Page 62 of Claimed By Prince Daddy

Yes, I can see that.I bit back, anger burning hot inside my gut.I want you out of my head. I don’t wish to communicate with you like this. It's an invasion of my privacy!

We’re mated,Drake said simply.You no longer have privacy.

I gnashed my teeth together.Drake, this is my one shot to save our daughter. I’m taking it.

The summer fae male before me drummed his fingers on the desk, a look of disinterest flitting across his features.

I’m losing him, Drake. I need to give him an answer now!

Ember, don’t do this! Come back to me now, or I’ll?—

I focused on the cord of the bond that connected me to Drake and imagined myself shutting the door in his face, effectively silencing him.

“I will accept the position,” I told the male, folding my hands in front of myself meekly.

“Good,” the fae said. “He rose to his feet and circled the desk coming to stand before me. “My name is Dannam, Royal Employer for the palace. Your name?

“Emeri,” I said, giving my alias.

He nodded. “I will escort you to the shared chambers.” He turned to the guard beside me and told him to return to his duties. The guard left without a backward glance. With that, Dannam turned and slipped out of the room. I hurried to follow after him, his long legs easily eating up the ground with his lengthy strides.

He led me up a flight of opulent stairs, a brilliant plush white rug rolling down the length of the steps toward the back of a narrow corridor. He stopped at a set of doors that two summer fae males guarded. Dannam opened the door and, instead of allowing me entrance first, stepped inside. I shot him a narrowed glance before turning my attention to the room.

The room was extremely large, grand with golden pillars supporting the ceiling and a bathing pool tucked into the back of the room. Seated among cushions throughout the floor were hundreds of female fae. All eyes slid to me as I entered. I read the disgust and contempt in their gazes as well as the jealousy flaring in their eyes as they looked me over. Jutting my chin and straightening my back, I met each gaze with an imperious look of my own. I was royalty and would not cower under the derisive glances of concubines.

Dannam stepped partway into the room, gesturing for me to stand beside him. “This is Emeri; she will be joining your ranks in honoring our beloved king.”

I fought down the annoyance.Honor…please.

“Please welcome her,” Dannam finished, his voice flat, as if he’d given the same speech a hundred times. Which he probably had, I realized. Dannam turned and gave me a nod before heading out of the room and leaving me with the females.

I swept into the room gracefully, my footfalls light as I made my way to an unoccupied cushion at the back of the room.

“Who does she think she is?” A female fae muttered, adorned in lavish clothing.

“Walking in here as if she’s royalty.” Another female whispered.

Mocking laughter erupted from those gathered. Ignoring them all, I gently lowered myself onto the cushion and plotted how to set my daughter free.

That night, I was guided by the guards into a small room adjacent to the large room that I had been left in earlier that day. Upon asking why I was singled out, I was told by the guard that new concubines were given their own quarters for two weeks till they acclimated to life as a concubine amongst many. Once the two weeks were finished, they were to sleep with all the other concubines in the main living area. Shortly after, the guards brought in a skimpy little nightgown for me to wear.

I lifted the silver fabric after the guards had left. The hem was short; two cutouts appeared on either side of the gown. There was little to no fabric in the back, which would result in a swooping backline. I curled my upper lip.

They are serving me to the king on a silver platter.

My inner wolf growled low in her throat. Sighing, I tossed the nightgown onto the small bed and changed out of my tattered garments into the sleeping attire. I folded my clothes and placed them on the wooden chair in the opposite corner of the room.

I y on my bed, my stomach sour at the thought of not being let outside the concubine quarters once since being sent there. The guards at the doors had said I wasn’t allowed to leave the quarters until the king had a chance to visit me. Snobbish laughter was followed soon after by the other females as I had to tuck my tail and retreat back to my cushion.

How am I to find my daughter when I can’t even explore the palace?

I sighed and closed my eyes.I’m coming for you Melodina. Just hold on a little longer.

I saw a flash of brightness behind my eyelids. My eyes snapped open wide. A shimmering light appeared in the middle of my room, the light spiraling into a vortex. Then a tall figure wearing a dark tunic and leather pants emerged.Dark hair billowed in a non-existent wind. Amethyst eyes peered down at me.

My heart swelled inside my chest. “Drake,” I cried, rising from the bed.

My skin tingled with the urge to throw myself into his arms, but I stomped down the rush of excitement breezing through my insides. I would not give him the satisfaction of seeing my glee. Irritation still burned like banked coals in my gut for his invasion of my thoughts.

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