“Funny girl,” he retorted, “Tell me where you are being held, Synthia.”
“I’m with the Blood King and Queen,” I said and smiled as his eyes widened with shock as my words sank in.
“Why are you with the Blood King?” he asked carefully, placing his hands on my shoulders and pulling me close against his body.
“Because, he is my father,” I whispered as I pressed myself against him, and lifted my arms around his neck.
“Synthia, this is serious,” he growled throatily as he lowered his mouth to the tender flesh behind my ear and nuzzled it with his nose softly. It sent heat pulsing to one particular spot between my thighs. “I need you to tell me why you think they are your parents, when you wouldn’t believe the Light Fae were.”
“Ryder, they knew about the tattoo that suppressed my powers, as well with the wards on the walls of my house. They did it to hide me, so you were right, they didn’t abandon me. They did it to protect me, and when I met my father something inside of me clicked into place. As if the final pieces to my life were meeting and connecting. I felt him inside of me. They said they took me to the Harvest Festival, and they also told me that they buried a child in a tomb that was marked for me. They did it all because they agreed to some sort of contract with the Horde and my father to get my brother back and stop the fighting between the Horde and the Blood Fae. Now that I’m back, they said they have to give me over to him, or this stupid war they have going will never end with him.”
He pulled back from me and shook his head in wonder. “That means you really aren’t the Light Heir. Shit.”
“Does this mean I don’t have to marry Adam now?”
He hesitated, but when I tried to pull away from him as the pain lashed through me with his unspoken words, he pulled me back. “No, you don’t have to marry Adam. The contract is void if you are not the Light Heir. This puts a new spin on things, though, and we still need to get you out of the Blood Court.”
“Well, then there’s also the part where I’m to be given to the Horde King tomorrow.” I mumbled it, because saying it out loud just tasted dirty.
“They are planning on giving you to the Horde? Are you sure?” he asked as everything in his face, emotion wise, shut down.
“That’s their plan, and, of course, I’m once again unable to sift because of a stupid necklace,” I showed him the torque that Liam had magically wielded around my neck.
“At least, for now you are safe, and I know they won’t harm you,” he said hesitantly as he walked me with his body backward, his hard muscles pressed against mine until my legs folded as they connected with the bed.
I fell back against the soft mattress with a startled squeak, but his body pressed and held mine down, stifling any other complaints from my lips. He didn’t kiss me. Instead, his lips curled in to a wicked smile as his fingers played with a soft tendril of hair that had fallen over my face.
“They plan to give me to the Horde King tomorrow in some kind of ceremony in front of the entire kingdom,” I said softly, and quickly wetted my lips.
“I bet they do. It’s a show to ensure the Horde does not retaliate while under truce. Do you know anything else they have planned?” he continued.
“No, they plan to go through with giving me over, and that’s the end of it. Ryder, if he is like they say he is, I need you to tell me everything you know about the Horde King; weaknesses, shortcomings, anything that can help me—because I think the only way to get myself out of this mess is to kill the Horde King,” I said, knowing if I could tell anyone my plan, it was Ryder.
His eyes grew large and round. “You’re going to kill the Horde King? That’s a joke, right?” he asked as his eyes once again narrowed as he took in my face, which was all the proof he needed to tell him I wasn’t joking.
“No, it’s the only way to void the contract my parents made with him. We’ve thought him missing this entire time and he’s been here the whole time. My parents told me he makes regular demands from them, so he’s got to be around. If I take him out I’ll be free, Ryder. I’ll be free to go with who I want to, and I can help you find the real Light Heir and get the relics.”
“You’re talking about killing the Horde King; the fucking Horde King. Have you even thought about how disastrous that would be, not to just to your health, but to the entire caste of the Blood Fae? Or did your newly found family talk you into it?” He was mad, and it showed and resonated like a tuning fork from his entire body pressed against mine.
“It’s the only way I can get away from him. I’m going to the Horde King! I’m supposed to be some timid female. He’ll never expect it, so it’s perfect.”