Page 27 of Claimed By Prince Daddy

Stars, no…I slowly turned and faced who I knew would be standing there.

Ember.

CHAPTER FOUR: FRACTURED HEART

EMBER

Ifelt the fractures slice through my heart, shattering it into millions of pieces at hearing Drake’s words.

It can’t be?Did Drake just confide in Rosalana that he would break off the engagement and find a way not to mate with me?My inner wolf threw back her head and let out a mournful howl. I pressed a fist against my sternum, willing my heart to put the pieces back together.

Drake watched me, eyes widened with horror. His handsome face paled to a light beige color.

“Ember,” he breathed. He took a step toward me. “It’s not what you think.” His voice sounded weak as if he wasn’t convinced of his own lie. My gaze flitted behind him and the shadow fae female. Her silver eyes narrowed a touch, her lips curling into a smug smirk. My claw pricked through my fingernails, itching to slash that grin clear off her face.

I should have known.

This was never supposed to work, never could work. The shadow fae and werewolves were always destined to bemortal enemies. When had I so foolishly let myself fall in love with one? Oh, it had come on subtly, of course. The wicked smirks Drake had cast my way. The light dancing in his lavender eyes turned them as violet as the first rays of dawn whenever he thought

I did or said something amusing. The small smile he seemingly reserved just for me in our most quiet moments together when we walked the gardens. Little by little, the shadow male had chipped away at my defenses, my finely constructed walls that had encased my heart until he unearthed the muscle beating for him alone.

I gave him the key to breaking my heart, the ability to wield this emotional pain over me. I was a fool. And I deserved it. Turning, I strode away from him, keeping my head high, my chin jutted up a notch, not giving either fae the satisfaction of seeing my hurt. I heard soft footsteps racing across the soft grass. Drake circled around till he stood in front of me, barring my entrance to the palace.

“Get the hell out of my way,” I growled. “Now!”

Drake’s face was the starkest I’d ever seen it—the angular planes of his cheeks slashed against his skin as if his skin had tightened over the bone. He threw up his hands in a gesture to keep me at bay. I flexed my claws.

“Tell me one thing,” I demanded. He remained silent. Undeterred, I went on. “Everything you told Rosalana, is it true? Did you mean it?”

“Let me explain, Emb?—”

“Yes or no, Drake, it’s as simple as that,” I snarled. The prince of the shadow fae and heir to the throne flinched at the bite of my words. “Is it true?”

Drake’s shoulders sagged in defeat. Yet, he held my gaze as he said, “Yes. Everything I said was true.”

I thought I had prepared myself for the heartbreak, but the crushing weight that bore down on my ribcage stole the breath from my lungs. My eyes burned with unshed tears—a single teardrop spilled down my cheek. I swiped at it with a furious hand. I made to sidestep Drake. But he threw himself in the way. I dropped my gaze to his boots; I couldn’t stomach to even look at him.

“We can’t be mates,” Drake said, his voice ragged. “But I will be honest with you, Ember, in the last three months, I have enjoyed our time together. They were the best moments of my life, actually.”

“Don’t bullshit me,” I hissed, my throat raw.

“I’m not,” Drake said. And even I could hear the truthfulness in those two words. “Before I met you, I had made a promise to marry Rosalana—a promise to her late brother, my brother out of blood.” He slammed his eyelids shut before returning his gaze to me. “I can’t break it.”

Raw pain lanced through my heart surer than any sword could.

Drake went on. “If I could…if only I could…”

“You’ve said enough,” I said. Hardening my voice and letting him taste my pain and anger, the steel of it, I snarled, “Let me go.”

Drake hesitated, pausing but a moment. Then, with a heavy sigh, he stepped to the side. I stalked past him. Each footstep breaking another piece of my soul away, the pieces flaking off and disappearing like burned embers in the night sky. Each step I took was sheer agony. I could feel the mating bond yet finished pulling and stretching, unraveling at theedges because I put more distance between myself and Drake. My inner wolf sank to her belly, lowering her head to her paws, and whimpered pitifully.

He made his choice;I told my inner Wolf.He chose her. He doesn’t want us. Never did.

I lay atop my bed duvet, my tears soaking my pillow and staining my cheeks. Anger burned low in my belly for allowing myself to cry over the male and mourn the rejection, yet I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. They flowed like a torrential downpour. Refusing to abate. Then the door creaked open, and footsteps drew close. The scent of nutmeg and spring grass touched my nose.

Iiara.

One of my closest and dearest friends since taking up residence in the shadow fae palace. Iiara was a maid in the palace. A soft hand brushed against the hair at the back of my head.

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