Page 29 of King

“No,” he answers. “Each time she has spoken with the dark force since, it demands her spawn. She insists she’s trying but never provides the sacrifice it’s looking for.”

I run my fingers through Rue’s hair, not sure how else to soothe her. “That’s why she discards her consorts,” I say, “They didn’t give her an heir. That’s why she took me. She hoped a powerful fae might be able to.”

But one infuriating piece still doesn’t fit. “Why the turn of theseasons?”

Before the dryad can respond, Rue gasps. “The sprites! They’re most fertile at the beginning of the Still Season. And gryphons! They mate at the start of the warmer ones.” She counts off other creatures on her fingers whose mating patterns revolve around the change of seasons. “Could it be connected?”

“The realms line up at the turn of each season,” the dryad says. “Power is balanced. New life is kindled. That’s why many species mate during these times.”

“Yet, she still couldn’t conceive,” the seer interjects, speaking up for the first time since the dryad arrived. Rue shoots her a deadly look, but she ignores it. “When she discovered your ability to nurture magic, she must have thought she found a way to circumvent the dark force’s control over her.”

“With me, she could grow her own power without a sacrifice. And when she learned about Vaegon, she realized she could have two vessels to cultivate her power.”

The seer moves toward the dryad with her gaze pointed to the sky. “And she wouldn’t have stopped with Vaegon.” Her eyes dart back and forth as if she’s tracking streaks of heat lightning weaving through the clouds. I can only imagine she’s having a vision of what that future would have been like.

“You’d be shackled and chained, growing her magic while producing more spawn through fae proxies.” She lowers her eyes and finds me with them. “You must finish your preparations while Vaegon grows the magic you gave him. Only then can you defeat the queen.”

A growl rumbles through Rue’s body. “How long?” she demands.

“Not long,” the seer replies. “And Allina has left her own youngling as a promise to keep him safe.”

Rue climbs to her feet and scoffs at the seer. “One mother wasn’t enough? You had to break two?” She shakes her head butsuddenly whirls around in a panic. “The bloodlust! How can he resist it without our help? Will he come back lost?” She searches my eyes for hope, bearing another wound I couldn’t shield her from. “Is the only way to save the realm growing infinite power in a crazed mixed fae?”

“He will not be lost. I assure you,” the seer tells her, still standing by the dryad as if she is his equal.

But she’s not. The dryad has given us invaluable information. The seer has given us nothing but more questions and heartache.

I expect Rue to lash out. I won’t stop her if she does. But Rue’s expression slides away until all that’s left is a vacant stare. She trudges back the way we came, pausing briefly to turn and bare her throat to the dryad.

“Thank you,” I say, bowing my head to him. “We’ll do what needs to be done.”

“We know you will,” he says softly. “We’ve always known you.”

I remember all the times they were there to help or listen. My heart still feels ripped open, but I know he’s right. And as much as I hate her right now, the seer is right, too. I won’t get my son back until I fulfill my purpose. And Rue will be heartbroken until that day arrives. At least she’ll be safe here while I prepare. Well... safer than anywhere else, I guess.

But if I come back and find that the elves have taken her, too, Vaegon’s spell won’t be able to protect them. I’ll pick them off one by one until someone returns them both to me.

Chapter 9

Rue

It’s been weeks since they took Vaegon away. Since Durin held me as I fell apart. He rocked me gently for hours, pressing soft kisses to my hair and face while I cried. It didn’t ease the ache in my heart, but he kept it from shattering completely.

He stayed with me for days until the seer came and warned him against waiting any longer. She reminded us that the longer he delayed, the longer our son would be gone. So, he left.

For the first few days, I jumped up every time someone came in to check on me or drop off a meal, hoping they had my son with them. But they never did, and it didn’t take long for my hope to wither away.

The seer suggested I help care for Allina’s baby. She claimed it would be good for me. She’s delusional. The idea of swapping pups is revolting. I don’t want to lay eyes on a pup that isn’t mine. What did she expect my answer to be? Fate didn’t give her a vision of the big fatfuck youshe had coming?

Since then, I’ve been lying in bed, occasionally nibbling on the food the elves leave for me. My Omega has been nowhere to be seen. Durin has his duties to occupy him. Most of the time, I don’t even have him. I have nothing.

I can only function when he’s here. I eat when he visits. I bathe, but only because he does the work for me. That’s aboutthe extent of my contribution to the realm.

He gives me updates about what’s happening with the other species, but I’ve stopped caring. His words drift right over me. The only thing I’m able to focus on is his touch. We mate as much as we can. In those fleeting moments when he’s part of me, I feel alive again, as if he’s living for both of us. My heart feels full.

When he leaves, I return to being hollow. And soon, an entire season has passed, and I’ve all but given up hope.

It’s been ages since Durin last came, or maybe it just seems that way. I’m trapped here with only my uncertainty.

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