The shadowbeast approaches the glass submissively. No wonder King Ruel is so blasé about these monsters. They’re acting like harmless bunnies in his presence.
I narrow my eyes. “Because you’ve found a way to control them.”
He looks over his shoulder, smiling in a chilling way. Then he approaches me. “No, dear, you have it all wrong. I didn’t find a way to control them. I’ve recreated them, and thus they answer to me, their master.”
Castiel fidgets next to me. His eyes are narrowed to slits as he stares at King Ruel. What part of the king’s speech does he have a problem with?
King Ruel doesn’t seem to notice the prince’s reaction, for he keeps his attention on me. “In a way, it’s similar to the relationship between a vampire sire and their creation.”
How dare he make that comparison? I bristle, but one look at Castiel and his subtle headshake makes me swallow my retort. I have to be careful here. King Ruel can end my life with a snap of his fingers.
“Why am I here?” I grit out.
He starts to pace in front of me, his hands behind his back once more. “You’re here because you didn’t cross through the portal.”
“And you sent your lackey to fetch me.” I glance at Telar.
“Would you rather have been captured by a soldier loyal to my wife? I’m sure she’d love to have fun with you considering how sheadoresyour family.” The jackass smirks.
Anger rises in my throat, but I bite the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from blurting out something stupid. A suspicion nags at me. “You knew I planned to stay, didn’t you?”
His smile broadens. “Yes, my dear. You must know by now that the gift of foretelling runs strong in the Gael line. Rikkon has it.”
“Yes, but I thought that power came from your wife.”
In an instant, his gaze darkens. “No, that’s what she wants everyone to believe. I’m the one gifted with foresight, but because she’s the ruler of Aquila, it wouldn’t beappropriatefor her consort to have such a mighty gift.”
Boy, this dude isn’t bitter at all. He doesn’t like playing second fiddle to his wife, and he’s not even trying to hide it.
“So you let her pretend she was the one having all those visions. That must have sucked.”
He arches a brow. “I don’t think I’m familiar with that term, but if you meant to say it wasn’t pleasant, then you are correct.”
“You had a vision that I was going to stay behind, and you asked Mr. Congeniality to drag me here. What you haven’t yet clarified is why.”
“I’ll tell you the reason if you answer one question. Why did you stay in Ellnesari?”
Shit. I know he doesn’t care for his wife, but I’m not going to tell him I plan to kill her.
“What? You haven’t seen it in one of your visions?”
“I don’t need to have a vision to know what’s in your heart. You’re desperate. Your uncle is losing his mind, the vampire population is weakening, and your heart has been broken into so many pieces, it’s a miracle it still beats in your chest. You wish to kill my wife.”
I ball my hands into fists. “If you knew already, then why did you ask?”
“You think that if Maewe dies, it’ll break the curse she cast on you, don’t you? Let me tell you a secret, my dear. It won’t.”
My chest becomes so tight, it feels like there’s a boulder sitting on it, caving it in. Tears prickle my eyes, but I fight them. “So that’s it? The curse is unbreakable?”
“I didn’t say it was unbreakable. Maewe could lift the curse, but we know she’ll never do that.”
My shoulders sag. I really believed that Karl and I would be free if I ended the life of that miserable bitch.
“But if the ruling powers of Aquila shifted to someone else,” King Ruel continues, “they could lift the curse.”
I blink fast as I process his words. “What do you mean?”
“The curse Maewe cast used powers from the very core of Aquila. They come from the land itself. She’s the only one who can access that magic because, as you know, only females can inherit that power.”
