“Trying to drown me now, Father? Is that it?” Jax cast an anxious glance toward me, but when he saw me standing, shadows curling around me, he smiled darkly before facing his father once more. “Your abuse truly has no bounds.”
“You are a disgrace to our name, Adarian,” the king shouted.
“I’m amated male, Father . . . what did you think would happen?”
The two royals squared off, each seething at the other while the blinded kingsfae remained entirely useless.
More screams sounded through the room as some nobles finally reached the exits and sprinted as fast as they could from the mayhem. Water soaked their gowns and pants, but the weighted-down fabric did little to slow their rapid pace.
Dozens of doors burst open in their haste to leave, and more light poured in from the hallways. The candles’ fires flickered impossibly high, rising and rising until the flames nearly licked the ceiling.
The queen gasped, and she wove her hands through the air again, but the fire didn’t relent.
A manic gleam filled the prince’s expression, and he soared into the air, levitating once more. “You know my fire is stronger than yours, Mother.”
He rose above his parents, and the walls trembled, the rock holding this palace together threatening to crumble.
Heat from the candles laved the walls as if bonfires sprouted from each wick.
“I’ll pulverize this palace to the ground and then burn it into oblivion if they dare to take my mate.” The prince’s tone turned beastly. Antlers abruptly sprouted from his forehead, and the look on his face entirely transformed.
Gone was the playful male who had been with me in his chamber. Gone was the tender love I’d seen on his face when he rutted with me in his wardrobe.
The male who hovered above all of us was filled with potent rage, and the full strength of the prince’s magic threatened to bring this city to its knees.
The king backed up, his eyes widening.
“Prince Adarian!” a kingsfae shouted. “Stop this at once before anyone gets hurt!”
“No one is touching my mate!” His words came out through clenched teeth, his voice barely fae.
Jax’s friends all moved away from the wall, running through the remaining puddles to stand beneath their prince while forming a protective circle around me.
But I didn’t need their protection. I was stronger than anyone here, save my mate whose horrific display of magic rivaled a god’s.
Still, I held my magic at bay, not daring to unleash it given the consequences that would inevitably take hold.
“Adarian.” I peered upward at the male who would decimate a city to protect me. “Not like this. They’ll never let you go if you continue. Please, stop. Forme. Stop.”
The second my plea reached his ears, a crack formed in Jax’s expression. Some of the visceral fury coating his features lessened. Eyes blazing like sapphire gems turned on me, and the briefest moment of awareness filled them.
“Stop. Please. Forme.” I stepped closer to him, gazing upward. “If you don’t, they’ll hunt you down and kill you for what you’re doing. This is the beginning of the end for us if you don’t stop.”
My heartfelt words poured from my mouth. But even though they made me sick with worry, I also knew this was the only way, even if my guardian’s damning accusations could result in the same outcome.
At least we had a chance if we went in for questioning. But if Jax continued as he was, he was as good as dead. The authorities couldn’t allow someone with as much power as Jax to remain free if he did acts such as this. It would only be a matter of time before the kingsfae caught up to him. And he and I deserved a life better than being on the run.
“Please.” I sent a huge rush of love along our bond, bathing Jax’s senses. My request finally seemed to penetrate the rage pounding through my mate’s aura, and a look of anger, then defeat, then sad acceptance filtered over him.
In a rush of wind, he lowered himself to the floor. The second Jax’s feet touched the ground, he sucked his magic back inside him. At once, the fiery candles, trembling rock, and lashing wind calmed. Just as fast, the kingsfae blinked, and their outstretched arms dropped as their sight returned.
The king huffed in relief or irritation, I couldn’t tell, but the remaining water winked out of existence.
In a single breath, the dining hall returned to normal, even if platters of upended food littered the floor.
A rush of relieved sighs came from the kingsfae. All of the males and females who’d come to arrest their prince gazed around in wonder, still blinking, as though to assure themselves they could fully see again.
With the spectacle over, a kingsfae rushed forward and grabbed my arm, but his grip was looser, and he didn’t pull me, merely guided me away.
