Ascension Saga (Interstellar Brides): Book 9

“Yes,” Amandine replied. “I see it now. I can’t believe I was so blind.”

“He admitted to trying to seduce my mate, then kill her,” Leo said, stepping forward, hands in fists.

Pawl took a step back, as if the little bit of distance would keep Leo from pummeling him. “My grandfather spouted threats about my mother, told me if I didn’t help, that our enemies would kill her.”

“Who?”

“You!” he shouted. “He said you would kill her. I see now… and I’ve had plenty of time to think of it; he was twisted, mentally insane. He wanted me to fuck my…” He looked away, paled. “He wanted me to fuck and kill my half-sister. He knew… knew who she was.”

Bile rose in my throat and Trinity just stared wide-eyed. Yeah, that was a little gross.

The queen’s voice gentled, but not much. “I don’t think so, Pawl. No one knew the I was pregnant when I escaped. No one. Not even Mykel.”

“And we had no intention of hurting Radella,” Trinity added.

Pawl looked destroyed, now more than ever. Knowing Trinity was his half-sister had pushed him over the edge. “I see that now. All of it.”

Trinity stepped to Leo, took his arm. “Do not harm him. He is just another pawn.”

“I interrogated you,” Thor said, pointing at Pawl. “You admitted to helping in the kidnapping of the queen, of attempting to kill off all of the princesses.”

Pawl licked his lips, lifted his chin. “I did. I also admit to being used. My grandfather, my father, they were ruthless and cunning. Evil. I succumbed to their strength when all I wanted to do was protect my mother.”

I didn’t know if he was lying or not, but I had to believe Pawl would never intentionally fuck his half-sister, or kill her.

“Um, guys, we have a problem,” Faith said. I wasn’t sure when she’d picked up the small comm tablet, but she was looking down at it, Thor glancing over her shoulder. She glanced nervously at her mother. “Remember when Trinity said she’d reached out to Warden Egara, to have her find Dad and get him here?”

Mom nodded. So did Trinity.

“Warden Egara responded. From Earth.” She bit her lip and looked confused.

“Well? Did they find Dad or what?” Trinity asked.

“Yes.” She drew out the one syllable into two.

Destiny let out a whoop. “I knew the stupid feds wouldn’t catch him.”

I didn’t know who the stupid feds were, but it seemed people were unskilled on Earth.

“Is he on his way?” the queen asked.

“No. Not exactly.” Faith looked at her mother and the expression on her face was both confused and apologetic. “Warden Egara said Dad’s already here. She said he transported to Alera a week ago.”

The queen’s Earth… mate… husband had been here on Alera and no one knew? Destiny’s father was… where exactly?

Silence descended. Cold. Hard. Deadly.

The look on the queen’s face when she turned back to Pawl was murderous. “Where is he? What have you people done with my husband?”

Pawl flinched, but remained stoic. The look on his face wasn’t of defiance, but confusion. “I know nothing of this, Queen Celene. I have been in prison since the day Thor interrogated me.”

I was afraid I would have to step between the queen and our prisoner, but Destiny beat me to it, cutting off her mother’s advance and saving me from the difficult choice. With her arm out, she halted the woman’s steps. “Mom, calm down. We need him alive. Dead men tell no tales, remember. That’s why he’s here. Everyone else is dead. And we learned some stuff. A little incestuous and creepy, but still, new stuff.”

Queen Celene’s gaze held a combination of rage and terror I well understood. I’d felt the same anytime Destiny was in danger.

As my queen, I would have been honor bound to let her pass. Allow her to slice Pawl’s throat, if she so desired. But as Destiny’s mate, I had a duty to discover the truth so I could protect her from our enemies. Not her enemies. Ours.

If they threatened my mate, I would destroy them all.