“Not yet,” he murmurs, sadness tinging his words. “But we will be ready before any harm comes to the woman.”
“I will destroy this entire kingdom if one hair is harmed on her head, Uncle,” I promise, vengeance leaking out into the office. “Nothing will stop me if she’s hurt. If my father gets her.Nothing.”
Sighing, Oslo nods once. “Of that, I have no doubt, Kaden.”
Because, although my duty is to my kingdom, to my people, Max comes first. She has since the moment I met her, since she threw all my logic, my schemes aside. She is the only thing I care about.
“And what of Zelos?”
Oslo rubs his beard, stubbled grey with his age. “So far, he doesn’t suspect. But we both know that is only a matter of time. Like so many things.”
My fists clench, the beast roaring in my ears. At the slowness, at the situation.
My father will try to take her from me.
Like Sose.
Max is not Sose.
Tossing the parchments on to the cluttered desk, I turn on my heel to the door, my shadows following my unspoken commands to open it. Hinges groan and the walls shake with my power as I steel my spine.
“Where are you going?”
Glancing back at my uncle, I smirk. “I’d rather have my mate by my side than alone when Zelos decides to attack.” At least beside me, I can protect her. At least with me, we have a chance.
Oslo huffs a laugh. “He won’t like that.”
“I don’t care.”
“I know. But you’ll have to convince him.”
“Any suggestions?”
“The other Fae kingdoms are converging.” His amber eyes crinkle with wisdom. “Remind him that keeping a royal in the dungeon will not look good to potential allies. Let him think it’s his idea. Then, you shall have your mate.”
As I exit the office, I growl, “I shall.”
Chapter
Three
MAX
It’s days later when I’m taken from the dungeon and up into the dizzily, grand Black Palace. A place of nightmares and forbidden secrets; a place that no Witch would dare enter, and I’m walking these dark halls, mouth agape, eyes wide.
This is it.They’re finally bringing me to Zelos. I’ve push the heir too far and he’s giving me to his father for world domination.
I inhale, preparing myself. It’s not the first time I’ve wished for some kind of weapon.
But the minutes tick by as I’m led through these maze-like halls, the black granite floors under me a sea of glass. The walls are painted a lighter hue, with rich silver framed priceless art passing me in a blur. This palace is grand but haunted, wealthy but meant to evoke fear instead of awe.
None of the six guards explain where I’m going or why, as they surround me and lead me through the corridors. Heavy chains still bind my wrists, but the guards don’t hold me. Zeke is the only one who sticks to my side, arm slightly behind me, as if to halt me from running.
I would, if I could.
Soon, I’m deposited in front of a pair of big black doors, the panels etched with some beastly scene.
Peering closer, my breath catches.Dark Fae. It’s them from legend, who they used to be. Nessa would describe them to me—seeing how the Dark Fae used to be, fierce, war-like, seemed to be one of her few truths.
