AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Finally, he sighed, then lifted his shoulders. A broad smile stretched across his face as he held his hands up. “I can see that perhaps I made a mistake when I tethered your wife to me.”
I took another step closer to him, stopping just before my air Shield. “You did. I will hunt you to the ends of the realm if you try to take anything from her again. Mark my word. You willneverrest. You willneverbe free of me. I will end you if you try to hurt Ilara again, and I’ll make it painful, exquisitely slow, and I will relish every second of it.”
“Have you ever seen the Death Master take his time with someone?” Haxil said nonchalantly from my side. “’Tis truly gruesome.”
Drachu’s nostrils flared.
“Father,” Tylen said in a low tone. “This is growing weary.” The Lochen prince, indeed, looked fatigued. Even though it’d been days since we’d left, I had no idea what other deeds his father was demanding of him.
“Strike a deal,” Tylen urged. “Release Ilara’s power in exchange for the pendant, and let’s be done with this and done with them. Our kingdom is strong. We don’t need her magic, and I miss the sea.”
I cocked my head but held Drachu’s challenging glare.
Lip curling, the Lochen king finally broke eye contact. “Fine. I’ll release your mate’s diamond from my pendant only if you give my pendant back to me and never take it from me again.” He held out his arm. “I’ll seal it with a bargain.”
My lips curved. “Deal.”
Our hands curled around one another’s forearms. My aura rose. Magic rumbled along my limbs.
Drachu’s voice rang through my room, dripping with annoyance. “Prince Norivun Deema Melustral Achul, first son of the king, Bringer of Darkness, Death Master of the Solis continent, son of Prinavee Territory, and crown prince and heir to the Winter Court’s throne, I hereby agree to a bargain that ensures all of Ilara Seary’s magic and affinities are released from the pendant I wore that commanded her power. I agree to never again command your mate or tether her to me. In return, you shall give me my undamaged pendant that you stole from my kingdom and never attempt to steal it from me again. I hereby end the terms of our agreement. Do you accept this bargain?”
I licked my lips. The wording was simple and concise. I didn’t see any loopholes in it, but Drachu was clever. If there was one, he’d find a way to take advantage of it. So I added, “In addition to the above terms, I shall also add that if either bargainer doesn’t uphold their end, a death chosen by the other will immediately follow.”
Drachu’s eyes widened when my meaning hit him.That’s right. I’ll torture you for full seasons before I fully spill your blood if you betray me.“Do you agree to the amendment?”
“I agree,” Drachu replied, albeit a tad warily.
Squeezing his arm harder, I said, “In that case, King Drachu, leader of the Lochen fae, commander and ruler of the fae lands’ seas, I hereby accept your bargain.”
A clash of magic clanged around us as another mark burned into my skin. An image of a diamond appeared on my inner wrist as a trident spear burned into Drachu’s flesh.
The Lochen king stood straighter, his dark hair framing his face. “Now that that’s done, we shall venture to the Adrall Temple and finish this bargain and be done with one another once and for all.”
“You’ve certainly gottenin the habit of making fairy bargains, my prince,” Ryder said to me under his breath. We were leading Balbus and Marcina out of my chambers while Ilara and my other three guards kept an eye on Drachu and his son.
I released a breath through my teeth. “It’s a habit I intend to break as soon as my father is dead.”
Ryder grinned wolfishly, and the planes and angles of his face sharpened.
“My prince,” Balbus said when he reached the door. “I’m so sorry... I wish that I had—” He twisted his hands, shaking his head.
“You have nothing to fear,” I said quietly to him. Balbus had been manipulated and had done what any mated male fairy would have done in such circumstances.
“Oh, my prince.” Another sob shook his chest. “I feel most dreadful. I’ve let you down. In a moment of weakness, I allowed that horrid?—”
“It’s all right, Balbus. I shall rework my wards to prohibit such an event from occurring again.”
Balbus dabbed at his eyes as his wife clung to him.
“Take the rest of the day off. I shall see you on the morrow.”
“Yes, my prince.” He bowed deeply, and the self-loathing rising in his scent was enough affirmation of his good intentions that I knew punishing him would serve no purpose. “I shall find a way to make this up to you.”
With that, he and his wife departed, leaving me and Ryder alone as we prowled back to my living area. We passed the small music room attached to my chambers along the way. I eyed the piano wistfully and wondered if there would ever be a day where I could play and not have something horrible looming over my head.
I ducked into my closet to retrieve the pendant from my safe. Ryder stood watch by the door, and when the necklace was safely stowed deep within my pocket, we joined the others.
Everyone waited in my living area. And despite knowing that we needed to speak with the Crimsonales, learn what had become of the factions, see just how far word had spread about the truth of the Solis king, and speak to the council, my mate’s safety was paramount.
