Page 15

EMBER

I felt the fractures slice through my heart, shattering it into millions of pieces at hearing Drake’s words.

It can’t be ? Did Drake just confide in Rosalana that he would break off the engagement and find a way not to mate with me? My inner wolf threw back her head and let out a mournful howl. I pressed a fist against my sternum, willing my heart to put the pieces back together.

Drake watched me, eyes widened with horror. His handsome face paled to a light beige color.

“Ember,” he breathed. He took a step toward me.

“It’s not what you think.” His voice sounded weak as if he wasn’t convinced of his own lie.

My gaze flitted behind him and the shadow fae female.

Her silver eyes narrowed a touch, her lips curling into a smug smirk.

My claw pricked through my fingernails, itching to slash that grin clear off her face.

I should have known.

This was never supposed to work, never could work.

The shadow fae and werewolves were always destined to be mortal enemies.

When had I so foolishly let myself fall in love with one?

Oh, it had come on subtly, of course. The wicked smirks Drake had cast my way.

The light dancing in his lavender eyes turned them as violet as the first rays of dawn whenever he thought

I did or said something amusing. The small smile he seemingly reserved just for me in our most quiet moments together when we walked the gardens.

Little by little, the shadow male had chipped away at my defenses, my finely constructed walls that had encased my heart until he unearthed the muscle beating for him alone.

I gave him the key to breaking my heart, the ability to wield this emotional pain over me.

I was a fool. And I deserved it. Turning, I strode away from him, keeping my head high, my chin jutted up a notch, not giving either fae the satisfaction of seeing my hurt.

I heard soft footsteps racing across the soft grass.

Drake circled around till he stood in front of me, barring my entrance to the palace.

“Get the hell out of my way,” I growled. “Now!”

Drake’s face was the starkest I’d ever seen it—the angular planes of his cheeks slashed against his skin as if his skin had tightened over the bone. He threw up his hands in a gesture to keep me at bay. I flexed my claws.

“Tell me one thing,” I demanded. He remained silent. Undeterred, I went on. “Everything you told Rosalana, is it true? Did you mean it?”

“Let me explain, Emb?—”

“Yes or no, Drake, it’s as simple as that,” I snarled. The prince of the shadow fae and heir to the throne flinched at the bite of my words. “Is it true? ”

Drake’s shoulders sagged in defeat. Yet, he held my gaze as he said, “Yes. Everything I said was true.”

I thought I had prepared myself for the heartbreak, but the crushing weight that bore down on my ribcage stole the breath from my lungs.

My eyes burned with unshed tears—a single teardrop spilled down my cheek.

I swiped at it with a furious hand. I made to sidestep Drake.

But he threw himself in the way. I dropped my gaze to his boots; I couldn’t stomach to even look at him.

“We can’t be mates,” Drake said, his voice ragged. “But I will be honest with you, Ember, in the last three months, I have enjoyed our time together. They were the best moments of my life, actually.”

“Don’t bullshit me,” I hissed, my throat raw.

“I’m not,” Drake said. And even I could hear the truthfulness in those two words. “Before I met you, I had made a promise to marry Rosalana—a promise to her late brother, my brother out of blood.” He slammed his eyelids shut before returning his gaze to me. “I can’t break it.”

Raw pain lanced through my heart surer than any sword could.

Drake went on. “If I could…if only I could…”

“You’ve said enough,” I said. Hardening my voice and letting him taste my pain and anger, the steel of it, I snarled, “Let me go.”

Drake hesitated, pausing but a moment. Then, with a heavy sigh, he stepped to the side.

I stalked past him. Each footstep breaking another piece of my soul away, the pieces flaking off and disappearing like burned embers in the night sky.

Each step I took was sheer agony. I could feel the mating bond yet finished pulling and stretching, unraveling at the edges because I put more distance between myself and Drake.

My inner wolf sank to her belly, lowering her head to her paws, and whimpered pitifully.

He made his choice; I told my inner Wolf. He chose her. He doesn’t want us. Never did.

I lay atop my bed duvet, my tears soaking my pillow and staining my cheeks.

Anger burned low in my belly for allowing myself to cry over the male and mourn the rejection, yet I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

They flowed like a torrential downpour. Refusing to abate.

Then the door creaked open, and footsteps drew close.

The scent of nutmeg and spring grass touched my nose.

Iiara.

One of my closest and dearest friends since taking up residence in the shadow fae palace. Iiara was a maid in the palace. A soft hand brushed against the hair at the back of my head.

“Ember,” Iiara said, her melodic voice rising over me like a soothing balm. “What is it? Why are you crying?”

I hiccuped as I fought for breath to explain. Lifting my head slightly from the pillow, I told her, “It’s over between Drake and me…not that there was really anything there anyway.”

Iiara leaned above me, her long straight hair falling over me like an ebony waterfall. “What?” She gasped. “I-I don’t understand.”

Another set of footsteps sounded on the other side of my bed. I turned my head slightly, taking the sight of the dark hair fashioned in a sleek bob. A pair of brown eyes shone with concern.

“H-hey, Mara,” I said between sobs.

Mara shot Iiara a hard look. “What is wrong with the princess?”

“Will somebody tell me what’s going on and why Ember is sobbing into her pillow?” A third voice broke the stillness, this one raspier than the others. Ballina. Another fae female servant and my third best friend. She entered the room, kicking the door closed behind her.

I sighed, pushing myself up on my elbows.

Swinging my legs across the mattress, I sat up on the edge of the bed.

The three females gazed expectantly at me.

I inhaled a shaky breath, desperate to keep the tears at bay long enough to speak.

“Things between Drake and I are over. He…d-doesn’t want to mate with me.

I heard him say he’s trying to find a way to call off the engagement. ”

“What the hell?” Mara exclaimed. “Why would he do that?”

“I don’t understand,” said Iiara, her long hair whipping about her shoulders as she shook her head. “This doesn’t make any sense. He’s obviously smitten with you.” She looked at the other two females. “Could this be a case of nerves for the upcoming ball?”

“Oh, I’ll give him a case of nerves,” Ballina growled. “When I kick his ass!” She whirled around, her hand on the doorknob.

I shot out a hand. “Ballina, no!”

She slid her eyes to me, her gaze bright with fury.

“Don’t try to stop me. He deserves it,” Ballina snapped, her incisors lengthening to wicked points .

I gave her a watery smile. “That may very well be true, but you don’t deserve the execution you’ll face for harming the crown prince.” Ballina paused, her hand still on the doorknob. “Ballina, please don’t confront him. For me.”

Ballina let out a groan of frustration and pushed away from the door. She slammed her back against the wall, arms crossed over her chest.

“Did he give a reason why he wants to break off the engagement?” Iiara asked, lowering herself onto the bed to sit beside me.

Her question brought fresh tears to my eyes, and I swiped them away before they fell.

“He told me that he had made a promise before meeting me…to Rosalana. He’d already promised her that he’d make her his bride.

” My throat closed off, and I was unable to say more as the thought flashed to mind of Rosalana, in a breathtaking wedding gown, walking down the aisle to meet Drake at the altar.

I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste the iron tang of blood.

All three of my friends spoke up at once, their voices a discordant mass that filled the room. Even with my keen hearing, I was unable to discern what they were saying.

“Please, please,” I said, “Not all at once.”

“What the hell would he want with that slut?” Ballina hissed. Her eyes sparked with rage. “Everyone knows she’s been chasing after him for years. Not the other way around.”

I shrugged a shoulder, my gaze dropping to my lap. “I don’t know. I think he mentioned something about a brother not of blood. Gall—something was his name.”

“Gallux,” Mara said. “His late friend who died in the battle at Mount Rikar. “He misses him dearly. ”

“I don’t know what he sees in that witch!” Ballina snarled. “She’s horrible to the servants and acts like she’s entitled to the throne. She only acts nice when she’s around Drake. She’s a two-faced bitch.”

I sighed. “Whatever Rosalana may be, it doesn’t matter now.

Nothing matters. Once King Tridar and my parents find out about this, I will be returning home.

” I lifted my gaze to my friends. “I probably won’t see you three again.

” I swallowed. “Once I return home, our people will be at war once more. A-and I will be your enemy.”

“No,” Iiara cried. She drew me into a tight hug. “You will never be anything more than our friend, our sister.” My eyes took in Ballina and Mara. The two females nodded, their gaze fierce with love. I swallowed past the tears clogged in my throat.

“I love you, girls. I always will!”

Tears sprang to Mara’s eyes, and even Ballina’s eyes grew wet. Both females stepped forward and wrapped their arms around Iiara and me—joining in on the embrace. Tears flowed freely once more as I gave myself over to their sisterly love.

Ballina drew back slightly, quickly wiping away her tears. “You know, I think I’ve got an idea that’ll cheer you up.”

I sniffled. “Thanks, Ballina, but I don’t think anything you say will lift my spirits.”

“Just hear me out,” she replied. She drew away fully and straightened. “Instead of wallowing here in your room, we should all have one last hurrah before you go home. I know of a club not too far away from here. Let’s go there. Dance all this shit away. ”

“I don't feel much like dancing,” I said, my stomach cramping.

“And I don’t care what you feel like doing,” Ballina said, a hand on her hip. “You’re going to dance.”

“Ballina,” Mara hissed.

Ballina simply shot Mara a severe look, willing her to say something else.

“In this one instance, I will admit Ballina has a point,” Iiara spoke up.

Ballina gave a smug grin. “Thank you.” Then realization dawned. “Hey!”

“Why don’t we go dancing?” Iiara continued.

I gaped at her. “What? We wouldn’t want Drake to get the last ‘laugh,’ so to speak—what with him fraternizing and you holed up in your room.

” Iiara pumped a fist and said, “Show him that he can’t bring you down, can’t beat the spirit out of you.

You are the strong princess we all know and love, and it's time to act like the future queen you’ll one day be. ”

My eyes slowly widened as her words sank in. I glanced at all three females, at their confident, self-assured expressions. They believed in me, in my strength of character. They knew this would not keep me on my knees forever. It was high time I believed it.

I felt my inner wolf push to her paws as she lifted her muzzle and nudged beneath my skin.

You think this is a good idea? I asked my inner wolf. She dipped her head in acknowledgment. I felt emboldened by that one gesture. Pushing to my feet, I said, “Very well.” I gave a slow smile. “So, where is this club?”