Page 62 of Wrath of the Fae Queen
For the first time, that dark cloud weighing on me lifts.
“Please tell me we’re not going to have a repeat ofthis,” Drake groans somewhere behind us. “It was bad enough when their mate bond snapped into place.”
Keira continues to devour me like a wild animal, clinging to my clothes and not caring who sees. I slowly pull away in increments, until she is on her feet again, peering up at me with eyes that blaze with passion.
I trail my fingers across the curve of her cheek. “By the Soul Ripper, I have longed to touch you. To feel that you are truly okay and unbroken.” My voice breaks a little.
Keira’s hands slide down my chest possessively. “It is no more than I can handle. Truly, Aldrin, the worst has been witnessing your trials and being utterly helpless to aid you.”
“You saved my neck multiple times.” I lean forward and rumble in her ear, “It doesn’t mean I’m not absolutely livid at you for selling yourself to Titania. Never,eversacrifice yourself like that again. I have the perfect punishment in mind for you for being such a bad girl.” I bite her earlobe before I pull away. A deep satisfaction runs through me, right to the pit of my belly, at the shiver that tears through her.
We finally drag our gazes away from each other and return to the council standing around in the center of the room.
“I want a full debrief on what has been happening in the city while I have been gone,” I demand. “Our next move is to find ways to weaken Titania’s authority and sow discord in her inner circle, to distract her, while we search for the Spring Court army she has hidden away. Our soldiers and their allegiances must be accounted for before we attack. I want to win them over.”
Cyprien grunts beside me, cracking his neck from side to side.
Drake lets out a low whistle. “That is no small task.”
We pull apart every vicious incident and tyrannical tactic Titania has utilized, analyzing them from every angle until myhead hurts. Both Keira and Drake speak of her inner circle, and how the people close to her are constantly changing. The fact that she trusts no one with her deepest confidences, not even Torin.
When the discussions are over, Rainier approaches me with caution. He stops a span away and hovers with a pinched expression of uncertainty across his tanned features. “Aldrin, I want to apologize for not seeing the truth of Titania when it truly mattered. For supporting her instead of you the first time you fought for your throne.” He gulps in a large breath of air. “It took me far too long to see through her lies, and I am ashamed of the fact. It was Sasha who opened my eyes, as she has done with many others, and brought myself and Juniper into this inner circle to help the people I have harmed.”
I place a hand on his shoulder. “The important thing is that you have seen the truth and choose to fight against it now, Rainier. Many in your position cower in fear or sit on their hands, doing nothing.”
“You are not the only one who has made that mistake.” Cyprien materializes at my shoulder. “I was far too consumed by my grief after I lost my wife to stop that disastrous election and see Titania’s true intentions.”
I run a hand through my hair. “Gods, her propaganda was so convincing I too came to believe I was incompetent, that another could rule better than I. Especially when it was the will of the people.”
A fond smile grows on Rainier’s face as he glances back at Sasha. “I was lucky that Sasha likes to collect strays and lost people. She has been a mentor for a few of us.”
Both Cyprien and I turn to her. Her conversation with Keira breaks off as she stiffens under our joint gazes, and the soft expression she holds for my mate slips away.
“Thank you, Sasha,” I begin, “for?—”
“It is in the best interests of the Winter Court if I have allies and sympathizers here to help rescue my people, who your crown targets,” she snaps. “Do not think for one moment that I, as a foreign ambassador, am getting involved in your bid for the throne.”
I can’t help smirking at her sass. She is as harmless as the puka sleeping around her shoulders. “Foreign ambassador today, is it? Not a helpless victim of my supposed cruelty?” I raise my eyebrows.
Aldrin!Keira chides within my mind.I still cannot believe you have been holding her as your prisoner for decades. Don’t you dare make light of it!
I roll my eyes, and her scowl deepens.She doesn’t want to leave my supposed imprisonment of her. I will prove it to you. Besides, she had every luxury when I was in power. Have you seen the butterflies in her chambers? We need a royal hostage from Winter to ensure they don’t invade again. There is a reason why Titania has had so much success with that particular lie.
I turn back to Sasha. “It’s not too late to swap you for another Winter royal. Perhaps that brother of yours that you detest.”
Sasha scoffs. “I’m not going anywhere. My brother wouldn’t lift a finger to help our people. He would join Titania’s inner circle, then bring her toxicity back home.”
I shoot Keira a significant look, raising an eyebrow.There is always one reason or another for her to stay. I think she secretly likes it here. Well, she did before Titania’s rule.
“Other arrangements can be made.” Cyprien takes a step forward, his voice the gentlest I have ever heard it. “You can remain in the city, hidden in a safe place, and your work can continue. I’m sure the technicalities with Winter Court royal hostages can be worked out later, when Aldrin sits on the throne again. You don’t have to put yourself at Titania’s mercy.”
Sasha’s back turns ramrod straight and every inch of her becomes icy cold as she looks at Cyprien. “I have work to do. I don’t have the luxury of standing around chatting all night. Rainier.” She whirls around to the man. “We will be late to meet Jasper and his soldiers.”
She storms toward the exit of the chamber, not bothering to check if Rainier follows her. He is already on her heels, mouthing an apology to us.
“Why does she seem to hate only me?” Cyprien grumbles, his eyes following Sasha’s every step until she disappears through the ward.
“She doesn’t particularly like me either,” I say.
