Aurelius grinned, his expression kind. “Not to worry. Your thoughts are safe. I cannot hear or read your thoughts, and no one here can. That is something only some royal bloodlines of Shadow Fae can do,” he explained.
I nodded, and everyone’s attention returned to their plates. Until Rexius spoke.
“There is another way…”
Everyone’s attention shifted to the young heir. “The mate bond? Is it not true that after the blood-binding ceremony, mates will share thoughts and feelings?”
The High Lord’s sister nodded proudly at him in a motherly way, offering him a loving smile.
Before I could fully process what he had said, that Titus and I would eventually share thoughts and feelings, Titus finally spoke.
“So, have you given any thought to my offer?” His deep voice rolled
straight through me.
My stomach tightened. Images of Jared filled my mind. His tired eyes. The way his hand had felt in mine that morning. The quiet promise in his voice when he said everything would be okay. The idea of agreeing to this felt like betrayal, even if death had already torn us apart. Even if logic told me I had no real choice.
I looked down at my hands, at the empty space where my wedding ring should have been. If I said yes, I would be stepping even farther away from the life I had lost. If I said no, I would never see that life again at all.
My chest ached as I swallowed. This was not bravery. This was desperation.
“I don’t want this,” I said quietly. Then I lifted my eyes to his. “But I want to go home more.”
I took a slow, steadying breath. “I accept your terms, Lord Titus.”
A slow, wicked grin took shape on his face.
“Are we supposed to be honored that the human has agreed to be your whore, brother?” the female spat.
“Prisca, do you always have to be such a miserable bitch?” Titus snapped. “I agreed to let you and your son move in so that Rexius could train to become the next High Lord, but I have no problem ridding myself of you and feeding you to the fucking dragons.” Fire rolled off his shoulders.
Ah, Prisca must be Rexius’s mother.
She stood abruptly, threw her napkin onto the table, and narrowed her eyes at her brother. Her expression darkened as she stormed out of the dining room.
After a few moments of silence and feeling completely awkward, I tried to change the subject. “So what do I need to do first? Where is the dagger?” I asked.
Aurelius spoke. “All our ancient texts claim the Dagger of Destiny resides in an enchanted chamber inside Mount Orid.”
“It does. I have seen it, though the chamber’s enchantments do not allow me access,” Titus confirmed.
I looked at them both. “Okay, so just fly me up to the mountain and I will walk in there and get it,” I suggested.
Rexius scoffed. “Mount Orid is an active volcano and the deadliest one in all of Nevaehun.” His tone toward me mirrored his mother’s.
Great, he hates me too.
Rage simmered beneath my skin. They had tricked me into agreeing to die. “A volcano?! How exactly did you expect me to survive that?”
The High Lord held my gaze with effortless arrogance, his confidence bordering on mockery, evident in his stupid grin. “How could I bed you if you were dead? Sorry, human. Not my kink.”
Aurelius seemed to flinch in disgust at his words.
Titus continued. “I have been practicing projecting my fire resistance onto other objects, using it as a shield. It's called shield projection magic.”
“Practicing? Oh. That is comforting,” I scoffed sarcastically. Rexius rose from his seat. He drew his sword and shouted,
“Do you doubt the abilities of your High Lord?”
