Page 65 of Claimed By Prince Daddy

What’s wrong?Drake asked, his thoughts laced with worry.

It’s Melodina. I found her Drake.I pressed a hand to my mouth to stifle my cries.They’re doing something to her—her spirit is fading; she’s dying!

I felt rage simmer along the cord of the bond. Like a raging fire, its heat funneled into me and streamed through my blood. I grit my teeth as the wave of anger became my own. Righteous fury over my daughter being harmed.

I’ll kill every last one of them—anyone who touches my daughter!

Then, I felt Drake: his soothing touch, a caress along the bond.

I know you will.His thoughts touched my mind.And I know you will save our daughter. But right now, you cannot cry. You cannot give any of the summer fae room to question why you’re there. You have to stay strong for our daughter.

I sniffled and swiped at my tears with the back of my hands.You’re right. I will be strong. Thank you, Drake.

I’m here whenever you need me,Drake responded.Just be careful…please.

My cheeks warmed at the note of concern I heard in his voice. A smile curved my lips.I will be,I reassured him.

Another caress through the bond. Then he was gone.

I sat on my bed that night, wracking my brain for ideas on how to escape with my daughter when the door to my quarters opened.

I lifted my gaze. The summer king had entered, a benevolent smile gracing his lips. I pushed off the bed and dipped into a curtsy.

“Hello, You’re Majesty,” I said sweetly.

“Hello, Emeri,” the king replied.

I straightened and made my way to the wine that I had already called for ahead of time. The female servants had brought in the red wine bottle and two glasses on a tray. I had already poured the wine and put a few drops of the potion into one of the glasses.

Picking up the glass, I returned to the king’s side and offered him the drink, a coy smile on my lips, my eyes half-lidded. The king dipped his head in thanks and took the drink. I stood back and waited, as I did every night, for him to drink the sedative potion.

He walked over to the nightstand beside the bed and set the wine glass down without drinking so much as a drop.

Cold dread speared my gut.

The king turned around, his smile turning wicked. “Surprised?”

All the moisture fled my mouth. My throat closed off. I couldn’t draw in a full breath.

The king prowled toward me like a dark panther. I backed up, my legs numb with fear. The back of my knees hit the bed, and I crumpled onto the mattress. The king pounced. He leaned over me, his thighs bracketing my legs, his arms encircling my wrists. I tried to rip my hands free, but his hold was like an iron manacle. I bucked my hips to throw him off, but his heavier weight sank onto me like a stone boulder—unmovable.

“I realized after the second night I fell asleep before touching you that you must’ve done something to me,” the king said, his tone that of nonchalance—easy. I glared up at him. “Then I thought back. Every time I visited you, I had a drink.” His grin broadened—a flash of teeth. “So the pretty little female must’ve spiked my drink with a potion.”

My eyes snapped wide, and I knew at that moment I was played.

I called upon my inner wolf to feel the flare of pain and ecstasy from the shift. Yet it didn’t come. I looked up at the summer king. A bright aura haloed his body. I followedwhere the halo seeped from his arms into mine, forming an amber silhouette around my form. His power was blocking my wolf.

The summer fae king cocked his head. “So you’re a werewolf, wearing a summer fae form…,” he murmured. His eyes narrowed. “How…interesting.”

He switched my wrists into one hand and tightened his grip. The summer king trailed his fingers over my bare thigh using his free hand. He dropped his head, delivering a heated kiss to the hollow of my throat. I writhed beneath him, trying to break his hold, but his grip only tightened, sending a sharp pain biting into my wrists. I hissed at the pain. Tears pricked my lashes as he trailed kisses further down my neck, his tongue flicking along my collarbone. His hand inched up higher, sliding under the short hem of my nightgown.

Oh stars…he’s going to rape me!I thought in horror.

Gritting my teeth, I screamed for Drake through the mating bond.

Help me, Drake!I poured every emotion and feeling into my cry for help. It blasted down the cord, thrumming with intensity.

I knew the instant Drake heard my call. The room rippled with power. The summer king felt it, too, for he stilled above me. Then a burst of dark shadows slammed into the king’s side, tossing him off me and across the room. He hit the wall hard before collapsing onto the floor; I scrambled to sit upright.

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