Page 41 of Claimed By Prince Daddy

“They meant the world to me,” I admitted, my voice ragged. Then my tone hardened with steely resolve. “Then you interfered between my mate and I. And I will not overlook that. I don’t know who you’ve become, who you are. But I do know one thing.” Rosalana’s eyes were pleading as she gazed up at me. I bared my incisors, “I never want to look uponyour face again.” I shouted to the guards, “Get her out of my sight.”

With that, the guards hauled her away, Rosalana crying out to me. But I turned my back on her as she was dragged out of the throne room, the two heavy doors closed behind her.

“I've got to find Ember,” I told my parents. “I can’t leave things like this.”

“Where do you intend to go?” My father asked.

“To the werewolf kingdom,” I replied.

My mother nodded. “We will have a carriage prepared for you right away.”

The carriage ride to the werewolf kingdom passed by at a grueling crawl. Muscles taut, I sat inside the carriage, my mind racing as I thought of Ember. What would I say to her? How would I face her after all that I had done? No matter; I had to see her. I only prayed it wouldn’t be too late to fix things between us. The horse-drawn carriage crested the hill, the alabaster stone of the werewolf palace rising into view on the cliff side. Shimmering waves crash along the shore— sea foam spraying the air like massive wings from a bird of prey. When the carriage pulled into the courtyard, the sun had just dipped behind the horizon, leaving the moon rising in its wake.

A group of werewolf servants appeared, two females stepping forward to open the carriage door. A tall, broad-shouldered male stepped out from under the threshold of the palace doors. Silver metal plating covered his muscular frame, a wicked broadsword sheathed at his side. The maleapproached me, his hand slightly resting on the hilt of his sword.

I guess until there is an official mating ceremony between Ember and me, tensions aren’t going to be completely at ease between our people,I thought.

“Crown Prince Drakegeon,” the werewolf said. “What brings youunannouncedto the palace.” I didn’t miss the stress on the word ‘unannounced.’ I had to deal with this delicately. I stepped forward, standing a few feet from the male.

“I’m here to see Princess Ember.”

The guard’s eyes widened slightly before he shared a look with the other guards stationed by the door.

Murmurs erupted from the guards from one of the guards.

“Isn’t she in shadow fae territory?” One of the guards said. My stomach sank. I stepped forward, crowding into the guard’s space. “Is she not here?”

The guard stared back at me as if unsure of how to reply.

“Answer me,” I snarled, feeling my power rising over my skin as anxiety gripped me.

“How dare you arrive here on our territory spouting orders,” the werewolf guard howled.

I felt my incisors lengthening, the building rage seeping into my blood.

“Prince Drake?”

My head whipped up, eyes skimming around the guard.

Standing just beyond the doors stood Queen Lunatha. She stepped forward. “What brings you here?”

I bowed my head in reverence. “I am here to see your daughter,” I said.

The queen's features grew pale, and she staggered back a step. Her hands began to tremble, and she clasped them together. Her voice taking on a frantic note, she asked, “Is she not with you? What has happened?”

Cold horror chilled my blood. “She’s not with you, is she?” I asked breathlessly.

The queen’s voice pitched with anxious fervor. “How could she be here with us when we sent her away to marry you? Where is my daughter?!”

“I-I don’t know,” I said lamely. My hands fisted against my sides. “But we’re going to find her.”

"Come with me,” the queen said, clearly shaken by the news. I reached her side, and together we entered the castle, going toward the throne room to meet King Asar. Upon entering the throne room, the queen raced to her husband's side, quickly relating the news of their daughter’s disappearance. Fear swept over his features.

“Was she abducted?” The king asked.

I could see where he would think that if she hadn’t come home, but I shook my head. “There's no indication that she has been kidnapped. Somebody would’ve placed a ransom letter if that were the case,” I said. “It feels as if she’s just left.” I clenched my fists. “Vanished into thin air after she left me,” I said, bowing my head in shame.

Just then, the palace guards opened the door to the ballroom, and a female servant rushed inside. Her pretty oval face was flushed as she panted, hurrying toward the king and queen.

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