Page 74 of Claimed By Prince Daddy

Then I felt power spear up from the floor, surrounding me on all sides. I cracked my eyelids open to find a golden net draped over me—a magical spell keeping me pinned to the ground. All around me, the warriors slowly advanced. Many of them had light shards speared from their fingertips, ready to be unleashed upon me.

The first guard who had spoken to me limped up. His upper lip curled in a sneer as he growled. “Shift!” He angled his sword toward me. “Shift or die here!”

Outnumbered and wounded, I wasn’t blind to my defeat. I shifted, a burst of light shimmering around me, leaving me in my two-legged form. Immediately, the golden net burst into a myriad of particles, and the spell was canceled—though the light shards were still aimed at me.

Another warrior spoke up. “Where is the girl?”

I glared up at him, remaining silent. He snarled, his hand whipping out to backhand me across the cheek. Pain exploded along the side of my face, the corner of my lip splitting open.

I felt a tremor of worry down the maternal bond. Melodina was reaching out, trying to see if I was alright. I pushed a reassuring thought down the bond.

Keep away,I thought, sending that sole message channeling across the cord to my daughter.

“Well, what the hell do we do with her now,” grouched one of the warriors. “We have no child, only the shadow fae king’s bitch.”

“We can’t return to the palace without the girl,” another male spoke up.

“I say we kill her,” said another. He brandished his sword at me. I met his hard gaze with a glare of my own.

The warrior I’d first injured spoke, “Let’s take her to the palace.” A dark smirk formed on his lips. “She’ll be good for a ransom in exchange for the girl.”

Wicked chuckles erupted from the males. Cold dread settled like a stone in my gut. One of the warriors reached out and grabbed me by the hair, dragging me toward the entrance. I cried out as pain lanced across my scalp. Scrambling to my feet, I hurried after the warrior in hopes of lessening the pain.

The warrior let go of my hair, choosing to grab my upper arm roughly as he guided me down the corridor, the other warriors falling into step behind us. My stomach dropped as I witnessed the shadow fae guard's bodies, and we passed down the corridor. The men who had died to protect us. Fear tip-toed down my spine at the thought of what these cold men would do to me, but that fear was overshadowed by the knowledge that my daughter was safe.

I felt along the mating bond, my heart lightening as I felt Drake was still alive and well. I sent a thought down the bond.

I have been taken by the summer fae. Our daughter teleported. She is safe. Protect our daughter, no matter what.

I felt the answering rage and despair shake the cord as Drake received my message. Then, I cut the link. My attention returned to the present. My daughter was safe. Drake would never exchange Melodina for me. In the end, he wanted ourdaughter, not me. And though that thought had hurt in the past, it now brought with it a sense of peace, for I knew my daughter would be safe and well looked after by her father.

With that, I let the warriors cart me away.

CHAPTER TWENTY: EXCHANGE

DRAKE

Ireturned from the battleground that evening unscathed but my muscles were weary from fighting.

My troops had returned to the garrison camp. I teleported to the palace, using what little reserve I had left of my power. My thoughts were a jumbled whirl of distress.

Ember…

I could hear her message as clearly as if she had spoken at my side.

I have been taken by summer fae…

Anger whipped inside my body. It raged and swelled like the building clouds of a thunderstorm. How in the hell had the summer fae gotten their hands on her? Where had Melodina teleported off to? Were my people safe inside the palace now that it had been breached?

Landing on the courtyard grounds, I hurried toward the palace doors. The doors slammed open wide as a small figure came barreling through.

Melodina!

I saw my mother run out of the palace behind her.

Mother? What is she doing here?

My mother and father had retired to a neighboring villa once I had taken the throne. I hadn’t seen my parents in months. To have my mother here was startling. My gaze flicked back to my daughter, heading for me. Tears trailed down Melodina’s cheeks, and sobs bubbled up from her throat.She raced across the courtyard and threw herself into my arms. I fell to my knees and hugged her tightly, relief swelling my heart to near bursting.

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