Page 123 of Claimed By Prince Daddy

“Meaning someone wanted you dead. Could someone still want you dead now?” Nara’s voice sounded serious.

A pregnant pause lingered in the air. “I-I don’t know,” Sasha had answered. “But… if someone wanted me dead, it could explain why the werebear attacked me. Maybe the Dark Fae wanted me dead!”

I had pressed closer to the door. The topic was too interesting to pass up. I had heard Nara ask, “But why would the Dark Fae be interested in you? No offense, I was born a latent, but why would a latent be of such interest to the fae? They’re immortal, all powerful.”

“I don’t know. Only the fae would know, and I am not about to seek them out for the answer.”

That had brought me to my predicament of standing before a Dark Fae Lord. He could kill Sasha. If the Dark Fae wanted her dead, even Damon couldn’t stand in their way. It would then rid my problem—do away with the female. And who knew… perhaps the Dark Fae would pay me a handsome fee for aiding them? I smirked.

Ominous shadows billowed around the Dark Lord. His eyes bled crimson. I backed away a step, not sure if I was the target of his rage. He threw back his head and a thunderous wail exploded from his core, piercing my ears and sending the guards flying backward. They hit the wall before falling to the floor. Eyes slammed shut, I hunched down low on the ground. The wailing finally ceased. I opened my eyes. Hot stickiness pooled from my ears. I wiped at it. Red smeared on my fingers. Blood. Before me, the Dark Fae Lord paced, his robes whipping about his legs in a non-existent wind.

“For years we have searched for the child, when the witch had returned, unsure if her dark arts had done away with the pup,” he seethed. “The council finally gave up the search, insisting she was dead after all—since there was no sign or hint of her existence.”

Another wave of dark power whipped out, fanning over my head in an arc. I remained crouched, my eyes tracking the Lord’s every movement.

“‘Surely if the pup was alive she would have afflicted us,’ so the council said.” The Dark Fae Lors let out a mocking chuckle. He faced me, his eyes narrowed to thin slits. “The Council charged me to do away with the pup. I never stopped searching for her—knew she lived.”

With caution, I met his livid glare. “Why was this she-wolf, Sasha, to be targeted?”

He cocked his head to the side. “You don’t know… do you?”

“What is there to know?”

He let loose another mirthless chuckle. “That she is the only were ever born with fae powers.LightFae abilities, notDarkFae.”

The breath blew from my lungs in a whoosh. “B-But that’s impossible.”

He sighed. “Yet, she defies the impossible,” the Dark Lord growled. “Her ancestors were Light Fae. Along the way, someone committed the ultimate sin by mating with a werewolf, solidifying the line of magical powers. The power manifested in this she-wolf, this…Sasha,you speak of.” His fingers twitched before he clenched his fists.

“She is the only one capable of defeating us—destroying all of our diligent plans that we worked on for over many millenniums,” the Dark Lord hissed.

Behind me, the Dark Fae soldiers stirred, pushing to their feet. The Dark Lord finally glanced my way, as if he was noticing my presence for the first time. A wicked smile curved his mouth. “You…you can assist me after all.”

I bowed my head. “I give my allegiance to you.”

“Rise.”

I pushed to my feet.

He cocked his head. I knew when a predator studied prey. By the sharp glint in his eye, I perceived a dangerous predator was in the room. I remained still, not daring to breathe.

“What is your name?”

“Rick. Rick Devans.”

The Dark Lord gave a slow nod. “I am called Dargon Vensteel.” He stepped forward. “Take a walk with me.”

He swept past, his footsteps soundless in his grace. I followed him. He led me along shadowy corridors; the walls looked obsidian—rough and jagged in texture. I kept to the middle of the floor to avoid any sharp points. A whisper of footsteps sounded behind us, but the Dark Lord paid them no mind. I glanced over my shoulder. The Dark Fae soldiers had recovered and now trailed after us a few paces away.

His gaze slid to me out of the corner of one eye. “Werekind and the humans have ruled, flourished over their realm, leaving our realm to rot—nothing more than a desolate wasteland since the Great War. It’s high time we took back what is rightfully ours.”

“What is your plan, then? How will you kill Sasha?”

“Patience, bear. My plan is well in motion,” he replied. “I have created alliances with the witches of other realms. They have been giving the werebears a ‘special drink’ at bars and clubs. It is a tonic that penetrates the mental shields and allows the werebear’s mind to be controlled. It is how the murdering of humans has begun.”

I felt my claws pricking at the surface of my fingertips. The Dark Fae Lord was no closer to answering my question. I didn’t need to hear all that bullshit. Just to know how he would do away with the werewolf bitch.

The Dark Lord halted before massive twin doors that loomed above us. Intricate whorls and writings, resembling an ancient language, adorned the surface. A pair of guards stood along each side. I looked at the Lord. He blinked before the doors opened of their own accord—pushed free by dark power. A blinding light streamed through, basking us in brilliance. I threw my arm over my eyes. The Dark Lord stepped into the light. Squinting, I trailed him.

---