Page 88 of Hidden Fate

What’s a fate worse than death for Drake?I pressed.He was determined to be the strongest dragon king imaginable and kill you because you’re the rightful heir. That’s been his whole goal. If we do this, he’ll live as a human in human jail while you and I rule over our people. That’s his own personal hell.

There was silence for a moment, but when his irises lightened closer to their normal sky blue color, my lungs began working again. He was coming back to me.

For the record, I want to kill him.Thorn’s jaw twitched.I want him to die painfully, slowly, and to know it was by my hands. It scares the shit out of me that the desire is so strong. I’m not sure what to think of myself or if I deserve you.

I know you want to. I do, too.I brushed the hair from his forehead and kissed the center of it.He’s an asshole and a complete waste of air. But we can’t let him control us and make us into different people. That would give him power over us. Let’s change it so he’s miserable and hates himself for the rest of his very short existence. And this just proves that youdodeserve me. You’re this angry because of what he did to me, but you’re listening to me when it’s the last thing you want to do. If anything, I’m not worthy of you.

He cupped my cheeks with both hands and kissed me. The all-consuming hate ebbed out of our bond as he connected,I will always listen to you. You own me.He pulled back, a twinkle in his now normal, breathtaking eyes.And you’re totally evil. You know that?

I laughed, feeling completely carefree despite where we were.Oh, I know. That’s one reason you love me.I straightened and glanced down at Drake.

His face was almost unrecognizable. One of his eyes was swollen shut, while the rest of his face was cut up and bloody. His white button-down shirt had blood spatter all over it, and there was nothing regal about him. He groaned in agony, and he turned his head and winced.

“Thorn?” Queen Mira’s voice quivered.

Thorn and I knew what she was asking.

“I won’t kill him, even though Iwantto.” Thorn glanced at his cut-up knuckles. “But I will be taking his dragon and calling the police. Mymateis right. He deserves to live out the rest of his life watching Everly and me lead and doing the opposite of what he intended.”

“That’s fair.” The queen nodded and wiped the tears from her face. “Just as long as he lives.”

“No,” Drake groaned, his unswollen eye opening. “Kill me.”

Thorn laughed humorlessly.You were right, as always. He’d rather die.Then he turned his head to Queen Mira and asked, “Where was that concern for me when I was six and hadn’t done any intentional harm?”

My heart squeezed. “You gave the king his dragon back. It wasn’t even a mistake since you didn’t know what you were doing.” I wouldn’t allow her to accuse him ofanywrongdoing, intended or otherwise, and I was glad Thorn was calling her out on her behavior.

Her mouth dropped open, and then she closed it, swallowing hard. “It was a mistake. Losing you changed me in ways you’ll never know.”

That I could believe. Thorn was about to experience the same thing. The hurt emanating from him nearly shattered my heart, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. It was time to step up.Babe, we need to clean this mess up and check on the others.

He tore his gaze from his mother and focused on me, our love flowing through the bond and soothing his pain a little.

He held his hands open, and the thrum vibrated through our bond as his palms glowed. He placed his hands on Drake’s chest, and the sensation grew stronger, indicating he was pulling the magic from Drake’s body.

A few of the warriors behind us gasped. Watching his hands glow had taken me off guard the first time, too, but not anymore. That was part of him, and eventually, no one would fear it.

Drake tried to push Thorn’s hands away, but with the state he was in, he barely had the strength to move. Each time Drake did, he flinched, but with Thorn’s magic pulling away his dragon, he must have gotten a second wind because he shifted onto his elbows and tried to yank his bottom half out from under Thorn.

My mate didn’t budge an inch.

Trusting he had things under control, I stood and assessed the room. All eyes were on Drake and Thorn, but Uther had left to handle the fight outside.

“If anyone has reservations about following Thorn, you need to leave and find another place to live and work.” One by one, I locked eyes with everyone in the room.

“What?” one of the men holding on to Theron asked. “You won’t imprison us or threaten someone we love?”

The thrumming stopped, and Drake whimpered. Thorn stood and took the spot next to me, and I glanced over my shoulder to find Drake passed out.

Good.

“That isn’t how my queen and I will rule.” Thorn placed an arm around my waist as he addressed the room. “There will be laws that must be obeyed, but we will not blackmail or force anyone to work for us. However, if you maliciously break the rules or cause problems, we will lock you in prison without hesitation.”

“But there will be repercussions if we leave,” the same warrior insisted.

My throat constricted, and I leaned against Thorn for support. My shoulder ached from the bullet wound now that my adrenaline was wearing off, but it didn’t compare to what all these people had gone through…what weallhad been through due to Drake.

Thorn’s hand tightened.We need to take care of that. If the bullet is in there, it needs to be removed.

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