Chapter 17
Mercy of a princess:
There are things I have done in my life that I am ashamed of.
And there are times I know I made the right choices.
This time I have done both.
I am mated to a brutal shifter with no mercy.
So I must be the one to grant it.
“Stop!” I bellowed and threw my hands up.Blood.So much blood already. “I know what to do!”
King Traevon and King Athon looked up from where they kneeled over the suffering Fae, with their hands painted crimson.
I stomped right toward them and shooed my hands. “Get away from him. He will talk to me without this.”
Father’s gaze ran over my features closely. “Are you positive you want to be near him?”
“It is not his fault for what he is.” I flicked my hands at them again. “Shove aside and let me handle this.”
When King Traevon next spoke, his words were stern and blunt. “I will kill him if he touches you again.”
“Move,” I simply said.
King Traevon gradually stood and walked two steps away, crossing his arms and keeping a close eye on me.
My soul mate… He didn’t move.
King Athon knelt on the ground with death in his eyes, but he did pull his claws away from the Fae’s torn up chest.
I sighed and took my father’s spot across from the Shifter King. Looking down upon Jeremiah’s tear streaked face, I leaned forward and gently wiped them away. I stated softly, “I understand now. You can’t help it.”
The Fae swallowed heavily, with true love in his eyes. “You are mine. My wife. Mine to cherish.”
“I know,” I whispered. I continued to brush my fingers over his cheeks, petting his skin softly. “But you know nothing about me.”
“I will learn,” he promised. “We will have a lifetime to learn one another.” He licked over his lips, tasting his own blood. “They will kill me, though. You know that.”
I chuckled softly and shook my head. “Believe me, I know exactly what they are capable of.” I bent my face directly over his. “There is one way to be on their lenient side. And that is to tell us what we need to know. What we came here for. That is all that truly matters to them right now. It is too important.”
His shredded chest heaved as he took in a breath. “What is it, little elf?”
“Maria.” My eyes flicked back and forth between his, watching his reaction to the name. A flash of pain deeper than the physical passed through his gaze…and another tear rolled down his cheek. I bit my lower lip and repeated gently, “We need to know about your wife, Maria.”
“She is dead.” More tears rolled down his hot skin.
I nodded slowly and used the back of my hand to wipe away his fresh tears. “Was Maria mated to the original merfolk?”
Instantly, he bared his teeth. “That fucking merfolk was a menace.”
“Was he?” I asked and cocked my head. “Why do you say that?”
“He hurt his own people by not taking their pain away.” Jeremiah shook his head as much as he could. “A ruler should have compassion for his people. That merfolk had none. He was too angry to care.”
I blinked slowly. “He was angry at the Fae.”
