Page 8 of Claimed By Prince Daddy

“You have no right to stand over there spouting such nonsense,” Queen Lunatha hissed, a low grow rumbling fromher throat. Her eyes went amber. “Howdareyou claim my daughter is…m-mated to your son!”

“Tell her,” King Tridar told the king of the werewolves. “You know as well as I do the truth.”

Queen Lunatha stilled. She slowly leveled her gaze on her husband, who refused to meet her questioning look. “What is he speaking of?”

King Asar swallowed thickly. My eyes narrowed.

He knows…my father knew of the bond—he could sense it. Can the werewolf king see the thread of fate as well?

Then, King Asar turned to his daughter seated behind her parents. She flinched as he stared at her. Her tongue flicked out to lick her lips, lips parting as if to speak, but no sound came out.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” The king asked her, his voice a low rasp, yet I could hear it clearly as it echoed throughout the Great Hall.

Ember’s face paled even more, the light dusting of freckles along the bridge of her nose even more pronounced. “I…I…” her voice trailed away, and she slammed her eyelids closed. A shudder racked her body.

A sharp pang pricked my heart for her. To be a spectacle for all these Lanair…the temptation to leap from my seat, haul her into my arms, and bolt was strong.

King Asar sighed heavily. With a slow shake of his head, he slowly faced the king of the shadow fae. “I can see it.”

King Tridar gave a curt nod. Keeping his gaze fixed on King Asar, he said, “Won’t you tell your mate?”

The werewolf king flinched as if he’d been struck a blow. Queen Lunatha’s gaze flitted between the two kings.

“My King,” she said to her husband. “What is he talking about?” Panic crept over her features. “Tell me.”

Whispers began to peak from both sides, the shadow fae and werewolves murmuring among themselves. Queen Lunatha whirled on her daughter when the king refused to offer her a reply. “Ember, what is your father not telling me?” Ember bowed her head. The Queen hissed, “Have you mated that fae?”

She uttered the word ‘fae’ like a curse, but I honed in on the black despair shadowing Ember’s gaze under her mother’s heated glare.

Enough was enough.

I rose to my feet and addressed the Queen. “She has not been touched.”

Queen Lunatha spun, her gaze drilling into me, but before she could retort, I said, “I discovered we are fated mates yesterday at the start of the summit.” I pinioned both royals of the werewolves with my dark glare. “Ember didnothingwrong. I pursued her. I spoke to her. She told me we can’t be mates.”

Let me take the heat. Keep your filthy mouths off Ember!

Gasps of shock and outrage pealed from my people. Beside me, my own siblings stiffened. I could handle taking the heat for wishing to be with the enemy, but I’d be damned if I let Ember fall with me. She didn’t deserve that.

“What say you, King Asasr? “ The elf king asked the werewolf king. All eyes swung to him.

He stared at my father with a look of disgust and despair. He heaved a sigh, then turned to the elf king. “I request a break to mull over this recent…discovery.”

King Nazarrill turned to my father. “Do you agree to this?”

King Tridar nodded. “Yes. I understand.”

The elf king nodded. His voice echoed across the Great Hall as he announced, “This meeting is adjourned then. We will meet back here in two hours. Dismissed.”

I found myself pacing my quarters, drowning in my thoughts, when a soft knock sounded at my door. My body froze, my eyes flitting to the door.

After a moment, a feminine voice laced with worry said, “It’s me.”

Irritation sparked in my gut. I didn’t want to see anyone right now. Yet, guilt gnawed at my chest. Rosalana didn’t do anything to warrant my sour mood.

“Come in.”

The door flew open to reveal my late friend’s sister on the threshold. Tears shone in her silver eyes. Her willowy frame trembled at the beginning of a sob. I stepped toward her.

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