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Daeanna paced the pristine gardens with flourishing blooms of sweet-smelling flowers as the clean-scented breeze wafted through the trees. Fruits bobbed from branches overhead, nestled in velvety petals waiting for harvest. Had her patience not reached the end of her line, she might have enjoyed one of the juicy offerings. Alas, her stomach knotted tight, just like her fingers and every muscle from neck to ankle.

She was tired of waiting. Tired of beingpatient.

She had her answer, thanks to a foolish human imbecile. She’d make her point in showing how weak and dangerous mortals were because of it, too. Mortals, those worthless creatures, would bring about the downfall of the Fae, of all Fae, ifthey weren’t dealt with. Her plan to disguise Katherine as Moira had worked as expected, revealing Shaye’s weakling mortal wife was, indeed, alive. The traitors on her father’s Council, Liam specifically, most likely saved the wench.

He’d be dealt with accordingly for preserving a worthless life over that of his pureblooded race.

Now, she awaited Thaddeus’s return. ’Twas time to put her ultimate plan into motion.

She sensed the presence of her devoted lover before he entered the gardens. His powerful magic was intoxicating, a sultry sensation to her soul and a delicacy she most prized. ’Twas such a pity Dagda could not see the opportunity Thaddeus’s family could have offered the Court.

Not her.

Once she secured the throne, he would sit to her right. He’d make a lethal contribution to her cause. His unwavering loyalty, blinded as he was by love, had created a perfect instrument for her use.

She unwound her fingers and rolled out her shoulders in a slow, sensual motion as she turned and smiled. Thaddeus lowered to a knee, bowing his head as he took her outstretched hand. He kissed her knuckles before rising, rotating her hand and placing another kiss to her wrist. A spark of desire rushed her as his icy eyes warmed beneath the heat of potential pleasure.

Daeanna removed her hand. She’d found decades of immense pleasure with Thaddeus, but he could not, and would not, ever live up to Shaye. Not a male in all the realms could matchherShaye’s perfection, power, and ability to deliver pleasure. The very image of him renewed her determination to push forward.

“You’ve been gone two days. What have you learned?” Daeanna asked, hiding her growing disquiet with a teasingwhorl of her nail over the swell of her breast. Thaddeus’s pupils dilated, his attention drawn to her motion. His nostrils flared as he lifted his gaze from her cleavage and held hers steady, unfettered by her seductive implication. His strength had always been one of his most alluring features, one she enjoyed breaking every now and again.

“The wards around the castle and mountain have been weakened by your men. Access to the grounds is now possible without detection, as long as care is taken when crossing the outer boundaries.” The corner of his lips curled in his signature malicious half grin, making her hunger for that mouth. He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger, a whisper of his power rushing through her like lava. Despite the way she had molded him to her liking, his dominating personality never ceased to arouse her. “You wish for revenge, sweet Daeanna. All we wait for is your word to set an ambush into motion.”

Ambush. A thrilling word.

She arched, giving a testing jerk of her chin. He held fast, his expression darkening with delight.

“We shall destroy that castle. Destroy that land. We shall rain chaos upon those Talaenian half-breeds, and I shall delight in their pleas for mercy. Mercy I shall never grant. They will know fear, true fear, and realize not even their beloved leader can save them. ’Tis punishment for their laughter in the face of my disgrace. Each of those pitiful creatures shall kneel before me, pay respect to my reign of power. None who resist shall live. We’ll accomplish what the all-powerful Dagda failed to do.”

“Aye. These realms hold no place for mixed bloods or mortals.”

“Nay. Shaye underestimated me and continues to lackfear. I’ll teach him a lesson in fear.” She snickered. “In terror. Do you know where Moira is?”

Thaddeus traced a single finger from her collarbone to her cleavage, paused, then moved lower. “There was no mention of her.”

“What of Bryce?”

Thaddeus snorted. “Who?”

She waved his disgust away, teasing the delicate azure buttons along the high collar of his vest. “Matters not. They’ll all perish beneath my fury.”

“And what of the disgracefulthingyou keep within the palace walls? I do believe you owe me for putting myself through such degradation.”

“’Twas but once, aye? And have I not given you eves of pleasure since?”

Thaddeus’s lips pulled back and he dipped his head close to hers. “Do not ask that I lower myself to such sub-standards again. I may love you dearly, but I have boundaries. Why do you keep that human?”

“She has uses. And she’s rather entertaining.” She captured his wrist and yanked his hand from her chin, shoving him back into the trunk of a fruit tree. He chuckled, the sound rich and deep and utterly delicious. “Enough about her.” She pressed into him, unfastening his leather pants as she traced his jaw with the tip of her tongue. “Let me ease your disgust, for when we’re through, we go to war.”

Once she was through with Thaddeus this day, she’d destroy everything below her and have Shaye back under her control.

Only this time, she’d make sure he begged for death.

36

Dark, ominous clouds gathered in the crystalline blue sky. The comforting breeze that caressed the Talaenian realm turned into a lashing wind, stirring tree branches and ripping leaves from their boughs.

Rihanna kicked Epona’s flank, urging her to go faster down the sloping hillside. Her hooves glided over the tips of the grass, never touching the ground with her smooth lopes as she followed Shaye’s steed. Keeping close to Nott’s powerful hock, followed by Liam on another steed and three additional High Fae behind his lead, they made quick time down the hillside.