Page 130 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

A black arrow slams into his wrist and then his forearm. More Dark Fae guards charge into the fray, erupting the space into a gruesome battle once more.

In the struggle, I let Griffin escape, covering Max’s body with my own as my men’s arrows rained down on us. I’m too weak to call my shadows, but my siblings hunker over us, protecting us both with their swords.

Once the arrows stop, I stand, clutching Max to my body. The raiders are dead, and the ones not, my guards are slicing their necks. Shifters groan and wheeze, some changing back while others crawl away to safety.

I glance to the lone cabin in the corner, where the children were kept, and see it still stands, untouched by the bloodshed.

Boots crunch in front of me and my siblings and I tense.

There’s only one person who can make all three of us freeze in our spots. Only one person who would walk into the middle of the battle with the confidence of not expecting an attack.

My father.

“So. This is the blood summoner.”

“She’s my mate,” I snap, earning a reproachful look from my sister. It’s a warning to behave, to settle before speaking to Zelos.

Otherwise, I could find myself back in dungeons.

Soon, I won’t have to worry about that.Patience.

My father’s dark delicate eyebrow raises. There’s a flicker of disappointment before his mouth crashes into a nasty grin. “Oh, my heir. Youdidn’t.”

Steeling my back, I hold Max into the crook of my arm, keeping her face away from my father’s gaze. I don’t want anyone to see her—except for me.

“I did. Meet my future queen.”

Epilogue

Kaden

Three weeks later

Stalking through the halls, my shadows flutter behind me like angry cat tails.

They’ve been like this since we returned to the Black Palace. Since Max has been caged in the dungeons—the same ones I lived in until my monster was undercontrol—alone and frightened.

She’s to be my future queen and yet, she’s locked up like some fucking animal.

Because the King has decreed it, we must obey.Imust obey.

Bel, I can’t wait until I don’t have to anymore.

Unfortunately for my mate, I’ve been keeping her food drugged. For safety reasons. Can’t have her killing everyone and risking Zelos’ wrath.

Stopping in front of the dungeon’s entrance, the guards don’t bother to halt me. In fact, they scurry away like the servants.

It’s been weeks. Weeks that I’ve spent unable to sleep, eat or think, without my thoughts being consumed with worry for her. It took six days just to bring her out of the paralyzing potion Griffin stabbed into her. Six days of not knowing if she’d ever waken again.

I wasn’t permitted to be there there when her blue eyes opened. I wasn’t able to explain the bond or what it meant, or the rules. How important this claiming was to my kind. How consuming it can be when not fully realized.

I can only imagine what she’s thinking after weeks without seeing me. That I abandoned her. That I only wanted to use her.

That had been the original plan, but not any longer.

Did she still hate me? Loathe me? Did she remember the good before the bad?

My heart twists, possessiveness so deep, it nearly knocks me over. I need to see her—now.