Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
“Killing that man had nothing to do with you.”
“I’m in such a good mood that I’m even willing to overlook that mess you made with Sarya.”
A soft growl rumbled up Rei’s throat while he scrubbed a filthy hand across his face. His words meant nothing to her. Yichen wasn’t sure if it was the same insanity that plagued King Ash or if the words of others didn’t touch her because she thought herself so far above everyone that she didn’t have to listen to them.
“Look, I’m happy to finish up our business right here and now, if that’s what you want,” Rei said. Yichen clenched his teeth to see his lover push a fake smile upon his lips. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke, as if he were teetering on the edge of his control. As much as he would love to finish all business with the fae right now, the truth was that Rei was likely stretched to the limit of exhaustion after fighting the king. He needed to be taken somewhere safe to recuperate.
But Rei pushed on, and Yichen stood beside him.
“As I see it, you have two options, Your Majesty,” Rei began, twisting up her title in his mouth. “You can draw the fae to the door and return to our realm. Destroy the castle that’s holding the doorway open. Leave the humans alone. Just take it all back to the way it has been for centuries.”
Belladonna tipped her chin toward her chest as her smile grew wider. “And the second option?”
Rei took a step forward, putting some space between himself and Yichen while he drew both of his swords from their sheaths. “I kill you tonight, and our people will be forced to find a new leader. One that will show them the way from the brink of destruction.”
The queen didn’t even blink at the death threat, though a ripple of unease seemed to run through the ranks of the many soldiers who stood behind her. Yichen’s eyes swept over them, running a count in his head. They were outnumbered by a lot. By far too fucking much. If Rei did start this fight with the queen, she had to be taken out quickly. It would be the only way to get the rest of the army to retreat.
The army wasn’t their only problem. There was also Trin. If Rei’s half brother decided to side with his mother rather than Rei, they were truly screwed.
Rei knew this. He had to know their odds weren’t good. He wouldn’t make a rash decision. But regardless of what his mate decided, Yichen wasn’t leaving his side.
“That’s interesting,” Belladonna murmured. Her smile never wavered. “But I have a counteroffer. Just one. You return to the fae realm and resume your place as the crown prince.”
“No,” Rei snapped, and the queen’s smile shifted into something savage.
“I haven’t finished. You return to the fae realm, resume your place as the crown prince, and I’ll consider withdrawing all the fae to our home. It’s important that I have my son at my side again. This nonsense was all the king’s idea. I’ve grown tired of the game, and returning home with my son sounds more appealing.”
Yichen glanced at Trin out of the corner of his eye. The elf was still kneeling, his head bowed, but his left fist had tightened into a white-knuckled ball. She might be willing to “forgive” the past, but her every word was ensuring that Trin was going to come for Rei’s head at the first opportunity. Fucking bitch.
“I…” Rei whispered, but the rest of the sentence sounded like it had gotten cut off in his throat. He turned slightly and Yichen met sparkling, wide green eyes. Yichen’s heart stopped in his chest and he took a step forward. This was not part of their plan. Rei was supposed to be coming home with him. They were spending eternity together. Zelda provided them with the perfect answer to protecting Rei in the human realm.
We’re mates!
Rei was his heart, the breath in his lungs, the blood in his veins. How was he supposed to go on if Rei was trapped in the fae realm?
But if Rei left with the queen, there was a chance that all of this fighting could be over. No more death. His clan wouldn’t be in danger any longer.
“Very well,” Belladonna interrupted with an extravagant sigh. “You may take your pet vampire with you. I understand you’ve become attached. I promise if you bring him with you, he will be as safe from attack as you are. He won’t be a prisoner, but a guest.”
“No!”
“I’ll do it!”
They answered at the same time, though Yichen couldn’t recall making the conscious decision to return to the fae realm. For a century, he’d wanted nothing more than to escape and never see that place again. He vowed to die before ever returning, but when faced with the choice of never seeing Rei again and returning to that hell, it felt as though it was no choice at all. He swore to himself that he would follow Rei wherever he went. And that included the fae realm.