Page 2 of Claimed By Prince Daddy

Pull yourself together!

Alain leaned close to me and whispered, “You okay?” A frown tugged at her brow.

I swallowed thickly, unease flaring beneath my skin. Yet, I didn’t let my best friend see how unsettled I'd become.

Nodding, I said, “All is well, Alain.” Then I considered where we were. A peace summit with our enemy. “Well, as good as can be expected.”

Alain gave a reluctant nod. “If you’re sure.” She glanced down at our king, her voice dropping further. “For a moment there, I thought King Asar was going to launch himself at the fae king.” She shuddered. “I can’t be here if a battle breaks out. I have no idea how to fight.”

Protectiveness surged through my blood for my friend. “You’ve got me.” I reached out and squeezed Alain’s hand resting in my lap. Alain flashed a grateful smile. Never again would I allow a loved one to be taken from me.

My chest tightened as the image of my late brother’s face flashed into my mind. Xanu had been such a loving and loyal older brother to me. Tall and muscular, with dark auburn hair and forest green eyes, he had been a fine alpha heir to the kingdom. As such, he had become weighed down with the affairs of the kingdom as he grew older and worked alongside our father—but he’d always made time for me as the younger sister. Xanu and I had held a close bond, one that was unbreakable. That is, till death tore us apart.

Xanu had fallen in battle at the hands of a shadow fae. And my heart had blackened with hatred for the fae ever since.

Shaking my head to rid my dismal memory, I returned my attention to the summit unfolding.

“The Southern lands belong to the shadow fae,” King Tridar said. He cast a cool glance at King Asar. “It has been the fae’ssince the beginning of time and should not have to be divided just because a new Lanair pack requires land.”

“That’s a lie!” King Asar snarled, leaping to his feet. Behind him, the noble wolves snarled in agreement—shouts of protest spilling forth like turbulent waves crashing against the shore.

Across the room, the shadow fae nobility leaned forward in their seats, their eyes glowing with barely restrained power—threatening to be unleashed upon the wolves.

“Order!” The elf king yelled. He swiped a hand through the air, and with his power, a gale-force wind whipped down the center of the room, commanding everyone’s attention. All eyes fastened on the willow frame of the elf king. “Order must be held at a peace summit.” He stated, his tone brooking no argument. “Both parties agreed to meet her on neutral ground to come to an understanding and agreement to stop centuries of war. Yet, look at how quickly you’ve regressed to your volatile tempers.”

King Asar actually ducked his chin a notch as if ashamed of his behavior. My brows shot up at my father’s behavior. My eyes snapped to the shadow fae king. He bore a more arrogant mask, his features hard with indifference, yet he settled back into his seat; his violet eyes no longer glowing with power.

King Azzaril turned to the werewolf king. “Let us hear your complaint.”

Nodding, King Asar began, “The southern lands may have at one time belonged to the shadow fae, yet five centuries ago, the shadow fae agreed to part ways with it and handed it over to the werewolves, due to our need for more territory with our expanding populace.” His upper lip curled back. “The agreement was shaken upon—back then, no pennedcontract was needed. A promised word was as good as law. Now the shadow fae reneged on their word, their promise, and seek to take back what is rightfully ours.”

I found my gaze skating to Prince Drake again, curious to see his expression—what he thought of my father’s statement. The Shadow Fae male’s focus was honed on the werewolf king, a deep scowl lining his features. My upper lip trembled in the beginning of a snarl.

“The shadow fae never agreed to part with their lands,” King Tridar argued.

From that point on, the peace summit made no headway. Hours crawled by, the elf king attempted to mediate the talks, yet both sides had not reached a semblance of understanding.

Finally, King Nazarril sighed and stated, “The night is upon us.” He looked pointedly at the windows fanning the far side of the room. Ember saw the stars had appeared. “We shall break for the evening and resume this tomorrow.” His lips pinched. “Perhaps tomorrow will bear more promising results.”

The look in the elf king’s eyes indicated he thought that notion was highly unlikely. I couldn’t blame him. My father was a stubborn man dead set in his ways once he believed in something. And by the stiff set to King Tridar’s shoulders, I knew the shadow fae king wouldn’t bend so easily.

All werewolves and fae rose from their seats, moving toward the exit as the meeting adjourned. I pushed to my feet, my back popping, my feet screaming in protest at having sat on such a hard, ungiving surface for so long. I nudged Alain, who sat slumped in her seat.

Alain lifted her gaze to me. “I thought it’d never end.”

I shot a warning glance at my parents, who had risen and passed by on their way to leave. Alain snapped her jaw shut as she ducked her head. Once the king and queen passed, she cried, “Well, I did.” Sighing, she stood. “I thought peace summits are supposed to be, well, more peaceable.”

We stepped beyond the terraces and down the hall. “I’m afraid when you’ve been enemies for centuries, peace cannot be attained so easily,” I told Alain.

Alain nodded in agreement. “I suppose you’re right.”

Elven servants appeared beyond the great wall, within the wide expanse of the corridor. Approaching the kings and queens from both sides, they explained that they would show them to their quarters for their stay. King Asar and Queen Lunatha thanked them for their king’s hospitality.

The male servant slid his gaze to me. “We shall show your daughter her quarters as well.” I nodded my thanks. My parents faced me.

“You were wonderful, dear,” Queen Lunatha said. “You held your temper in check.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I said, though guilt ate at me for the reasons as to why I didn’t struggle with controlling my inner wolf. The she-wolf within was too intrigued with the shadow fae prince. Bile rose in my throat.

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