She smirks, crossing her arms, enjoying my quips. “Not quite. Breakfast. I’m told you’re not eating and there are a few of the dignitaries who rise with the sun. They wish to eat with the royal family before more strenuous talks occur.”
Trembling, I hide my hands in my skirts. The royal family means being close to the king once more, and I don’t know how I’m going to handle that.
Zelos is a ruthless Fae and just being in the same room as him terrifies me.
Licking her bottom lip, she searches my downward eyes. “He won’t be there, blood summoner.” Fee seems to hold herself still, eyes piercing. “You’re safe.”
I let out a heavy breath, my shoulders sinking. She might be lying, lulling me into a false sense of security before leading me to slaughter, but something tells me Fee is sincere. It’s in the subtle way she positions herself between me and the door, her slender hand resting on her dagger, ready to strike.
No harm is going to come to me. Not with her there.
Stepping close, she adjusts my hair, moving pieces from my neck. Again, they want my scar to show, put the necklace on display. When I catch Fee’s eyes, I ask, “Why?”
She hears my question. What does this all mean? How will this protect me?
I don’t expect a clearanswer.
“Let them see you as a threat.” Fee gestures to the dagger and my scar. “Let them see you cannot be killed. In these halls, appearances are half the battle. If they think you’re weak, they’ll pounce. If you’re strong, you hold all the power.Useit.”
Swiftly, she turns on her heels, not bothering to wait for me to follow.
Chapter
Ten
KADEN
Max’s scent reaches my nose before her body darkens the entrance, and I stand, already pulled to her like a gravitational force. Her steps echo my heartbeat, as if she is the organ free of my chest. It’s meant to torment me.
Is this how all claimed Dark Fae feel?
If so, it’s madness. Explains why my kind never subjugate themselves to this.
I haven’t seen her since I left her last night, returning to check if she had tried to flee. The scent of her tears hung in our room and it took everything in me not to crawl into bed beside her and soothe her grief.
The other half wanted to snap her neck.
My control is faulty at best around her. She breaks my defenses, refuses to wear my scent, insists on taunting me,fightingme. She doesn’t listen to me—if she did, she’d understand that everything I’m doing isforher.
I should mark her, remind her who owns her just to end this.
Regardless, I need to do something. This ache inside my chest whenever she isn’t near is agony.
She stops short, wide eyes looking to the pointed black chandelier alit with dozens of burning flames, to the torches on the wall. I sent the messages last night to the servants to keep more light within the palace so my mate could see better. With her poor balance, if I didn’t, she’d likely walk off a balcony and never see it coming.
Not like I care. This is merely for her protection. If she dies, I do.
I’m getting good at lying to myself.
My eyes scan her frame, soft curves under the red dress making my fangs elongate. The scar sits proudly along her neck, next to my mother’s necklace and a few of the dignitaries’ smile, impressed, as I knew they would.
The vicious scarshouldimpress them.She’simpressive.
Infuriating,frustrating, but impressive.
Without thought, I pull out her chair, allowing her to sit before I do the same. Once seated, my hand falls to her thigh, an anchor to make sure she’s here. To calm the beast who rages inside my skull and the bond burning within my heart.
She’s not the only one who suffers from an unfinished claiming. I’m just better at hiding it.
