Why? Why would she do this? My blood was tainted. My family dishonorable. Traitors. She should not look at me without hatred in her eyes, let alone claim me as her own. She needed another. A true warrior. A true servant whose bloodline was true and pure, and loyal to the queen.
No. I was not worthy. Faith had to see reason. I had to talk with her. Now.
“As penance for keeping me here against my will, you will release me and let me go stand with my mate. I belong at her side.” If Faith could lie, then so could I.
He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Lord Jax. You may be Princess Faith’s mate, but my orders are not only from Captain Turaya and Captain Vennix, but Princess Trinity herself. She is the final word on all things. Until her mother is set free, she is our leader.”
I groaned. Fuck. Leave it to the weasel to be loyal now, when I needed him to be a bit less strong of will. Resigned to wait, I stared at Faith on the screen once again as her words made every hair on my body rise in alarm. She was baiting a monster now. Putting a target on her back.
“A royal warrant has been issued for the arrest and detainment of Coburt Wyse.” Faith nodded solemnly to her sister and Trinity stepped forward.
“On my orders, the royal guard are, even now as I speak, hunting him down like the rabid dog he is. Coburt Wyse is henceforth stripped of his title of Lord. All of his lands and wealth are passed to his daughter, my cousin, the Lady Radella. Furthermore, Coburt Wyse is stripped of his rank and privilege within the Optimus unit and will stand trial for the murder of my father, the king, attempted murder and kidnapping of Queen Celene, and the murders of Lord and Lady Jax.”
Trinity reached backward and Faith slid her hand into her sister’s as if she needed comfort for the loss.
Liar. She was a fucking liar. But why? Why would she do this?
Oh, Faith. My Faith. She might be intense and fierce, bejeweled and gorgeous with her makeup and styled hair, that fucking sexy dress. But I knew the real female beneath the act. I knew her vulnerable and naked and fresh-faced. Open and spread wide beneath me. I knew her scent, what she tasted like, what she sounded like when she came, the feel of her pussy when it clamped down on my cock, pulled the cum from my balls. I knew her.
And she deserved better than me.
And when I got out of these restraints, she’d understand that, even if it meant she would know the feel of my hand on her ass once more.
5
Faith
Nix was already tracking down Coburt Wyse. He’d escorted me to the palace as he ordered a group of his men to begin the search. Once I was safe in the palace, he’d left to join them. In this moment, as I stood next to Trinity before the citadel, I finally understood what it meant to be royal, to have responsibilities bigger than anything I’d ever imagined. I didn’t belong to myself anymore. I didn’t belong to Thor, as much as I wanted to.
I belonged to them. To all of Alera. I stared out at the people, the children with their beaming smiles, their parents with faces full of hope and horror—in equal parts.
But hope was winning. Trinity and I represented thousands of years of stability and tradition. Of safety and security, prosperity and peace.
And no old, greedy asshole, who happened to be our mother’s cousin, was going to take that away from these people. Even if my mother’s spire went out—the very idea made my eyes burn with unshed tears—there were three of us to carry on the bloodline, to ensure the future of the planet.
To have children and pass on the traditions and our royal blood.
My hand crept over my abdomen. I could be pregnant; Thor had given it a good college try, filling me again and again with his seed. I secretly hoped we’d made a baby. Thor’s child. The thought of a son or daughter with his smile, his eyes, made my heart melt all over again, made me blink back tears for another reason. The dream also hardened my resolve.
I had just lied to billions of people to protect my family. And Thor was mine. End of discussion.
Now I would just have to convince him.
Trinity and I stepped back and disappeared inside the citadel. Per our earlier plan, we met Leo’s father and two of the queen’s guard near the back entrance—Leo’s father knew of its existence, of course—and disappeared into an armored EMV for a quick ride back to the palace.
I knew Thor was there, in my room, waiting for me. Leo had told me as much. I hadn’t quite understood the grin on his face when he’d spoken of shooting Thor with a tranquilizer dart, but my nerves rattled around inside my body as we drew closer.
Trinity reached across the bench seat and squeezed my hand. “He loves you. It’ll be fine.”
To her, I was an open book. She knew I was more nervous about Thor than anything else. The Alerans knew the truth, knew of Lord Wyse’s duplicity. He was being hunted and would be found. Now, I could take a moment and deal with Thor.
“I don’t know. He’s stubborn, Trin.”
That made Trinity throw her head back and laugh. “Have you met yourself? Destiny explodes. I argue. But you? You’re stubborn as a bull, Faith. You look sweet and innocent, but you’re not fooling me. I know you too well. There is no one in the universe more stubborn than you are. Convince him.”
Her words were ringing in my ears when I stepped into my bed chamber to find Thor lying on my bed and a strange young man sitting next to him. “Who are you?”
The younger male stood and bowed low. He took my hand, kissing the back. “I am the royal consort. And I am at your service, Your Highness. Anything you need, you need only ask.”