough to rely on your feelings for one insignificant human to keep you in line?” Vilderon leaned in. “Now I can fully control you. Youwillmarry that disgusting dark waif. Once that is done, I will kill her brothers, and we will invade. Once you kill her father and take control of their lands, their army will become mine, and I will rule through you. Until then, your human will remain mine. Once this ceremony is over and you’ve fucked your new wife, I’ll have some fun with my new pet. I might even let you and our guests watch. Hell, I might even let them play, too, if that’s what they desire.”
Howling and snarling, my wolf faded into nothing. My legs wobbled, and it took everything in me not to collapse at the loss of his presence. I’d forgotten how frightening it was not to have him simmering under the surface of my skin.
There was a slight pulse of power in my chest. It was my lifeline, and I held on tightly to it. Connor’s power was different from my wolf and my Fae magic. Because it didn’t belong to me, it wasn’t affected by the silver and the iron. It pulsed again, bringing me back to the room and reminding me there was no time to dwell on the empty void my wolf had left, not when I had a mate to find.
My expression was devoid of my volcanic rage as Vilderon brushed specks of imaginary dust from my shoulders and tapped my back like a doting father would. “Don’t fight me, son, or your little human whore will suffer.”
Vomit burned my throat as the voice in my head bid me turn to face the oncoming party and smile a welcome. I did. I smiled in a way I never smiled, which would be evident to anyone who knew me. Except there was no one here who knew me—at all. Least of all, my father. The feeling of his control in my head grew stronger, but I fought it with every part of my stubborn soul, even as outwardly I became a puppet in Vilderon’s plans.
Chapter 25
Shannon
My top lip curled back, baring my teeth as I watched the dark-haired, ethereal beauty glide through the room toward my soul mate.
Stone’s hand shot out to slash his father’s throat just as Vilderon spat some kind of vitriol. It was enough to stop Stone in his tracks. Airling’s blade dug into Stone’s neck, a warning not to fight, and my stomach twisted. My wolf whined, her distress feeding mine as Airling clipped a silver collar around his neck.
Fuck!
