“They say the book is cursed,” he gestures to it, stepping away. “Legend says the book holds the key to transformation. It will change anyone, or anything, who touches it into some despicable creature. It’s been locked away, under glass, ever since.”
“Seems like an innocent tale.” I move closer. The rose shines, gold changing into black ink before my eyes. They remind me of the shadows Kaden controls, wrapping, moving, like inky tentacles.
“But one that scared the previous kings too much.” Fenrir sighs, sliding his hands into his pockets. “So here it remains. My mother knows of the tale but thinks it’s all fabricated.” Green eyes cut to me and scan my body. “I’ve seen little of you during our stay here. I expected the future queen to be in more of the discussions as we prepare for war. Kaden’s mother certainly would have been there.”
I bristle under his condescending tone. Who is he to judge me? I’m still trying to understand my being here more so than understand my role asqueen.
Am I weapon or a mate? Am I a threat or a future queen? No onehas explained anything and the one Fae I want to speak to has been gone for days.
I glare into his grassy eyes, and almost, foolishly, I think I can hear the faintest drum of his blood in my ears.Gods, I wish that were true.
“Royal duties to attend to,” I explain, lying. He doesn’t deserve the truth. Nor my kindness. “I assume Kaden has been there in my stead.”
“Of course.” He nods, following me as I turn to look back at the shelves. My plan was to find a book but now I have a shadow following me. “He’s always present, even as a young Fae. I think war is all he knows.”
Knowing that Zelos trained him to be just that—a warrior, a weapon like he wants with me—it makes sense. I just don’t like the insinuation that he isn’t more than that. Not from Fenrir.
I’ve seen it, small bits of light under his darkness. When he defended me to the lords in camp, when he fed me so I wouldn’t be poisoned, when he followed me into the fury’s nest.
Even here. He’s tied our lives to give me protection no one else would dare to do. He chose me over his duty. He may not be pleasant but he’s done many things for me.
I just wish I knew the secrets he hides, why he’s refusing to give me to Zelos. Why this, between us, is happening. What don’t I know? Because there must be something happening that the siblings, that Kaden will not explain. Something big.
“You knew each other in your youth?” I ask, keeping the conversation light. Or maybe to gain more insight into the mysterious male.
“We did,” he reminisces, smiling. “We used to train together, though I admit, he was better with a sword than me.” The lack of callouses on his hands says plenty. “We used to run these halls together. Fee always followed; Mal behind. We were very close. Then things changed.”
My curiosity stops me, glancing back as the Woodland Fae inspects a book to his right.
“What changed?”
Fenrir’s kind green eyes look to me and sorrow fills them. “Sose. She changed things.”
I’ve heard the name and Kaden has been less than receptive to it. Fenrir is willing, maybe I can gleam some insight from the male?
“Who was Sose?”
Confusion draws his brow lower. “I assumed you knew. Sose was Kaden’s first fiancée.”
My heart thumps in my chest, the bond burning bright. Jealousy so strong sweeps through my veins, turning my vision green as the air traps in my lungs. Like a dagger has been shoved into my heart, I inhale against the pain.
“I had no idea,” I rasp. Why does everything hurt? “He never talked about her.”
He scoffs, leading me further down the hall, grabbing another book, this one’s cover discolored from age. “No, why would he? It’s hard to talk about the woman you loved and killed.”
I trip, catching myself against the bookshelf. “What?”
Fenrir nods, thumbing the book’s pages. The harsh scent of dust floats into the air, tickling my nose, but he doesn’t look at me as he speaks. “Kaden killed Sose. It’s probably why he doesn’t speak of her.” He shrugs. “I use every opportunity to bring her up. Not to spite the heir but as a way to remember her. She deserved more. She was the love of my life.”
Licking my lips, my hand falls to my stomach. Bile rises up my throat, but I’m confused. He killed his love? That couldn’t be right.
But I’ve seen his darkness, beside his light, a duality only I understand. Kaden will do anything to obtain his goal.
Did she stand in the way of what he wanted? Like I am now? Preventing him from controlling the world?
“I should go. Things to attend to,” I explain, focusing on my breathing. Did I sell my trust to a male who would still use me? He already lied to me, betrayed me once before. Would this be anotherway to gain access to my magic, to my destiny, to control the world by lulling me into false security?
If he killed someone he loved, he could certainly find a way to harm me, bond be damned.
