Page 153 of Bonded Chaos

Tears pricked my eyes as a flurry of emotions crashed into me. Anger, resentment, sadness, and hope all warred within me, fighting for their right to be set free.

Then my thoughts turned to my aunt and uncle waiting for me in the Seelie Kingdom. They’d been forced to leave their home and their families and settle in another village to give me a chance at a better life. Somewhere, no one would think to question my different features, allowing me to become their daughter in every way that matters. They had given me a home, a family, and an infuriating brother whom I adored more than anything, and at that moment I realized my father was right.

My anger seeped from me, and I suddenly felt exhausted from the upheaval of the day. My limbs were heavy with fatigue and my eyes burned as they begged for sleep.

“Why didn’t you ever send word that you were alive?” I asked in a small voice.

My father’s expression softened, as if he’d sensed the change in my emotions.

“Because I knew the path I was taking wasn’t one I could share with you, at least not then. I needed to stay hidden, to gather what remained of our people, and to plan. The Cleansing destroyed our world, our way of life, Cadence. The Unseelie King and those who followed him, took everything from us. But now… now it’s time to take it back.”

Murmurs of agreement broke out around me, and my gaze flicked to the Fae meandering about the camp. They were no longer pretending not to listen, but were actively following along, nodding their heads at my father’s sentiment. They looked at my father with a kind of reverence that made my stomach knot as realization washed over me.

“You’re the leader of the Crimson Enclave, aren’t you?”

My father narrowed his gaze as he studied me. His thoughts swirled behind his eyes, and it appeared as though he was assessing me, evaluating my worth, as he tried to determine if I could be trusted.

He didn’t look at me like a daughter.

“I am,” he said, and my mind whirled.

I’d heard of the atrocities the Crimson Enclave had committed, all in the name of retribution. While I understood their anger, they’d inflicted the same suffering they had experienced during the Cleansing on their fellow fae. The people they killed and the lives they ruined were as innocent as they had been.

Unease gripped my chest, but I tempered my features, not letting it show on my face.

“What do you mean, take it back?”

My father’s eyes flared with interest, and the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips.

“We’ve waited long enough.”

Cheers of agreement broke out around the group, but I kept my gaze locked on my father.

“We have allies now, strength we didn’t have before. But before we strike, we need an advantage.”

The way my father looked at me, as if I were no longer a person but a weapon, raised the hairs on the back of my neck. Whatever he was about to say, I was certain I wouldn’t like it.

“And you, my daughter, are that advantage.”

My blood ran cold.

I hated that I was right.

“What are you talking about?”

“The prince is your mate.”

My gaze darted to Eleanor, and the smug smirk that painted her lips had my eyes narrowing with resentment.

“You intend to kill me?” I asked in disbelief.

My father stared at me as if he was considering his options. I pulled my magic around me, ready to defend myself despite the overwhelming odds.

It had been eight decades since my father had lost his mate. There was no telling how far the sickness of his mind hadprogressed. I could no longer depend on him to protect me as I once had.

“While that’s one way to bring about the prince’s demise, there’s another option. One that might prove significantly more beneficial.”

His shrewd gaze assessed me, and a shiver of revulsion coursed through my body. The camp followers protested angrily, but my father’s eyes remained locked on me.

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