Page 6

“Why didn’t you tell me?” The king asked her, his voice a low rasp, yet I could hear it clearly as it echoed throughout the Great Hall.

Ember’s face paled even more, the light dusting of freckles along the bridge of her nose even more pronounced. “I…I…” her voice trailed away, and she slammed her eyelids closed. A shudder racked her body.

A sharp pang pricked my heart for her. To be a spectacle for all these Lanair…the temptation to leap from my seat, haul her into my arms, and bolt was strong.

King Asar sighed heavily. With a slow shake of his head, he slowly faced the king of the shadow fae. “I can see it.”

King Tridar gave a curt nod. Keeping his gaze fixed on King Asar, he said, “Won’t you tell your mate? ”

The werewolf king flinched as if he’d been struck a blow. Queen Lunatha’s gaze flitted between the two kings.

“My King,” she said to her husband. “What is he talking about?” Panic crept over her features. “Tell me.”

Whispers began to peak from both sides, the shadow fae and werewolves murmuring among themselves. Queen Lunatha whirled on her daughter when the king refused to offer her a reply. “Ember, what is your father not telling me?” Ember bowed her head. The Queen hissed, “Have you mated that fae?”

She uttered the word ‘fae’ like a curse, but I honed in on the black despair shadowing Ember’s gaze under her mother’s heated glare.

Enough was enough.

I rose to my feet and addressed the Queen. “She has not been touched.”

Queen Lunatha spun, her gaze drilling into me, but before she could retort, I said, “I discovered we are fated mates yesterday at the start of the summit.” I pinioned both royals of the werewolves with my dark glare.

“Ember did nothing wrong. I pursued her. I spoke to her. She told me we can’t be mates. ”

Let me take the heat. Keep your filthy mouths off Ember!

Gasps of shock and outrage pealed from my people. Beside me, my own siblings stiffened. I could handle taking the heat for wishing to be with the enemy, but I’d be damned if I let Ember fall with me. She didn’t deserve that.

“What say you, King Asasr? “ The elf king asked the werewolf king. All eyes swung to him .

He stared at my father with a look of disgust and despair. He heaved a sigh, then turned to the elf king. “I request a break to mull over this recent…discovery.”

King Nazarrill turned to my father. “Do you agree to this?”

King Tridar nodded. “Yes. I understand.”

The elf king nodded. His voice echoed across the Great Hall as he announced, “This meeting is adjourned then. We will meet back here in two hours. Dismissed.”

I found myself pacing my quarters, drowning in my thoughts, when a soft knock sounded at my door. My body froze, my eyes flitting to the door.

After a moment, a feminine voice laced with worry said, “It’s me.”

Irritation sparked in my gut. I didn’t want to see anyone right now. Yet, guilt gnawed at my chest. Rosalana didn’t do anything to warrant my sour mood.

“Come in.”

The door flew open to reveal my late friend’s sister on the threshold. Tears shone in her silver eyes. Her willowy frame trembled at the beginning of a sob. I stepped toward her.

“Hey,” I told her. “What’s wrong?” I winced. I wanted to drop-kick myself. What the hell was I saying? To Rosalana, to my people, the world had gone belly up.

Rosalana shot forward, wrapping her arms around my narrowed waist and burying her face into my chest. “You idiot!” She cried, sobbing openly .

I swept my hand over her dark brown hair, the wavy mass flowing down her back like liquid. “I…know today has been rough..,” I cleared my throat and said. “But you have nothing to worry about.”

She whipped her head up, looking at me through eyes glinting with suspicion. “Are you sure about that?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Her fingers dug into my back like she meant to keep me with her by force. “I heard you. Though I was all the way up top, the commoner row as you know, I still heard you tell Queen Lunatha that you…” her lower lip trembled. “You pursued the werewolf princess.”

I fought back a wince.

Stars dammit…

“Tell me that isn’t true.”

I squeezed Rosalana’s shoulders, not quite finding the words to refute her.

Rosalana shook her head in disbelief. She shrank back, wrenching herself out of my hold. “Oh stars…you…you love her .” She spat the words like Ember was an abomination. And yes, to our people—her kind was.

I shook my head fervently. “No, I don’t.”

Freaking Liar.

But I needed to say anything at this point to keep Rosalana with me. I couldn’t lose her and break my promise to Gallax. I was a male of my word, and I’d be damned if I broke it now.

Rosalana’s voice pitched, her eyes rounding in near hysterics. “You’re going to marry that female, aren’t you?” She sniffled, flashing an accusatory glare at me. “I thought I meant something to you. I thought what we had was deeper than any bond. Was it all a lie?”

I drew Rosalana into my arms. She writhed in my grip, kicking out—her foot connecting with my shin.

But I held firm. I wouldn’t let go. I lost Gallax.

I wouldn’t lose his sister. Though my insides clenched as if I was being ripped apart.

My body craved Ember; my heart ached for her.

Yet, my mind warred against the strong pull of my emotions, wanting to stay loyal to Rosalana.

Bowing my head, I buried my face in her hair.

Shit…

“I won’t marry her,” I told Rosalana. Those four words nearly shattered what was left of my soul. “I promise.”

“Are you certain?” Rosalana’s voice was timid and hesitant. She drew back from me just enough to look into my eyes. “The king seems like he insists upon it.”

“I know he does. But I’ll find a way not to go through with it.”

Rosalana ducked her chin in defeat.

“Hey,” I told her, hooking a finger under her chin and angling her head back to peer into her eyes. “I promised, didn’t I? You know how I am about keeping my word.”

She nodded after a moment’s pause. “I know.” She gave a small smile. “But I can’t say I’m completely relieved yet.”

I rubbed her shoulders and gave her a soft peck on her brow. “Feel better?” I asked, cocking a brow at her.

Her smile widened. “Much.”

“Good,” I said. I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. Sighing, I said, “The summit is about to resume. We’d better get back. ”

Rosalana gave a shaky nod. I made to slip past her when she caught my hand. I glanced over my shoulder at her. She blinked back her tears in an attempt to appear brave for the hellhole we were about to face.

“Promise?”

I forced a grin that was too tight. “Promise.”

We entered the long corridor and walked side by side, not bothering to speak.

I couldn’t have voiced anything anyway. My eyes were on the floor, and my heart pounded against my chest with each step I took that brought me closer to the Great Hall.

As we neared the doors, a figure in a lavender dress reached the junction at the same time.

My head whipped up, my eyes snagging on the sapphire eyes that captivated me so thoroughly.

Ember.

Beside me, Rosalana flinched. Her body went rigid as she glared at Ember.

The female werewolf’s gaze slid toward the shadow fae female.

Yet, instead of open hostility like I was expecting, I saw a bleakness that shadowed Ember’s dull gaze.

She dipped her head in a polite nod and entered the hall first. She never looked back at us.

I stood as if my feet were rooted to the floor.

All comprehension flew out of my mind, my thoughts a jumbled mass.

I yearned to go to her, yet I knew I couldn’t.

My hands felt numb at my sides; the need to touch her, to hold the female, a burning ember inside my chest. I swallowed and inhaled a steadying breath.

Glancing at Rosalana, I saw her still glaring hard at where Ember once stood.

“Come on,” I said. “Let’s go in.”

Guiding the female into the Great Hall with my hand on the small of her back, we quickly took our seats .

As soon as I sat, my siblings pounced.

“Hey,” Solarus hissed. “What the hell is going on?” I remained silent, my gaze fixed toward the ceiling. I didn’t want to look at anyone or anything. But Solarus wasn’t having it. He gripped my shoulder and shook it. “Drake, man, answer me.”

I whirled on him, talons slicing out. “What the hell do you want me to say?” I hissed.

On Solarus’ other side was our little sister, Alaria. Her soft brow furrowed in a frown. “You can start by telling us when you were going to tell your siblings you’d found your fated mate.” Hurt flashed in her eyes and sent a jab straight through my sternum.

My gaze softened as I stared at my little sister. “I couldn’t tell you, Alaria.”

She licked her lips, her gaze dropping to the ground before flitting up to meet mine. “Why?”

I clenched my jaw, looking away. “Because I didn’t want it to be true. A part of me hoped this couldn’t be, that it would all die down.”

A pregnant pause. Then, understanding dawned in her eyes. She gave a slow nod. Solarus and Alaria exchanged a brief glance. So much was exchanged in that look. Solarus turned back to me.

“We’re here for you either way,” Solarus said. He gave a firm nod of his head. Alaria nodded behind him.

A knot had lodged in my throat. Swallowing didn’t loosen it. “Thanks.”

Nazarril, the elf king, began the meeting. He turned to King Asar. “Well, what say you? ”

King Tridar sat in his seat, awaiting his words. My breath became stuck in my lungs, refusing to dislodge.

King Asar pushed to his feet, almost swaying where he stood.

His shoulders seemed to slump under an unbearable weight.

He seemed to have aged years in the span of hours.

Straightening, the king said, “It has been decided.” His neck tendons grew distended as he swallowed.

“We agree to the union between Prince Drake and Princess Ember.”

The world spun on its axis, and a sense of weightlessness descended on me as if I were falling into an abyss. Gazing across the Great Hall, my eyes found Ember’s. I read the same bleak resignation that shone from my own eyes.