Page 64

A sher Windswift Strider, former king of The West Isles, thought to be killed by my hand five hundred years ago, stood alive and well in the large doorway of the manor.

I knew the stories they told. That he had become a mad king after the death of his wife, my mother, and that I took advantage of his grief and killed him in cold blood for the throne.

And I had let those rumors spread, encouraged them to spread. Fear of the murderous shifter king that killed his own father kept my court safe but also kept my father safe as well, except that wasn’t the truth of it.

Even at his most blood thirsty stage, I was devoted to my father.

He was my role model, my idol, I wanted to be him.

I obeyed his orders, sent shifters to their deaths under them and I told myself that it was justice for us, for our family, for my mother.

But deep down I knew that she would have never wanted to see innocent fae being slaughtered in her name .

It wasn’t until my father commanded our most powerful ancients and master healer to pick up his retired sword, that I knew he had to be stopped.

Jarquinn had vowed after his wife died in the blood wars, that he would never kill again but the master healer was also fiercely loyal to my father.

When I found Jar unsheathing his blade with tears running down his kind and beautiful face, something in me snapped.

That day was the day that I invoked the ancient and archaic shifter law called Bloodlust Rights. A challenge to death…a law made specifically to protect the shifters when their ruler became lost to bloodlust.

But by doing so, I invoked the rage of another fae…who joined my father in the fight against me. The swordmaster, Bane Steelhead.

Most believed the swordmaster had earned his right to live within shifter lands from sheer skill alone, but that wasn’t the true story.

What was true, was that Bane Steelhead had grown up with my mother Skyler, on Inquus Islands, a small grouping of tropical isles off the coast of our mainlands.

Bane had been my mother’s closest friend growing up and at one time they were even lovers.

Except, their time together came to an abrupt end, when my father visited the isles and met my mother for the first time.

Their soulmate bond snapped into place immediately and they were inseparable ever since.

Call it unrequited love or just a coveted infatuation, but Bane Steelhead never stopped caring for my mother even then and spent much of his time visiting her after his travels to become the best weapons master Faerie had ever known.

My father, wholly in love with his wife, respected and acknowledged their friendship, and awarded Bane Steelhead the rights to live among the shifters of The West Isles. The first elemental to ever do so.

He was a happier fae then, from what I was told. Until I was born. I was a very glaringly obvious symbol of something he would never have with my mother, even though he loved her fiercely. Just like my father, when my mother was murdered, a piece of Bane did too.

Both of their devotional love for the same woman was almost an unstoppable force the day I fought them both in the arena.

I had barely walked away with my life that day but instead of finishing them both off, I banished them.

For the sake of my mother’s memory and the two fae that loved her so fiercely.

I hadn’t been back here since…until now.

My thoughts slipped back into the present as my eyes slid over to Remnant and froze. The mixture of disbelief and betrayal in her stare gutted me.

“Remnant.” I took a step forward.

She held up her hand, shaking her head. “How many more secrets, shifter?”

I flinched and pressed my lips together.

She sighed shakily. “Too many then.”

I sensed our friend’s shift nervously behind me. “Scout the area!” I barked. “I want to know if the deadlands have spread further since the last report and if there are any wraiths nearby.”

“Yes, your majesty.” They all murmured in unison, quickly moving away from the potential storm brewing.

“He is the other reason we came here.” I ran my hand through my hair explaining. “We will need him.”

Her jaw tightened. “I suspect you have some plan formulated that you have not told me about then.” Her lips pursed and she shook her head. “An alliance means we work together, Emon, not just when you decide if and when it is convenient for you.”

I grunted at the verbal blow. “There is more…” I sighed. “Time just has not been on our side for me to explain.”

The shadows curled around her arms as she tilted her head, lips still pursed thoughtfully. I held my breath at the silence between us.

“We will have to make time then.” She said slowly.

I exhaled harshly. “Deal.”

A throat cleared.

“I hope I am not interrupting too much.”

We both turned to watch my father’s approach, the slight limp in his gait a painful reminder of the day I had stripped him of his crown and banished him to the outposts.

Jarquinn was barely able to save his leg when my panther had ripped it off during our fight for the throne.

Fae healed from most injuries but a severed limb was difficult to heal fully.

“He was mad with bloodlust and he would have never stopped his thirst for revenge. Your people were paying the price. We did what we had to do, fairy boy. He would have killed you. ”

My jaw clenched, despite his limp, I could still see the dominant and powerful ancient shifter fae I knew him to be. He looked strong, healthy, and above all else…sane.

Shaggy blonde hair trailed over his shoulders, his eyes were slanted like all the ancient fae’s were, and he sported a full neatly groomed beard that glinted in the sun. We were both similar in build and height, with the trademark golden eyes of the Strider clan.

“I do believe that it is us interrupting you, father.”

Cunning eyes glanced between my soulmate and I. He bent to take a knee before me. “Your majesty. Your presence honors me. How may I be of service?”

“You need not bow for me, father. Are you not well?” I asked with alarm, reaching for him to rise and then staring at the tears that fell down his face. I had never known my father to cry. Not even when we lost my mother.

He smiled sadly, gripping my arm tightly. “Yes, my king. I am well. I am just a father happy to see his son.”

I arched my brow. If he was being facetious I could not tell.

“The formal titles are not necessary either, father.”

I reached for Remnant. She sidestepped my hand to move next to me. Her avoidance to my touch was guttural. Somehow the distance between us in that moment felt greater than ever, despite her standing shoulder to shoulder with me.

“I’d like to introduce you to General Remnant Dark. Remnant, this is my father, Asher Windswift Strider, former king of The West Isles. I do believe you once begrudgingly respected one another while strategizing ways to kill each other at the same time.”

My father’s eyes widened on my soulmate.

“At last, we meet, General. My son is correct. It is both fortunate and unfortunate that we have not yet met. Even in my madness, I always looked forward to your next move. You are quite the clever strategist…Faerie was lucky to have you.” His gold eyes twinkled as he extended out his hand.

“I don’t believe they share that sentiment.” My soulmate’s voice was strong and unwavering as she took my fathers hand. “Your Grace.”

My father raised her hand to his lips, kissing it softly. “You have the look of your mother in you, General Dark.” His eyes roamed her face, searching .

There was no stopping the warning growl, but a sharp glance and a deep chuckle from my father was enough to tell me it had been a test. And I failed. He knew what she was to me. Remnant snatched her hand back and glared at both of us.

“It seems whether it was intentional or not, I am eternally indebted to you, General Dark, for bringing my son back to me.”

“Your son has a way of keeping his intentions to himself, so there is no debt owed, your grace.” Remnant stated sharply and I grunted at the blow of her stinging words.

A barking chuckle shook my fathers wide shoulders. “Asher will do just fine, General. My son is the king here, I’m just an old fae who’s happy to have company.” He smiled at me and I was taken aback by the love I saw there.

No hate. No resentment.

“Your father has always loved you. He stayed away because you both needed time to heal.” The panther sighed.

“I am not sure if I am liking this nice streak, cat.”

“Apologies, fairy boy. Perhaps it’s a momentary lapse in my judgment but I rarely make those kinds of mistakes.”

I couldn’t help the snort that escaped, drawing their startled gazes.

“That panther harassing you still son?”

I sighed. “When has there ever been a time where he has not? His name is Ethereal by the way.”

My father's blonde brows rose all the way up to his hairline. “That old cat finally told you his name, did he?”

“Fuck no.” I looked at Remnant who shot me a smug grin. “He gave General Dark the permission to name him.”

My father stared for a long moment, before he threw his head back with howling laughter.

I felt my tension ease at the rich sound and I smiled at the pleasure the simple story had given him. My father was exactly the fae I fondly remembered him to be before our family had been ripped apart.

“What is all this goddess damn racket you are making out here Asher? Are you trying to attract every wraith in the five hundred mile radius?!” Bellowed a stern voice from inside the manor.

I growled. Goddess help us all. Bane Steelhead had arrived.

The bastard rushed out like a wailing banshee with his sword swinging, poised to strike down anything within reach.

His body itself was honed like a weapon, all sharp angles of lean muscle, he was always vigilant, always ready.

His steel blue eyes cut through me and I crossed my arms to watch the foolish spectacle he created.

Sparks flew and I saw his intention before he even moved. His deadly blade rising to cleave me in two.

“Idiot.” The panther and I growled simultaneously, ready to take him down.