Page 79 of Fae Mates

Pulling out of Prince Bradwell’s embrace, I said, “We need to help him.”

Without waiting for their replies, I hurried after Pokeweed.

“Who are you?” The king leaned forward in his throne.

Pokeweed pulled back his shoulders. “I am the son of the Duchess of Nevermore, Your Majesty.”

I couldn’t see King Oberon’s expression, but his weary sigh echoed through the throne room. “That was a tragedy. I am sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, sire,” said Pokeweed.

My heart pounded against my ribcage harder than an ogre debt collector at the door. Now was probably the time to blurt that the Duke of Nevermore had murdered his wife to enslave the princes, but fear of an assassination held my tongue.

Queen Titania pointed her scepter at Pokeweed. “Who brought this wretched creature?”

The Duke of Medietas rushed forward. “I caught His Highnesses and these reprobates opening a portal to the otherworld—”

“And you didn’t execute them?” she screeched.

Gasps echoed through the chamber, quickly drowned out by rapid chatter. I glanced from left to right at the scandalized faces of the faeries and pressed my lips together. Queen Titania had probably been referring to the execution of Pokeweed and me, but everyone thought she was talking about her sons.

King Oberon stood and touched her arm. “Darling, what are you—”

“And you.” She slapped his hand away with a bolt of lightning. “You’re even worse than Pokeweed.”

“Explain.” The king’s voice went cold.

Everyone fell silent. I suppose it didn’t matter what level of society a person occupied or whether or not they were fans of reality TV. We all had an instinct for drama, and what the queen said next would cause everyone to reel.

“Allow me.” As Pokeweed approached the stairs, guards appeared from nowhere and blocked his path. He stepped back a respectful distance and cleared his throat.

“Take Pokeweed away.” Queen Titania swept her arm to the side. “And that human whore!”

“Do not disparage my mate,” said Pokeweed in an eerily calm voice.

The king glanced from me to Pokeweed and back to the queen. “Let him through. I will hear what this young faerie has to say.”

Four of the guards blocking Pokeweed’s way stepped aside, creating a path to the king. Pokeweed walked through the gap, reached the bottom of the stairs, and bowed low.

“Your Majesty,” he said. “It took an assassination attempt and the love of my true mate to uncover the identity of my father.”

“Who?” shouted a harsh voice. I turned around and locked eyes with the Duke of Nevermore.

“Oh, no,” I whispered.

It was one thing to tell the king that Pokeweed was his son and that the queen had cursed him and the Duchess of Nevermore to forget that they’d ever mated, but saying all this in front of the dead faerie’s ruthless mate would be disastrous.

“Stop,” I said.

Prince August pulled me into his side. “We’re all watching Pokeweed’s back, and we won’t let anyone hurt him.”

I gave him a weak smile. Someone desperate enough would find a way to stop Pokeweed before he revealed his secret.

Pokeweed waved a hand in front of his face, and I held my breath. His wings retracted into his overalls, the mottled brown fur fell away, and his golden hair returned. He stood with his back to everyone but the king and queen, but I already knew what they would see.

King Oberon’s jaw dropped. “You’re—”

“I’m your son,” said Pokeweed.