“Who?” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. “Who are your allies?”
My father’s lips curved into a knowing smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “You think I would reveal my hand?” He scoffed. “First, you must prove yourself, Cadence.”
I swallowed hard, my mind racing through every person I’d encountered since arriving in the Unseelie Kingdom. Guards, servants, council members — any one of them could be his informant. The thought made me sick.
“What do you mean, prove myself?”
He moved away from me, circling the room with the casual confidence of someone who didn’t fear being caught. Each step he took was calculated, purposeful.
“The Unseelie Court is crumbling from within,” he said, ignoring my question. “The Prince’s power is built on shifting sands. Before long, you’ll need to choose a side.”
He was wrong.
There was nothing fragile about Ryker’s power. It was cold, bone-deep, and absolute.
But I didn’t bother correcting him. He’d find out soon enough that he underestimated him. If the gods favored me, I’d be far beyond either man’s reach by the time they collided.
“And you assume I will choose your side?” I asked, tightening my grip on the dagger still clutched in my hand.
My father paused his inspection of Ryker’s chambers, his fingers trailing across the scattered papers lying atop his desk.
“Blood calls to blood,” he said, lifting his shoulders. “You are my blood. That child you are carrying is my blood. Together, we will change everything.”
“I never asked for any of this,” I hissed, gesturing between us with my dagger. “You abandoned me, remember? You don’t get to walk back into my life making demands.”
“Abandoned you?” His voice dropped, dangerously low, and I tensed, ready to defend myself. “I protected you. I kept my distance and ensured those who would destroy you could not find you. And now look,” — he waved his hand toward the cuffs adorning my wrists — “the very thing I tried to shield you from has come to fruition.”
“Don’t pretend you stayed away to protect me. You were building an army, too hell-bent on retribution to care about the daughter you left behind.”
His eyes narrowed, and as the silence thickened, I thought he might attack me. Then, as quickly as it came, his anger faded, replaced by an indifference that was more terrifying than his rage.
“Think what you will, Cadence. You’re a grown woman with her own mind.”
Despite the casualness of his words, there was a threat that hung heavy in the air between us.
“I shall execute my plans all the same.”
What the hell did that mean? Did he plan to continue with his schemes while leaving me out of it, or did he intend to force my hand if I chose differently from what he wanted?
“Before I go, I’ll let you in on a little secret.”
Gooseflesh erupted all over my body at his words. His tone was ominous, and a sinking feeling settled in my gut.
“Have you ever wondered why they call your mate the Night Cursed Prince?”
“Because he is a shadow wielder.”
“That’s true, but there’s also another reason. One known only to a select few.”
The cruel grin twisting my father’s lips told me I wouldn’t like whatever came next.
“The King was obsessed with producing a powerful heir, so much so that he consorted with the Blood Fae to ensure his success.”
Thoughts of Eleanor rose to the forefront of my mind, and I shivered. She had been powerful in her own right, and she had used that power to help Ryker leash me.
“And succeed they did,” my father said, drawing me out of my reverie. “The Queen birthed the first shadow wielder in eons. But the Prince was no ordinary shadow wielder. His powers surpassed all those who had gone before him, leaving him without a rival in this realm.”
“What is your point? None of this is new to me.”
