Page 181 of Wrath of the Fae

‘How can he not know?’ I ask.

‘We drugged Cyrus,’ she finally admits. ‘Whatever we gave him made him susceptible to suggestion. We made him think I was you. That it was just a dream. I did it once and never tried again. It was too awful, and I decided I would rather be publicly disrobed than put him through that again.’

I turn to face her. Tears stream down her face.

In a case of the worst timing ever, Lucca lands on the balcony and strides inside.

‘Shield all good, Pup,’ he declares happily, walking past me to the tray of food on the table and shoving something in his face. ‘Wolf’s almost ready with the first team of scouts.’ He looks between us. ‘Did I miss something?’

‘You raped my Mate?’ I snarl at her.

Lucca’s mouth falls open as he continues looking between us.

‘It wasn’t…’ she whispers. ‘Rape? No… it wasn’t like that…’

‘You drugged-’ I step forwards, and the room shakes a little. ‘And you fucked my Mate.’ Another step forward. ‘Without his consent.’

The mirrors crack, and the fire in the fireplace doubles in size.

‘Shit,’ Lucca whispers, stepping back.

The room shakes more, and that demonic growl rumbles in my chest.

‘Raven,’ she pleads, stepping away from me. Her eyes go to my arms and then back to me. ‘Raven, please.’

Smoke and light flood the room as the guys form between us.

‘What’s going on?!’ Reid demands, looking between us all and resting his hand on his heart. ‘Why are you so angry?’

They all stagger as the manor shakes.

Cyrus rushes to me, taking my face in his hands.

‘Calm yourself, Princess,’ he soothes, trying to get my attention away from her and onto him. ‘Look at me.’

I blink and look at him instead. At his single eye, so full of worry.

‘What’s happened?’ he asks.

I rest my hand on his cheek. I adore how he settles into my touch. I love how he gently kisses my palm and holds my wrist, keeping me connected.

Do I say? Do I tell him what she did?

I don’t know if he will be enraged by her actions. Or glad of them. He said that he tried with all his might to protect her. To keep her safe. If he had failed in a public ceremony, she would have suffered at the hands of a man who made me suffer too. She took that choice from him.

And I don’t know which is worse to endure.

To have him glad she did what she did, or to hate her for it and be hurt by her betrayal.

‘Raven?’ Rhea tries. ‘Please say something.’

I feel hot tears in my eyes.

‘Oh fuck…’ Lucca breathes. ‘Rhea…’

‘Don’t!’ she whimpers. ‘Stop listening to my thoughts, Lucca!’

He stares at Rhea and actually pales.

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