Smirks. Gods above, the women in my life are going to kill me.
“The most she’ll do is a little cut.” She blinks slowly. “Besides, you told her what would happen if she tried to kill you. I wouldn’t have given it to her if she didn’t know the consequences. Can’t have her killing you both before the end of the week.”
“Fee,” I murmur, eyes darting to the crowd. Fenrir watches Max, which my beast immediately hates and I grip the chair to keep from leaping over the table and slicing his neck. “Giving someone who hates me a weapon isn’t in my best interests.”
“And without that weapon, my sister-in-law is powerless.” Hard eyes narrow at me. She might understand why I keep Max powerless, but she doesn’t like it. Not that I blame her. “I will not have her walking these halls, unable to defend herself, should something happen.”
I growl at the insinuation I cannot protect her. “I won’t let anything happen to her, Fee.”
“You made me the same promise,” she snaps, fangs growing with her agitation. “Promises can bebroken. A daggercannot.”
Fierce guilt gnaws in my gut as she returns to her food and I have to actively control my shadows. Fee is right, of course, as she usually is. I made her the same promise years ago when I left home and wasn’t able to protect her from Zelos. Giving Max something to defend herself is better than nothing, even if I plan on never leaving her side.
There are too many chances, too many risks.
“You’re right,” I whisper so only she hears, words barely passing my lips, “I want you to start training her.”
“Not you?” She sips from her cup, lips darkening. My beast growls in my head, hungry for blood but I lock it away.One thing at a time.
“She doesn’t listen to me, Fee. You? You’ve fought and survived the hardest trials here. You know what to watch out for, what to be wary of. I need you to teach her how to survive. On the off chance I cannot protect her, I need to make sure shelives.”
Because if not,Iwon’t survive. Not just physically, but if something were to happen to Max, my heart would be obliterated, and everything that I am would crumple without her.
Nodding slowly, Fee chews on her cheek. “Fine. I’ll bring Reid into it too.”
“Uncle will help.”
Curious, she tilts her head, sizing me up before looking to Max. She eats, thankfully, filling her stomach and something lightens from my shoulders.
But she doesn’t say anything, conversation forgotten as Fenrir stands, lifting his chalice to the sky.
All the foreign Fae stop to look at him, and my fist curls against my thigh, fighting the urge to rip his throat out for theaudacityto claim the spotlight. Inmypalace.
“Esteemed Fae, wise and young, I am honored to be among you as we welcome a new era for Fae in Neevea.” Turning to me, his smile edges into something challenging. My beast stretches, wanting to meet his declaration with fangs and claws. “Heir Kaden, we are your guests and we are honored to be here to witness this change. Thank you for thisincrediblegift. We cannot wait to see what you and the King have planned that will elevate all Fae.”
It’s a veiled question. They’re desperate for the information my father isn’t providing.
I could ignore him but that would show me as ineffective. I can’t show weakness in this court and I still have to appear to be my father’s favorite weapon so as to avoid suspicion. Everything is a delicate balance and I walk a tight line.
Standing, I hold Max’s hand, showing our union to the crowd. She frowns.
“We’ve found a weapon that would unite the world, Fenrir. Apowerful tool in which will allow us to break Neevea to our whims. To what we need. We shall control the continent with this weapon. And no one can control it, except for my father.”
I glance down to my mate, seeing her wide blue eyes panicked. She’s afraid of being found out, even now, in front of these males. She’s afraid of being given to Zelos. Of being used.
I can’t tell her I would soon rather cut off my own arm and my father’s tongue before handing her over to him. Before allowing him to even breathe the same air as her. But there are too many spies and I need my actions to speak for me.
First, a distraction. Something to take the focus off of Zelos’ large claims.
Winking, I inhale that fear and her rage like it’s a perfume of our love. Because rightly, it is. And what I’m going to do next, will only stoke those flames higher.
“Before that? A wedding.” Reid chokes on his wine, and Fee drops her fork in a harsh clatter, but I only see Max.
Those blue eyes darken to black pits, fear warping into blinding fury and it warms my desolate heart. Give me her fury, her rage, her jealousy. It’s better than nothing.
“By the end of the summit, my mate and I shall be married. Then you will all see true power.”
Chapter
