Page 86 of Hidden Fate

He grunted and fell backward as I heard Thorn make his move. As I leapt to the edge of the mattress, Ladon was getting back up. My dagger was still stuck in his shoulder, and I didn’t have time to aim before shooting, so I reached up and gripped the bronze chandelier hanging over the bed. As soon as my body weight pulled on my shoulder, sharp, throbbing pain blossomed. My vision darkened at the edges, but I tapped into my dragon, using her strength to swing my feet into Ladon’s chest. I made sure my foot hit the dagger protruding from his shoulder so it went deeper.

He stumbled backward, his feet tangling in the white comforter, and fell off the side in front of Jessie and Drake.

The fated-mate bond thrummed to life, informing me that Thorn was using his magic, which gave me some confidence.

I dropped onto the mattress, ready to take on Jessie and Ladon, when the sound of more guards approaching turned my blood cold.

Backup was here, and we hadn’t secured Drake.

Grunts, gunfire, and punches echoed around me, but I couldn’t lose focus. Not when so much was at stake. I dropped in front of Jessie, my gun aimed at her, but someone caught my legs. I crashed onto my stomach and looked down to see Ladon with his arms wrapped around me.

Drake laughed maniacally as Jessie swiped the gun from me and dragged me to my feet. She was stronger than me and easily forced my hands behind me, my shoulder smarting the entire time. A whimper escaped, despite my best efforts, and my vision blurred.Jessie has me.

I blinked, trying to clear my vision, and took in the room. Thorn had Falkor, his hands glowing brightly as the man tried to get away from him. Saphira and Wyvern had been tranqed. She was a lump on the ground, with Wyvern lying over her, protecting her from more darts. Theron had been detained by two warriors gripping his arms, while Vlad, Uther, and Gemma were facing the door. Jerry had been tranqed, along with the other five warriors they’d been fighting.

Releasing Falkor, Thorn turned to me, not worrying about the door. He growled, “Release mymate.”

“Don’t worry.” Drake sneered. “She won’t be your mate much longer.” He pointed at Thorn. “Someone shoot him.”

The bedroom doors burst open as Ladon clambered to his feet. Queen Mira entered the room with ten warriors following close behind her. Her striking baby blue eyes were devoid of the kindness that usually filled them, and her dark chocolate hair had been pulled haphazardly into a bun. She wore a long silk gown, but that was the only semblance of the queen I’d met not too long ago. Her gaze landed on Thorn as Ladon yanked the dagger from his shoulder, then lifted a gun with his uninjured arm. He stood just a foot away from me.

“Donotshoot him,” Mira commanded, her jaw clenched and anger shining through.

Drake growled, “Get out of here. You have no business here.”

“Iamthequeen, and you’re still aprince.” Queen Mira lifted her chin in challenge. “Until you’re crowned, I’m in charge.”

The ten warriors behind her charged into the room, two of them heading to Theron, their guns aimed at the men who’d detained him.

“Ladon, shoot him,” Drake seethed. “Don’t listen to the mumblings of a stupidwoman.”

That wouldn’t happen.Thorn, get ready.

Everly, don’t do—he started, but it was too late.

I leaned back, my shoulder searing in pain, and kicked Ladon in the side. Thorn roared as he vaulted over the mattress and landed right in front of Ladon, his magic churning as he ripped Ladon’s dragon from his body.

Jessie released her hold on me, and I stumbled back and slammed into the wall. I hunched forward, ready to lunge at her as she attacked my mate…but something else happened.

Jessie turned her gun on Drake.

I inhaled sharply, trying to make sense of it. She was loyal to Drake. She was one with Ladon and Falkor. Why would she be helping us now? There had to be a catch.

“What are you doing?” Drake spat. “Take out theabomination!”

“No,” she gritted. “He’s not an abomination.Youare. You killed the king, and he denounced you as the heir to the throne.”

“You work forme.” Drake smacked his chest, his face reddening. “Turn that gun on Thorn, or I’ll make you pay.”

Stepping forward, Uther straightened. “Your threats won’t work on us any longer.”

“What about your little girl?” Drake snarled, evilness etched all over his face and darkening his eyes.

Thorn dropped Ladon, and our connection went back to normal. “You won’t harm her. She’s hidden, and you won’t ever find her.”

Drake’s nostrils flared even more. “It doesn’t matter. I have others I’ll take. People willobeyme.”

“Have you always been this way, and Arman and I were too blind to see who you really are?” Queen Mira’s bottom lip quivered. “What have we done to instill so much hate in you? If anyone should be like this, it’s Thorn, not you.”

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