Page 2

Chapter One

Three Days Later

Staring at the bread in my hands, I wonder when I became so spoiled. Growing up, Astrid and I didn’t have much of anything. My mom always made sure we had a full belly, but we weren’t eating like I have been since I moved to Chaos. I’ve been treated like one of the Incubus Princes, living with Axe, Kai, Bane, and their father, King Zython.

Zython is Astrid’s father, which no one knew until recently, and Axe and Kai are his sons. Bane was taken in as his ward but now mostly lives in The Circle in the Demon Kingdom. I have a massive room, just like them. I eat with them. I’ve been treated like a prince, even though I don’t have a drop of royal blood in me. I’m a part of their royal guard, a warrior. But really, I’m just a common fae. My magic isn’t as strong, but I never let that stop me. Before coming here, it was just Astrid and me. I was a mercenary and made sure she was safe, but when she met her mate, Rave, that all changed.

Forcing myself to take a bite of the bread, I chew slowly, wondering how long it will take them to find me. My eyes raise when I hear someone approaching my cell. I already know who it is.

“How long are you planning on keeping me here?” I ask her. Dressed in all black, her golden hair flowing over her shoulders, she looks almost ethereal with her fair coloring and striking blue eyes.

“Depends on what Zython is willing to give us to get you back,” she replies, smirking.

I might not be up-to-date with all the kingdom’s politics, but I do know that her father, Declan, a warlord who led his own army, wanted Astrid for her succubus blood. I also know that originally, Milana was meant to marry Axe, who is next in line for the throne. Just the thought makes my fists clench.

“You know I’m no one to him, right?” I mutter, taking a sip of warm water. Milana’s eyes roam over me from head to toe. With nothing else to do here, I’ve been working out—push-ups, sit-ups, and whatever else I can manage within these small confines.

Her pink-tipped fingernails graze the cold metal bars. “Who killed my father?”

It’s the only thing she asked me. When Laurel saw a vision of Declan killing Astrid, we knew he had to die.

Rave killed him.

But I won’t tell her that.

I remember Laurel’s warning—“ Milana has to come over to our side, or bad things will happen .”

“Why did you help Vera?” I ask instead, starting from the very beginning.

“You mean my good friend, Vera, who is now also dead. You really do love to kill people I care about, don’t you?” she fires back, her blue eyes flickering with anger and pain.

Bane killed Vera so Rave wouldn’t have to.

I had nothing to do with that, but according to Milana, I’m to blame for everything .

“Vera was trying to kidnap Vale from his father, and you helped her,” I say, keeping my tone even and gentle. “And then when Vera was… handled, you tried to kidnap him yourself to take him away from his father. How did you justify that?”

Her eyes narrow, and her cheeks redden. “Vera asked me to do that. She said Rave was going to hurt Vale, and if she couldn’t protect him, I had to. He’s just a child…” she trails off, taking a deep breath. “Everyone knows the King of Shadows is known for being ruthless.”

“Not to his own flesh and blood,” I reply, shaking my head. “Vale is very well-loved and close with his father. You added extra trauma that Vale didn’t need.”

She pauses, then shakes her head. “Vera told me all about Rave and how he couldn’t be trusted with his son.”

“Vera played you,” I reply, looking her right in the eyes. “She was a manipulator. Rave is a damn good father. He might be bloodthirsty to his enemies, but he protects those he cares about.”

He treats Astrid like a queen. I can’t lie—it used to kill me—but now I know everything played out as it should.

With a deep sigh, Milana looks away from me, and I hope she’s not automatically discounting what I’m saying.

Maybe Vera was a good friend to her, who knows, but what Vera got her to do was wrong.

“I was being a good friend and helping her,” she replies, biting the inside of her cheek.

“And your friend was in the wrong, putting you in that position.” I make sure to keep my voice soft and gentle, not wanting her to become defensive.

It must work because she replies, “I didn’t want to hurt anyone. And I love Vale. He’s a wonderful little boy.”

“He is,” I agree.

“How is he doing after losing his mom?” she asks.

“He’s doing well,” I assure her, tilting my head to the side and studying her. “No one can replace his mom, but he’s thriving with Rave and Astrid.”

I’ll give her that much.

“Good.” She nods slowly, eying the bread still in my hands. “I’ve held off Rion for as long as I can, August, but you’re not giving me any information. Sooner or later, he’s going to be the one coming down here.”

“Let him come,” I murmur.

So Rion is still alive. We once thought he was an ally, but apparently, we were very wrong.

The truth is that I’m tired.

So tired.

The beauty in front of me is meant to be mine, and the fact that she falls farther out of my reach every day is draining my soul.

“August…”

“Do you ever think what it could have been like?” I ask her, closing my eyes.

“What?” she rasps.

“Us,” I whisper, bread falling from my fingers onto the cobblestone ground.

What if we’d just randomly met at an inn or a party?

What if we weren’t standing on opposite sides of a battlefield?

What if I left everything I believed in for love?

What if our love was simple?

I’m already drifting off when I hear her soft reply, “Every single day.”