Page 13 of King

Rue knows?

The blow hits so hard that my magic nearly falters. The heat wants to withdraw back inside and put my heart out of its misery.

If she does know, then he’s right–she won’t come with me. What am I supposed to do then? Leave her here with this Alpha she despises? Force her to come with me, someone she probably hates just as much?

My magic flares so high at the thought, the Prime has to step back and shield himself from it. But when he recovers, his righteous look returns and makes my decision clear–Rue is coming with me.

She can hate me, but at least she’ll be able to hate us both while enjoying her freedom.

“It doesn’t matter whether she wants to come with me,” I snap. “I know for a fact she doesn’t want to be here withyou. Why do you think you had to drag her back? Why do you think she disappeared in the first place?”

A ring of growls rumbles around us. The Alphas step in closer to support their disgraceful leader. Rue was right. This pack is infected. I’d love to clean it out. But my only goal here is to find Rue and get her the fuck away from them.

“Oh, really?” the Prime sneers. “Then why has she spent the past two nights in my bed?” He lifts his chin to the sky and curls his lip at me. “She’s mine, fae. You have no claim to her.”

The strike lands right where he wanted it.

Rue could have changed her mind about him after learning who I really am. He’s powerful, fully capable of protecting her and the pup. He’s not tied to the queen’s bed, but free to dote on her like a good mate should.

Has he become more appealing to her after seeing what a filthy piece of shit I am?

My magic flickers in and out as the drive behind it slips away. What am I worth without Rue? The mission that once defined me feels so trivial now. If I’m not even honorable enough to defeat this loathsome Alpha for Rue’s affection, how can I possibly hope to save an entire realm? And why would I even want to?

“I belong to no one!”

The strength in Rue’s beautiful voice slices through the air, flooding me with relief. She’s okay. And she’s not enamored with this foul beast in front of me.

Everyone turns to look at her, but none are as deeply affected as me. I’m frozen, spellbound by her beauty and the pointy-eared pup nestled in her arms. I watch his little chest rise and fall with each breath. His tiny fingers tangling in her hair.

My fate and future stand in their glory, just out of my reach.

“He’s here,” I whisper.

Rue doesn’t look at me. I wish she’d at least spare me a glance. I’d kill for a hint as to how she feels toward me. But she just clutches our little Vaegon tightly as she glares at the arrogant Prime.

He ignores her, keeping his sights on me. A shadow lurks in his eyes that wasn’t there before. An eerie calm settles over his features, reminiscent of the depraved queen herself.

His tone seems to have shifted significantly after witnessing my reaction to my son.

“You may take the pup,” he says cordially. “He’s the real reason you’re here, isn’t he? Do as you wish with him, but regardless of what Rue claims, she does belong to me.”

Instead of cowering, she takes a courageous step toward him. “No one will take this pup from me. I’ll decide where he belongs.”

I long to reach for her, but my magic still flows from my fingertips. I’d never direct it at her or my son. But there’s no way I’m allowing this Alpha, or anyone else, to get anywhere near them.

Luckily, the queen’s magic has woven so deeply into my own that it readily bends to my will. I can still protect myself as I protect Rue, even from a distance.

I open the front of the barrier I created and extend it outward. Flames spring to life, forming two straight lines in a clear path straight to Rue. Shifters leap aside as the fire races across the ground they’d be standing on.

Rue ignores the flames as they curve protectively around her. Once my barrier is complete, she immediately strides toward me like she expected this all along. I shrink the path as she draws nearer, leaving only a ring of fire around us once she’s by my side.

I peek down at her neck, and one of the knots in my stomach unfolds. She hasn’t been claimed.

The Prime has lost, but he refuses to surrender. Words are the only weapon he has left, but he wields them with deadly precision.

“When the queen finds out you’ve sired a son with someone else, she’ll kill you. Then she’ll kill them both. You pretend to be so noble, protecting the poor shifters, but you’re just another pawn for the queen.”

He’s right. Deceiving Rue makes me no better than them. But what of his own actions? I trust Rue’s judgment. I don’t need the details. This Alpha is just as wretched as me.

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