A Forever Series Box Set: A Paranormal Reverse Harem-(Book 11-15)

He grimaces at her. Of course, that was a stupid question.

“Coerced?” he says again. “There is no one I know who can wield that kind of power over another.”

“There are beings who have the gift,” Xanthe says. “It is beyond rare outside of the Light Fae royals.”

Xane pauses as that sinks in. “Light Fae?” he asks slowly. “You think that Sebastian put Xander up to this?” The temper that he was clinging to suddenly shoots off the charts. He picks up a solid, glass paperweight off his desk and throws it at the wall. “Fucking Faerie!” he yells as he watches the paperweight smash into a thousand pieces. “I will kill him!”

“Now, now,” Xanthe says, taking his hands in hers. “You cannot do that. He is a King.”

“And I am an Overlord,” Xane snaps at her.

“Regardless, I don’t think it was a Faerie who did this,” Xanthe says.

“Then who?” Xane seethes. When he finds out he will scorch the insides out of them before he takes their head.

“I will keep trying,” she says.

“Try harder,” he says. “I don’t have much time. In fact, I am all but out of it.”

“What do you mean?” Xanthe asks with a frown.

Xane holds up his wrist to show her that his own marking, that matches Xerxei’s, is fading.

Xanthe grabs his wrist and stares at it in anger. “No!” she shouts. “I will not allow this to happen.” She drops his wrist and turns on her heel. “Have no worry, my son. I will get you the answers you need,” she says stiffly.

Xane nods once. His mother is furious and Xander is so in for it now.

“However,” he says, “I am going to be leaving for a time.”

Xanthe spins back around. “What do you mean leaving? Where to?”

“What I tell you must remain between us,” Xane says.

“Of course,” Xanthe scoffs.

“I mean it, Mother. You cannot tell anyone, at least not yet,” he says.

“I give you my word,” she answers.

“Good. Xerxei has discovered that the child she had with Remiel still lives. She is working on a rescue mission as we speak and I am quite certain that since I can’t sense her anywhere, she is currently in the Dragon Realms putting it into action,” Xane says.

Xanthe’s eyes have gone wide and Xane is quite reassured that she didn’t already know about the child being alive. He had his suspicions, but they have been laid to rest. “The true heir lives?” she whispers and sits down heavily.

“Yes,” Xane says. “But Xerxei does not want her living in the Dragon Realms under Tiamat’s power. She is taking her to her father’s Kingdom, where I am joining her.”

“Joining her?” Xanthe snaps. “You cannot take her side in this, Xane. You are Overlord of this Realm; your place is with the Dragons.”

“Not anymore,” he says. “I have already spoken to Father about this and he is taking back his rule for a time until I return.”

“I beg your pardon?” she says. “You and your father have collaborated behind my back?”

“No, I made a decision and asked Father if he would cover for me in my absence. That’s it,” Xane says. His father is now also in for it. Xanthe is fuming and he is likely to have a hard time of it for the next few weeks.

“I see,” she says coldly. “You have made up your mind?”

“Yes, it is done,” Xane says. “Get the information from Xander and I will find a way to contact you.”

Xane watches as Xanthe struggles with something. He peers at her curiously and then she stands up again. “I had not wanted to tell you this right now. I wanted to deal with Xander first, but since you are leaving, I cannot let you go without telling you.”