Page 72 of Claimed By Prince Daddy

Drake’s eyes widened in wonder, his lips parting as a slow exhale breezed from him. He pulled back slightly and looked at his daughter. A crooked grin splayed across his face. He dropped to his knees and gathered Melodina into his arms once more. “I love you, too,” he said. His gaze flicked to me. “Both of you.”

Shock whipped through my insides. I inhaled sharply.

H-he…loves me…?

My inner wolf dropped to her belly before rolling over onto her back, preening for our mate and basking in the confession.

Could I really believe that Drake loved me? Uncertainty created a hollow in my heart.

CHAPTER NINETEEN: BREACH

EMBER

Isnuck around the corner of the corridor, my eyes narrowing on Melodina’s toes peeking out from behind the apron that hung inside the butler’s pantry. The kitchen staff shared amused glances as they went about preparing breakfast. Already I could smell the buttery scent of biscuits baking in the oven.

“I gotcha!” I said, pouncing on Melodina.

She laughed and shrieked as I tickled her underneath her armpits. I finally allowed her to collapse at my feet in a fit of giggles. We had been playing hide-and-seek. It was a distraction I had devised to keep Melodina from thinking about her father off fighting on the battlefield. Though it didn’t work nearly as well at distracting my own wayward thoughts. Anxiety clawed its way through my stomach.

Melodina pushed to her feet, her laughter ebbing. A look of sadness swept across her features. I kneeled down and grasped Melodina’s cheek gently.

“Hey,” I said softly. She looked up at me. “He’ll be okay.”

She gave a small nod, a tiny smile appearing.

“Your Highness!” One of the guards called for me. He ran into the kitchen toward us. Several female faes scrambled to get out of his way as he weaved around the staff.

Chest heaving, he said, “The summer fae warriors have breached the gates!”

My insides turned to jelly, and my legs went numb. “What?” I breathed.

Around me, the kitchen staff dropped pots and spatulas as the news reverberated off the walls. Screaming soon pierced the air as they abandoned what they were doing and fled.

The shadow fae guard grabbed Melodina, placed her on his hip, then took my hand. “We must get you to a secured location!”

With that, I was dragged along, my shorter legs barely able to keep pace with his quick strides. Behind me, I saw the other nine guards move into formation, flanking the rear and sides of us. Their gazes whipped about the corridors, looking for signs of the enemies’ presence.

My heartbeat pounded so hard against my ribcage that I could hear the beats ringing in my ears. My breaths came out in quick pants.

My keen hearing could now pick up the screams of soldiers falling under swords, the war cry of the summer fae.

Oh, stars! They’re here.Cold horror crawled over my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake.This was a setup. They must’ve lured Drake into battle so we would be unprotected by him, and they sent another group out to take Melodina while he was away!

My inner wolf peeled back its upper lip, snarling as hot rage scorched through my blood. My daughter wasn’t without protection. I’d rip the throat out of anyone that touched Melodina!

“Momma, I’m scared,” Melodina cried, her eyes round with terror. She reached for me, and the guard relented his hold on her as I took her into my arms.

“This way,” the guard said as we moved down another corridor.

More screaming sounded. This time, it was closer. I could hear the clash of sword meeting sword. The guards led us to the back of the palace. He pressed a hand along the wall and stepped back. A section of the wall fanned outward. It was actually a door made to resemble the wall. Inside I saw a small room with a bed and a chair in the corner of the room. At the rear of the wall was an intricate tapestry that hung from the ceiling. A small fridge was alongside the other wall. This was a hideout—a secret room.

The guards tucked us inside. One of the guards pointed to the wall at the back, alongside the chair in the corner. “If you lift the chair, you’ll find a small indent on the floor. Push on it, and it will open another wall behind the tapestry. A second room as a failsafe.”

I nodded, and the guard closed the wall behind him, locking us inside. Holding Melodina close, I backed up until the back of my knees met the bed. I sat down. Melodina wrapped her arms around my neck, burying her face against my cheek. I swept a soothing hand down her back.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered. “We just have to be very quiet, you hear? Not a word.”

Melodina nodded.

---