Page 80 of Fae Mates

Whispers echoed across the vast space. Queen Titania’s shoulders slumped, and she glared at the king, who rushed down the stairs. I bit down on my lip, waiting for someone to say it was a glamor or some type of magical ruse, but nobody spoke.

That was the difference between here and the outside world. The DVDs of The Maury Povich Show always proved paternity with side-by-side photos of the father and child, followed by something called a DNA test. Here, a family resemblance was enough to prove that King Oberon was the father.

“I don’t remember conceiving you,” murmured the king. “But then the poor Duchess of Nevermore always maintained that she had forgotten who had tended to her heat.”

I stared up at Queen Titania, who made eye contact with someone behind us. When I followed her line of sight, it was the Duke of Nevermore, and his gaze was as cold as his daughter’s.

King Oberon turned Pokeweed around, revealing their identical features. “Behold, my full-blood heir!”

My brows drew together. If he had to declare Pokeweed a full-blood, then how many half-bloods had the king conceived? Maybe it was him responsible for cast-offs like Mr. Whittaker.

Everybody cheered and stamped their feet. I glanced at Pokeweed, who stared back at me with wide eyes. My chest tightened for him. This morning, the poor faerie thought he was the son of a satyr and destined for an excruciating death. Now, he was welcomed by his birth father and had become the heir to the throne.

My other mates gave Pokeweed applause and warm smiles.

King Oberon spread out his golden wings, which were streaked with black tiger-like stripes. “Let’s see how much you favor your father!”

Pokeweed revealed wings as silver as his hair was gold, reminding me somewhat of Lady Gala. I turned again to glance over my shoulder at the Duke of Nevermore, who stumbled forward and gaped.

The king threw his head back and laughed. “Your wings are identical to your mother’s.”

“No,” roared the duke.

Everyone went silent.

“Do you have something to say, Nevermore?” King Oberon’s eyes hardened.

I gulped. Paternity episodes with the husband and the scoundrel who had impregnated his wife always ended in blows. I glanced up at Prince Bradwell, who smiled and wrapped a comforting arm around my shoulder.

“Luna was my mate.” The Duke of Nevermore stepped forward and balled his hands into fists. “You sent me away on a meaningless mission with the outsiders because you could sense her oncoming heat!”

King Oberon rubbed the back of his neck. “I have no recollection of having done such a thing.”

“You did,” snapped the queen. She descended from the mezzanine, her heels clicking on the marble with each step. “Your head snapped up the moment Luna of Nevermore stepped into the throne room, and I knew she had an oncoming heat.”

I turned to Prince August and grabbed his lapels. “The duke is angry enough to attack in full view of the court. We have to do something.”

All four brothers rushed to form a line between their parents and the Duke of Nevermore. I stood beside Prince Bradwell and raised my chin.

“Is this why you plotted to overthrow the throne?” asked Prince Caulden.

“What?” The Duke of Nevermore stepped back, his eyes darting from side to side.

“We know you enchanted us to be loyal to you and Gala,” said Prince Rory. “You’re making Gala bring on an early heat so that she can mate with us and take the throne.”

“You stole your mate’s magic to have enough power to murder His Majesty,” said Prince August. “Admit it.”

All the courtiers standing at the walls clapped their hands to their mouths and gasped. One female faerie even swooned. I glanced from left to right, taking in the scandalized reactions. Something told me that every single one of these people knew what a faerie needed to do to force a heat, and they didn’t approve.

The Duke of Nevermore’s face turned red, down to the tips of his platinum hair. “How dare you? My daughter would never lower herself—”

“I saw her in the woods with a centaur.” I stepped forward, curling my hands into fists. This was the bastard who had cast Pokeweed out into a hostile world, robbing my mate of a chance to know his own mother. “And the centaur was making her swallow his semen at the source!”

“They told me you were dead.” He glowered at the princes as though stealing their free wills wasn’t a big deal. “You burned her body.”

“Medietas,” snapped King Oberon. “Throw the Duke of Nevermore into the dungeon pending a trial for treason.”

Guards appeared out of nowhere and surrounded Gala’s father, forming a sphere of light that looked like a glowing sun from the outside. The Duke of Medietas strolled across the throne room, withdrawing his sword.