Page 2 of Hidden Fate

Drake wasn’t focused on his father as he pinched his nose to get the bleeding to stop.

Agony ripped through Thorn, and he kneeled in front of King Arman and pulled the man into his arms. The blood from the king’s mouth smeared across my mate’s stomach, though everything inside me screamed at me to go to him, Cassidy and Vlad tightened their hold on my arms, keeping me back.

Drake snarled as blood trickled into his mouth, making my blood run cold. Thorn’s back was turned to the asshole.

I yanked out of Cassidy’s and Vlad’s grip and rushed between Thorn and Drake, positioning myself so I could see both men.

“I’m…so…sorry.” King Arman’s words were nearly inaudible, even with my new dragon hearing. “I…was…wrong.”

Thorn moved the king onto his side to look into his eyes.

I touched Thorn’s arm, our jolt sizzling. I needed him to know I was there. At one time, the king had been a loving father to him.

“I forgive you,” Thorn whispered, taking in a ragged breath.

A sad smile spread across the king’s face. Then his already faint heartbeat stopped. The world seemed eerily quiet. The breeze slowed, and the only sounds were of everyone’s pulse and breathing.

Two things the king would never experience again, all because of Drake.

Anger boiled inside me. I’d never held such rage before. Even though the king had done something horrible, he hadn’t truly wanted Thorn to die. All ofthiswas on Drake.

Drake wanted Thorn dead and me as his wife, so he’d ordered his warriors and all the other dragons to hunt us down.

Theron, Vlad’s father’s friend, had hidden us in his safe house near his thunder, and Thorn had healed his son to thank him because Drake was also hunting and killing injured dragons. Theron’s second in command, Wyvern, had seen Thorn do it and, without knowing the true situation, alerted Drake to Thorn’s presence. Drake had come here, willing to kill as many of Theron’s thunder as needed to draw Thorn out. And now Drake had killed King Arman because the king had finally been poised to do what was right.

It all led back to the arrogant prince.

Tears trailed down my mate’s face, stirring up that anger and hatred inside me. No one hurt my mate.

Errol, Saphira, and several warriors sniffled as they watched their king die. Every sound fed my hate.

Something moved in the corner of my vision, and I turned to see Drake pulling a tranq gun from a male warrior’s side.

I jumped to my feet as Drake pointed the gun at Thorn’s neck. There was no way in hell I’d allow him to shoot my mate. I connected,Thorn, duck!

My dragon surged forward in my mind, helping me move faster than normal. In a flash, I leapt the five feet to Drake and tackled him.

As I slammed into his chest, his arm lifted. I tried to stop my forward momentum, but Drake fell backward, and I tumbled right after him. At least he’d dropped the tranq gun.

A moment before my body would have pressed against Drake’s, a strong arm wrapped around me and yanked me back against a hard, muscular chest. My skin buzzed.

Thorn.

Warm wetness hit the center of my back, and a lump formed in my throat.

I knew exactly what it was.

King Arman’s blood.

White-hot fury blazed, but when Thorn’s fingers pressed into my skin, I realized his anger was exacerbating mine.

“You will pay foreverything,” Thorn snarled, as he gently set me aside. “I’m going to tear you limb from limb.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Drake hissed as he stood. “I’m the acting king now that my father is dead.”

That confirmed my worst fear. “King Arman said the throne doesn’t go to you,” I spat.

“Heneversaid that. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Drake moved closer to me, and Thorn stepped back to keep the same amount of distance between us and him.

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