Authors: Julia Crane
Betrayed (11 page)
I
n two hours
I would be married. It seemed surreal to me, and yet there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to prevent it.
I hadn’t told my mother what Eaglen had said about her returning, because I didn’t want to get her hopes up until I had a better grasp of the situation. For now I had to do my part, smile and pretend like my whole world wasn’t crumbling around me.
My mother had resided to her room to bathe and dress, two of the servants were rushing around preparing my dress and setting my hair. All I wanted to do was crawl in bed and act like this was all a horrible nightmare.
“You can leave.” Ainston’s voice filled the room.
The servants glanced at me. I nodded and waved them away.
“What are you doing in my chambers?” I asked irritably.
He shut the door, locked it. I could hear the chatter of the castle in full swing outside.
My head tilted at his nerve. “I said, what are you doing in here?”
He laughed. “I’ve come to get what’s mine.” Roughly he grabbed me by the arms, yanking me toward him.
“Get your hands off me,” I demanded, feeling my magick stir.
When he pushed me up against the wall, my back banged with a thud.
“Don’t act frightened. We all know you’re damaged goods. Soiled by a human.” One of his hands came up and gripped my neck.
I was so horrified I could hardly speak.
Shocked, I let off a burst of magick, throwing him across the room. He landed against the wall before sliding to the ground, and one of the paintings fell, hitting his leg. He struggled to his feet, brushing down his clothes, trying to compose himself.
I strode forward until I was mere inches from his face. “If you
ever
attempt to touch me again without my consent, I will break every bone in your body, one at a time. Do. You. Understand?”
Ainston rose to his full height. I was surprised he didn’t shrink back at my words; instead, he seemed enraged. “Tonight you will be my mate and you will do as I say.”
I laughed bitterly. “If you think you can control me, you are marrying the wrong girl. I will rule these lands, you will be king in name alone. And if you ever bring up Michael again, I will kill you myself, I don’t care what the consequences will be.”
“You’re not the only one with magick.” He sent a burst of magick, but before it even reached me it was deflected.
“You’re way out of your league. I was willing to accept this merger, for the sake of the lands, but you are a disgrace. I will see you dead before I bed you. We will be wed but it will be a sexless marriage.”
To make my point without lifting a finger I unlocked the door, and tossed him outside of my room. He landed on the ground, glaring at me. I smiled before I shut the door with a thought.
I couldn’t get over the nerve of him. How dare he think he could force himself on me?
Not for the first time I wished I had given myself to Michael—at least that would be a union of love.
L
ess than two hours later
, I was dressed in the finest gown. Isla had been right, it was green, flowers and vines wove themselves around me. I hadn’t told my mother about Ainston’s visit, that was between the two of us.
In a way I was glad for his stupidity, now I knew where we stood. If he hadn’t entered my room, I would have reluctantly merged with him tonight as a mated pair, but now he would never touch me in such a way. Yes, brows would be raised if we didn’t produce an heir quickly, but I’d let them think what they will.
The music started and I found myself moving down the massive aisle surrounded by faes from all over the lands. This was the biggest wedding the realm had seen in centuries. Strangely, I felt calm. I knew what I had to do. I would take my place as queen, I would rule fairly, and when the time was right, I would kill Ainston. I no longer felt remorse for the idea. A part of me looked forward to it.
I felt a slight pang knowing the children would not approve, but I refused to live my life in misery. A slight smile played across my lips as I continued down the aisle, turning slightly so everyone could catch a glimpse of the future queen. I saw several of my old friends—it was strange, my old life seemed so long ago.
Ainston was waiting for me standing before the people. He looked regal, I would give him that. Dressed in his finest clothes, he was tall, lithe, and attractive … but he was also a coward and a bully.
His eyes did not even focus on me. Instead, he kept them riveted off in the distance just above my shoulder. I knew he hated me. The feeling was mutual. At least now we knew where each other stood.
I glanced over at my mother who was sitting in the front row surrounded by her guards. Once the ceremony was over she would be sent away. My throat tightened. I didn’t want her to leave, but I also didn’t want her to witness a loveless merger either, so maybe it was best she was gone … at least until I figured a way out.
My back straight and my head held high, I climbed the stairs until I reached Ainston’s side. He finally glanced my way. His stare was blank of emotion.
The music stopped and the high priestess smiled at us. “Today we are to witness a merger, two blood lines, becoming one. The future of our kingdom restored …”
The priestess continued on but I wasn’t paying attention. My mind was elsewhere, plotting.
A gasp went throughout the hall, and I turned to see what all the fuss was about.
My heart dropped. Standing in the doorway was … my father.
How could that be? My father was dead, wasn’t he?
I glanced over at my mother and found she’d risen to her feet. Her face flushed red, her hand covering her mouth.
She broke free of the guards and ran down the aisle, throwing herself into his arms.
Everyone started talking at once.
The priestess looked as confused as I felt. Ainston was livid. “Continue with the ceremony,” he demanded. “We haven’t said our vows.”
She opened and closed her mouth, not sure what to do.
“Wait,” I commanded.
My father and mother were walking up the aisle toward us. They were a gorgeous couple, they always had been.
If my father had returned what did this mean? Would he be reinstated as king? Did I still have to marry Ainston? How could my father be alive after all this time? And why would he show up today of all days? I had so many questions I needed answers to.
My mother was crying, my father was smiling, and yet still gave off the air of authority.
When he reached us, the priestess asked him, “Should I continue?”
He rose a brow. “That’s up to the princess.”
“Father, where have you been? You’ve been gone for so long we thought you were dead!”
A grave look came over his face. “That is a long story for another day, but I have returned. I’ve heard whispers of an uprising and came to see for myself. I did not expect to walk into your wedding.”
That was a lie. Why would he lie about such a thing?
“I would like to postpone the wedding, until we understand what is going on. Does this mean Mother is not banished?”
My father’s head snapped in the direction of my mother. “Banished?”
Turning, he rose his voice, “There will be a meeting convening
now
in the hall of justice. I demand to know exactly what is going on. Everyone leave so I can have a few moments alone with my queen and daughter.”
Slowly, people began to leave, but they were all glancing back in awe and surprise at the return of the king.
The king grabbed me by the hand, leaving Ainston, his face scarlet with anger.
Once we were in a private room, the king’s form started to flicker and it hit me. Calamus, he’d found a way into the lands, and pretended to be my father. The idea both excited and saddened me. So many nights I’d lain awake wanting my father back.
But when the form solidified, I gasped in shock. Standing before me was not Calamus, but Demitrious.
My hand covered my mouth as the realization began to sink in. Suddenly, everything made sense. The reason my mother trusted him without reserve. The demon was my father.
“Dad,” I whispered. “Is it really you?”
He nodded and when he held his arms out, I collapsed into him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We wanted to wait ’til the right time, but it never seemed like the right time.”
“What are you doing? Why are you here? And how did you leave the life of a Faery King and reincarnate as a demon?” My questions came out in a jumbled rush.
He glanced at my mother. “We didn’t plan on this. We were going to let you take your place and rule, but after hearing how you were so miserable about the merger, I couldn’t stand the thought of you living the rest of your long life in a loveless merger. I decided this was the only choice we had.”
“But how are you here?”
He gave me a slight smile. “Your mother’s promise to open the realm to demons was all I needed to enter. I cannot hold my old form for long, though. It takes a lot of energy. I will have to learn a balance to hold it long enough to be seen, and when I am in privacy, I will be in this form. If anyone finds out …”
“I can’t have you risk yourself like that. You and Mother should return to Earth and be happy. I will stay here, I can handle Ainston.”
My mother shook her head. “No, daughter, your father is right. Your time with Michael and the halflings will not be long, you should enjoy it while you have the chance. We will stay here and you will return. With your father back there is no way they can force me out. No one would dare go against him.”
That was true, he was the most feared king of all times.
“Go now, daughter, let us take care of the rest.”
I threw my arms around them both. “Are you sure?” I asked, wiping my nose with the back of my hand.
“We’re sure. When you are ready to take the crown it is yours, but with a mate of your choosing,” Demitrious said.
Was I ever going to get used to the fact that the demon was my father? Surprisingly, I didn’t think it was going to be too hard.
“Thank you, I’ll be back soon. And you must visit often.”
Demitrious shifted back into the king. “Hurry, I don’t want you to be around as a distraction. I must go reclaim my throne.”
“You can have it.” I laughed, gave my mother another hug, and then hurried out the back door. As quick as I could I made my way to the portal.
I turned just in time to see Ainston; he was running toward me, yelling something. His words echoed as I stepped into the wavering air. “I’m going to make you regret you were ever born!”
As soon as I dropped to the ground, I picked myself up, grabbed the bottom of my dress, hiked it up, and ran as fast as I could to the castle.
Out of breath, I stormed through the front door. The halflings, who were sitting around the table, barely glanced up. “Took you long enough.” Jinx grinned.
“Where’s Michael?”
“He’s in the gardens.”
I nodded before rushing out the back doorway.
When I approached, he glanced up. Many emotions played across his face, before he stood up.
Laughing, I launched myself into his arms. His strong arms encircled my waist and he spun me around. “Are you really back?”
“I’m back, I’m home, with you. It’s too long to explain, just kiss me.”
He didn’t have to be asked twice. His lips met mine and all seemed right again with the world.
Let’s hope it stayed that way. I pushed Ainston’s last words from my mind—I’d deal with him when the time came.
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