Oh, crap. I had forgotten about that ruse and as usual I stepped in it big time. Cole wouldn’t last a day at the hands of the Dark Fae. Xane at least would not only last longer, he would also have every Demon from every Realm out to rescue him.
“My marriage is not an unholy union,” I say through gritted teeth, ignoring the question of who exactly my husband is.
“It is not recognized in the Fae Kingdoms. Your union will be with Kalen and it will take place at the next full moon. Three weeks from now. There is much to do in preparation,” he states.
“I am not marrying Kalen. I am already married.” I stamp my foot and again feel, belatedly, like a sullen teenager.
“You will marry Kalen and you will bear the destined child. That is your duty to me and this Court. Your only duty,” he says with an emphasis that makes me gulp. What does that mean exactly?
“The clock is ticking, so to speak. You agree to your duty or…” He grabs my chin in a powerful grip that has forced me back up against the iron bars. “Or I send the Dark Guard for your charge and I start ripping his claws out one-by-painful-one.”
My sire side surges to the forefront and I knock his hand away from me and I grab him again in a tight fist. “If you hurt him in any way whatsoever, you will see just exactly how powerful I can be,” I hiss at him.
“So you’ll stay then?” he asks.
I nod once, grimly. I don’t have much choice. As much Power as I wield, I am certain he has more or at the very least he knows how to use it better.
“Grand,” he says jovially, like he didn’t just threaten to brutally mutilate Devon. Or Cole. It’s unclear which one he meant, but it makes no difference. I will do anything to protect them both, even if it means staying here. He turns us towards to the long corridor and pushes me forward. “We have a long walk up; you can start by telling me about your lineage. It’s quite confusing.”
“Can’t you just puff us back upstairs?” I ask.
“Where is the fun in that?” he asks and shrugs. “Well…?”
“Well, what? You know what I am,” I say with a sniff.
“I know I am Dark Fae and your mother, for Her sins, is a Dragon. What happened after your cursed conception remains somewhat of a mystery,” he says.
“Don’t talk about my mother,” I grouse.
“I loved your mother,” he says fiercely. “But we were doomed from the start. The fact that She kept your birth a secret from me is unforgivable. She knew how much we needed you.”
I raise my eyebrow at his tone, but stay silent, hoping he will continue. I don’t know a whole lot about this bunch except what Sebastian and Xane have told me. It would be nice to be clued in, so I know just what I have let myself in for.
“If I had known about you, I could have protected you,” he continues, and I am stunned that he said that. I got the impression he would no sooner stake me than look at me. “I could have prevented you from becoming this revolting, tainted creature. I have a job in front of me to convince the rest of my people to accept you. And they aren’t going to do it with you looking like that,” he sneers at me.
Oh. And there I thought he cared for a minute.
“What is wrong with the way I look?” I ask, offended.
“You look nothing like me.” He gestures up and down at me in exasperation. “Even if you looked like your mother it would be better than that. I mean how did that even happen?”
That? I finger my long blonde ha
ir and pout. “Somehow I took after my human parents,” I say quietly.
“Yes, well, pity that there isn’t anything we can do about that Saxon lineage,” he says and sighs.
Actually, there is, but I am reluctant to help this beast in any way. I sigh and attempt to Shift anyway to look like I belong. To my surprise it works. Long, straight black hair and violet eyes. I change nothing else about myself though. I figure it will be easier for me if they accept me. I fear as it is, the contempt is going to outweigh the acceptance. He stops dead as he looks at me. “How did you do that?” he demands.
“Just a little gift I picked up from my mother's side,” I say and shrug.
“Well, that is much better. At least you now look like I own you,” he says.
Own me? I square my shoulders to blast him that no one owns me when he adds quietly, “This is going to be difficult enough for my wife. I would ask that you show her some respect and not flaunt these unFae abilities of yours.”
I close my mouth as I never even thought about him having a wife, much less caring about her feelings. “Of course.” I clear my throat.
“While we are still down here, can you do something about your attire? You look like a heathen,” he says.