Claimed By The Fae King (Mated To The Fae King Book 4)

by Bailey Dark

  “This is foolish,” Serus warns me.

  The main door rears up ahead of me at the end of the hall. I quicken my pace, nerves already prickling with anxiety. The door swings open, light slipping into the dim halls and I gape. Thal eases through the doors, shaking out his black hair and tucking a helmet beneath his arm. He glances up, sweat shining on his brow.

  “Verity?” He asks softly.

  A smile bursts across my face and I choke back a laugh. “Thal, oh my god.”

  He moves, a blur of motion, and suddenly has me in his arms. I wince as his armor grates against my skin, but his friendly, familiar face is enough to drive away the pain. I squeeze him back, chest bursting with happiness. When he places me gently back on the ground and pulls away to search my face, I feel tears pooling in my eyes.

  “How in the hell did you get here, Verity?” He asks breathlessly.

  I shake my head. “It’s a long story.”

  He smiles, a gloved hand stroking my cheek. The smile slips away and his brows furrow. “Are you alright? Did anyone give you trouble?” He notices Serus at my feet. “You got a cat?”

  “He’s not a cat,” I say absently, peeking over his shoulder. “Where’s Altair?”

  Thal jerks his head towards the door. “In the battle still. I’ve ordered the troops to cut off the demons’ escape. It should all be over soon.”

  “Over?” I narrow my eyes, worry roiling in my gut. “I have to help Altair. I know how to defeat Sadal.”

  I start towards the doors but Thal holds me back. “Verity, it’s too dangerous out there. There are demons everywhere, they went berserk. They’re even killing the Bloodbane. If you go out there, Altair would kill me.”

  I frown, trying to wrench away from him. “I could finish this thing, Thal. You have to let me go.”

  “No.” He shakes his head soberly.

  I open my mouth to protest when I hear the doors open once more. Chains rattle. Light lances into the space, blinding me as I turn to see the newcomer. Altair’s lean figure is shadowed by the light, but I recognize his broad shoulders and impressive height anyway. Thal’s fingers slip away from my arm but I hardly notice. It’s like every cell in my body is stretching towards Altair.

  I run towards him, feet slapping against the stone floor. My tired body protests, but it doesn’t matter because Altair is in front of me whole and truly. He’s reaching for me already and when I slam into him, he catches me with ease. My heart surges with emotion as I stare up at him. His hazel eyes are wide, locked on mine with the same desperate need that consumes me. His scruff has grown again, just a shadow of a beard on his sharp jaw. Sweat and blood shines on his skin, but he’s more handsome than I remember.

  A blush creeps to my cheeks as I think of the day, we made love, who knows how long ago it was. His dirtied fingers stroke my jawline, tracing me as if to sense if I’m real. Heat swells within me as his eyes settle on my lips.

  He drops his lips to mine, and I clutch at him desperately. When our lips touch, it’s as if he’s certain that I’m real and he leans into me. He cups my cheeks, our lips moving together. My heart beats wildly, happiness swelling inside my chest. It feels like I’m home. Safe. My core throbs with need as he slips his tongue between my lips. I gasp softly as his teeth graze my lips. It doesn’t matter to me that we’re in full view of the soldiers in the hall, crowded behind him. All that matters is that Altair is in my arms and I’m in his.

  I melt into his arms, relief and desire flowing through me thick and slow like cooling lava. I taste the sweat on his lips and lap it away. I feel a deep rumbling in Altair’s chest and my heart races. Our eyes meet and I see desire flashing in his eyes. I nip at his bottom lip teasingly and he growls softly – just for me.

  Suddenly, he pulls away, staggering slightly. I feel his absence like a blow to the stomach. His eyes dart from mine to the floor and then back again. I straighten, blushing and look at him questioningly. He opens his mouth and closes it again, looking like a fish. Goosebumps raise on my arms, sudden fear and apprehension coursing through me at the sight of the guilt in his eyes.

  Before I can ask what’s wrong, I hear the chains rattle again. I peer around Altair’s broad shoulder and my stomach flips. Sadal stares back at me, his eyes bruised and swollen, lips bloodied. He looks like he took a beating that should have left him dead. I see blood staining his tunic and glance to Altair. My eyes spot the dagger in his waistband before he says anything. Relief floods through me. Altair found it. He made Sadal mortal.

  But then why is he here?

  “Verity,” Altair says gently, lifting a hand.

  I shake my head. “What’s he doing here? Why haven’t you just killed him?” I spit out the last words furiously.

  “It’s complicated,” Altair says.

  “How is it complicated? You know what he’s done.” I glare at Sadal.

  Sadal laughs hoarsely. He spits out a glob of blood onto the stone and turns his dark eyes on me. “Hello, darling. Happy to see me?”

  “Don’t call me that,” I whisper angrily. I feel Thal at my side then, a comforting presence.

  “I’m glad you made it out of the ether. You know I don’t possess the ability to enter that realm any loner,” Sadal says, ignoring my tone. “I see you had a little help.”

  Serus wraps around my ankles, his amber eyes locked on Sadal. Sadal leans forward, leering at me. Altair steps smoothly in front of him, blocking the dark god from view. My eyes flit towards Altair’s gaze and I see the fury hidden beneath his calm facade. A smile quirks at my lips. I would hate to be in Sadal’s shoes.

  “The dungeon,” Altair says, tilting his head towards Sadal.

  I watch from the corner of my eyes as the Fae soldiers shove Sadal down another hall. He laughs and my skin crawls. I step towards Altair once Sadal is out of sight, even though I can still hear him cackling.

  An ebony arm snakes towards Altair, golden bracelets jangling on a dainty wrist. I glance up at the woman I passed earlier. I hadn’t heard her arrive, or even seen her before she was already at Altair’s side. My eyes dart up from her hand settling on Altair’s arm to her dark brown eyes. She smiles at me, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. I watch, gut twisting, as she slips her arm through Altair’s and he dodges my gaze.

  They stride away without another word and it feels like I’m falling from one of the towers on Altair’s palace. My stomach is in my throat, heart beating too fast and out of rhythm. And still, Sadal’s laughter echoes throughout the halls.

  Chapter 3

  Altair

  The small dining hall of the fort has been cleaned and prepared for a victory dinner with the main players. I stand in the corner, watching the servants light candles and the enormous hearth. My arms are crossed over my chest and I can feel my blood thrumming evenly despite my rage.

  I hadn’t expected to see Verity. I had planned on finding any method I could to make my way into the ether and save her. But she managed to save herself. I feel a flicker of pride in my chest as I remember what the healer told me about Verity’s wounds. She almost died trying to make it out of the ether. I would never have allowed her to hurt herself like that, but perhaps it’s for the best that I wasn’t there.

  But then she made her way here, right into the predatory gaze of Erzur. I close my eyes, cursing myself for my lapse in judgment. The kiss Verity and I shared would have made it to Erzur’s ears almost instantly; which is no doubt why she chose to make her appearance when she did. My hands curl into fists. If not for the alliance she and I made, my forces would have been overwhelmed by the berserk demons. Nonetheless, I can’t help the surge of anger I feel towards Erzur for the shame she forced on Verity. She won’t do such a thing again.

  The door opens and Thal slams into the room, eyes blazing. I push away from the wall, stepping into his line of sight. His fist flies towards me, so fast I almost miss it. I dodge just in time, slipping behind him. He curls his lip at me. “Too high and mighty to take the beating you
deserve?” He snaps.

  “What are you talking about?” I narrow my eyes at him as he faces off against me.

  “Letting Erzur treat Verity like that?” Thal laughs mirthlessly. “I know you can be cruel, Altair, but I never took you for stupid. You know exactly what Erzur did and why.”

  “Of course I know,” I snarl softly, eyes flashing. “And it will never happen again.”

  Thal smirks. “The damage is done, fool. You should have done something when you had the chance.”

  I open my mouth to retort but the door opens again, and Moritz enters. He pauses, seeing the tension between Thal and I. Assessing the situation, he stares with a bored expression. “I trust you can save your bickering until dinner is over?”

  I inhale sharply, glowering at Thal. “Have a seat, Moritz.”

  I take a seat at the head of the table, Moritz on my left. The old Bloodbane strides into the room, her back bowed, and she sits beside Thal at the end of the table. I hardly notice Verity slink into the room in the Bloodbane’s shadow. I watch, heart clenching in my chest, as Thal moves over to make room for her. She slips out of sight, hiding beneath Thal’s frame. He glares at me, but I turn away.

  Of course, Erzur arrives last. She sweeps into the room, her glossy robes billowing out behind her. I rise and the rest of the group follows my led except for the wizened Bloodbane. Erzur’s dark eyes trace over the dining table and I see them settle irritably on the witch. But the witch merely smiles, and I can’t hide my own smirk.

  Erzur takes the last empty seat on my right and we all sit. The room is silent as the servants bring us our first course. I scowl. This is nothing like the victorious feast we should be having at this moment. When the servants have left and the door falls closed behind them, I stand, goblet in hand.

  “This is not the victory that we imagined,” I say, closing my eyes somberly. When I open them again, I see Verity’s blue eyes locked on me. “We’ve lost many men and women during this fight. Tonight, we drink to their sacrifice for not only Alnembra, but for the world.”

  I fall silent and drain the spirits in my goblet. I tilt my head back, swallowing the last of it and slamming my goblet down on the table. Moritz and Thal drink in respectful silence. I don’t look at Erzur, but I know her eyes are on me – waiting for her recognition. I pour myself another drink; I’m going to need it.

  “And to Queen Erzur.” I hold my glass aloft again. “For joining us and making our victory possible. And to King Moritz, for being at our flank since the beginning. Finally, to Verity. Without her, we wouldn’t be here at this moment and Sadal would be moving freely through the continent.”

  Verity’s head snaps up, her eyes wide. There’s a pink flush to her cheeks and I imagine I see a hint of pride in her gaze. We stare at each other, gazes locked and for a single moment I forget we aren’t the only two people in the world. Erzur scoffs under her breath and the moment is shattered. I feel anger twisting in my gut, but I shove it down and lift my glass to my lips.

  The spirits dribble over the scruff on my chin as I drink, and I wipe it away with my sleeve. I take a seat again, exhaustion weighing heavily in my bones. Conversation flits around the table, but I’m listening only to Verity. She murmurs to Thal and then to the old Bloodbane witch. Shock paints her face, and I know the witch has revealed her history to Verity. I wonder vaguely if Verity can find a confidante in the old witch.

  I pour another drink as Erzur reaches for me. I consider ignoring her but think better of it. That would be a poor way to begin our alliance. I let her rest her delicate hand on my sleeve. She leans towards me and I give her my ear. Her lips brush up against them and I shudder, quelling the flicker of pleasure. I won’t give her that satisfaction; not when she knows exactly what she’s doing.

  “Have you considered the announcement?” She murmurs, breath wafting over me.

  “I don’t think this is the appropriate setting,” I say under my breath. I turn insistent eyes on her, but she merely rolls her eyes.

  “Why not? All your allies in one place?” She rises before I can protest. I drag a hand over my chin, fatigue and anger washing over me. I resist the urge to just stride from the room and attend to more important things. So, I wait as she clears her throat for everyone’s attention. “I know many of you may think that Altair and I only see each other as allies in time of need. And although our victory was mostly due to my sun soldiers, I would have entered into an alliance with Altair even if he had no need of me. I couldn’t be more pleased with our engagement. And I’m sure we’ll all be close allies in the future.”

  I hear a soft gasp across the table, but it’s drowned out by Moritz’s sarcastic applause. I force a smile and take Erzur’s hand, keeping up whatever charade will most please her. She sits, smiling cruelly and takes a sip of her spirits. I glance at Verity, a wave of guilt swallowing me whole when I see her pale face.

  A moment later, Verity rises, albeit shakily. She hurries to the door, her hand wrapping around the handle when Erzur speaks. “Ah,” Erzur muses. Verity freezes. “I know things are done differently in the mortal realm, but here, commoners bow to royalty.”

  “That’s enough,” I snap. Fury wells in my chest and I turn narrowed eyes on Erzur.

  She smiles like a cat as Verity turns stiffly. I watch, guilt and anger mingling in my roaring blood as Verity drops into a shallow, clumsy curtsy. She slips from the room, careful not to let the door slam behind her.

  The room is silent, the air taut with tension. Moritz speaks first, drawling lazily, “Must you always be such a bitch, Erzur?”

  Erzur shrugs. “My enemies should know their place.”

  “She’s not your enemy,” I snap, rising.

  “That’s not what I heard,” Erzur says coolly, every bit the strategist.

  I glower at her and bend low, baring my teeth. “If you ever seek to humiliate her again, I’ll rip you apart with my bare hands and blame it on a rogue demon. Do you understand?”

  She narrows her almond-shaped eyes at me, lips twisted into an angry scowl. I don’t care that I threatened her in front of witnesses. I care only that she shamed my Verity in front of an audience. Again.

  I stalk out of the room, slamming the door shut behind me. I rush through the halls, catching sight of Verity disappearing around a corner. I run after her, not daring to call her name. I skid around the corner, catching myself before I run full throttle into a stone wall. I see her at a window, staring out over the frothy sea.

  “Verity,” I say softly.

  Her eyes slip towards me, rimmed with red. “It would be best if you left, Fae,” a silky, other-worldly voice says.

  I glance towards the voice and see a cat at my feet. It sits like a guard between Verity and me, its tail swishing languidly. My brows twitch together in confusion and I take another step. The cat moves, pacing in front of me.

  “Go, Fae,” it says, eyes flashing.

  “What are you?” I ask dumbly, glancing between the cat and Verity. She watches, an angry red blush to her cheeks.

  “Serus,” it says simply. “Her familiar. She wishes you to go.”

  “Like hell I’m going to go.” I take another step and the cat’s shadow stretches out sinisterly, curling at my feet.

  “Serus.” Verity’s voice cuts through the tension.

  The cat’s shadow shrinks back to normal size and he slinks away, clearly put out. I watch him disappear around the corner, but I have no doubt he’ll be listening. I join her hesitantly. Our breath fogs the window and I suddenly don’t know what to say. Her hand rests on the windowsill and I reach for it. She doesn’t pull away as I wrap my fingers around her.

  “You’re cold,” I murmur.

  She shakes her head. “It doesn’t feel like it.”

  I swallow hard. “Your… familiar. Is it what you wanted?”

  “You know I know very little about this magic,” she says softly. “It’s just what happened.”

  “So, you use your magic now. Is that ho
w you got out of the ether?” I ask. Her fingers stiffen at my question.

  “Would that bother you if I did?” She looks at me stubbornly.

  I meet her gaze, lost in those pale blue pools. “No.” And I mean it.

  “Who is that woman?” Verity asks suddenly, her voice laced with anger.

  I sigh. “Queen Erzur of Stellium. I agreed to marry her in exchange for her sun soldiers. We needed more soldiers.”

  Verity draws her hand away, hiding it behind her back. “I hope you’re happy with her.” She meets my pained gaze. “Truly.”

  She’s gone before I can reply. I drag my hand over my face, groaning. I want to follow her, to explain more. But it wouldn’t matter anyway. What we had is over. My future lies with Erzur, and the sooner I can accept that, the better it will be for all of us. Verity deserves happiness. But she won’t find it with me.

  I turn, dragging myself back to the dining hall. I can’t spend another minute with Erzur. I push through the doors, biting back a sigh when her eyes flit towards me. I can see the carefully concealed anger behind her gaze, but I ignore it. If she can find me later, she can berate me for chasing after Verity.

  “I have business to attend to,” I announce from the door. “I need to organize scouting parties to follow the demons that escaped.”

  “I want to go.”

  Verity’s voice is so soft, I wonder if I imagined it. I turn, eyes wide with surprise as Verity steps out of the shadows. “I want to go,” she says again, more firmly this time.

  “No,” I say without thinking.

  She raises her brows. “No?”

  “It’s too dangerous,” I say. “This is a mission for trained soldiers only.”

  “You aren’t my King,” Verity retorts. Her eyes dart towards Erzur before settling on me again. “You can’t stop me.”

  I scowl. “You won’t be going with my soldiers. I do command them. And if I forbid it, then you’ll be wandering alone.”

  “Then I’ll go alone,” she snaps, eyes flashing. “But I’m going.”