Page 55 of A Crown Without Mercy

“Then what it is?”

Nicolai and Kieran glanced at each other and then looked at Sylvana. “Is it such a terrible thing for us to treat you like royalty?”

“Well, no but—”

Kieran’s mouth fell to hers, and after a heated kiss, he pulled away. “How would it have made you feel if we would have had kicked you out of our bed after having our way with you?”

“Like shit, I suppose?”Nicolai turned her face towards his. “Then allow us to treat you as someone who matters to us.”

Chapter 8

Calistawokeupbeforethe sun had risen and was pacing back and forth in the parlor when she heard the sounds of hooves. She rushed over and looked out the window, hoping to see Sylvana. Between the dark of night and the heavy rains, she could not tell who it was until a flash of lightning lit the area and she realized it was Alaric, heading toward the barn. “Shit!” she said aloud.Sylvana, where the hell are you?

She ran up the stairs, closed Sylvana’s door and then ran into her room, shutting the door behind her and it was not long before she heard the sounds of Alaric’s boots heading up the stairs. She stood against the door listening, hoping he would go to bed. Once she heard his door shut, she breathed a sigh of relief and crawled back into bed. Just as she as was about to fall asleep, she again heard hooves coming down the road. She leapt from her bed, ran down the stairs, and opened the door. Someone wearing a brown, wool cloak was heading in her direction. She grabbed her shawl, covered her head, and ran toward the visitor through the torrential downpour.

Whomever it was, pulled his horse to a halt and removed the hood from his head. “Milady, are you Calista?” the young man asked.

“I am. Who are you?”

“The Acherons sent me to inform you that Sylvana won’t be home tonight.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes, milady.”

“Thank you.”

The young boy nodded, pulled the reins and headed back down the road.

I better figure out something to tell Alaric,she thought, as she ran back to the manor.

Kadric stood at the edge of the river, feeling uneasy and impatient; he paced back and forth for what felt like an hour before he noticed a silhouette appear from the trees; the figure then leapt across the river and landed on the bank next to him.

“Ranan.” He nodded.

Ranan nodded back. “Kadric, sorry to keep you waiting, but I had to be sure no one followed you.”

“Is that what the inbred was doing on this side of the river?”

“Yes, we have been sending scouts across for some time now. The uprising of the Faye is no small matter.”

“Your treaty with their kind will not serve you well in the end,” Kadric warned.

Ranan motioned for Kadric to follow him into the density of the trees. “Let me worry about that. You have bigger issues to contend with.”

“What have you discovered?” Kadric asked.

“The Faye have your mate,” Ranan blurted out.

Kadric felt the blood drain from his face. “Is she—is she alive?”

“They believe she is a purebred Ascelin and if the truth lies within her veins, I would assume they would keep her alive.”

Kadric paced back and forth for a few minutes, feeling terrified for his offspring.

“Is it true?” Ranan asked.

“No,” Kadric replied immediately, knowing better than to reveal the truth.

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