Page 61 of The Ruthless Fae King
He showed me his arm and the tiny red dot where they must have taken the blood. “I’m fine but… I confess I don’t know what this will do to your magic or your body. I’m sorry, I had to make a choice and—”
I put a finger to his lips to stop his frightened rambling. “I would give up all of my magic if it meant I could live a long life with you.”
A stomach-dropping grin graced his face and he gazed at me with adoration. “Marry me. Right now.”
I chuckled at that. The morning light was just filtering into the room and I reached up to touch his face. “I would love to marry you. Is my family on their way? Piper’s note said she was getting them out.”
His face changed then, a mask of anger for a split second, but long enough for me to notice. I realized my mistake then.
I’d saidfamily,which included my father. A man who’d betrayed him.
Although I knew in my heart Lucien could not allow such a betrayal to go unchecked for fear of looking weak, I also loved my father. I hated him for what he did, but loved him for who he was my entire life.
“I meant my mother and sister. As far as my father is concerned, strip him of his title if you must, but please don’t kill him,” I begged, reaching for his hand.
“I have every right to take his life,” he growled.
He did. But I knew he wouldn’t. He was hot tempered, but when he stopped to think it through he wouldn’t cause me one ounce of pain. I knew it.
“My mother can lead Fall Court, and she will side with Winter. He did everything behind her back,” I told him. “She and my sister were innocent.”
His steel gray eyes looked deeply into mine. “Maker help me, I can deny you nothing.”
I smiled, relieved my father would keep his life. After his betrayal, my father would not be welcome here, and although it saddened me I wasn’t ready to see him either. I needed time and space before that wound healed.
“Come, let’s get breakfast and prepare to wed the second your mother and sister get here,” Lucien said. “The Nightfall queen has retreated for now.”
That was welcome news. The ladies’ maid helped me bathe and dress, and I met Lucien in the large dining room.
The second I walked in I was reminded of his father and our altercation here.
“Oh, Lucien, I forgot to ask about your father. Did the elvin healers come for him?”
Lucien looked down at his plate and a sadness fell over his face. “They did. But at the last minute my father chose the other option you gave him. He’s currently enjoying endless mead and wine in a cabin in the mountains.”
My heart plunged into my stomach at his declaration. After all that, he chose to stay sick. I walked over and ran my fingers through Lucien’s thick dark hair. “I’m sorry,” I told him.
He looked up at me with an unwavering strength. “Don’t be. It’s the first time I’ve felt at peace in my own home since my mom was here. I was always afraid to ask him to leave for fear of the fight it would cause between us and what my power would do.”
My chest tightened at his declaration and I allowed him to pull me into his arms. It was bittersweet. Nice that his dad wasn’t here to hurt him and bully him any longer, yet sad that he wasn’t willing to get help.
“Maybe when we have children he’ll change his mind and want to—” My words were cut off when the door to the dining hall burst open and slammed against the brick wall.
My mother stood there with Piper. Both looked stricken with pale faces and snow-blown hair. My mother’s cheek was bleeding from a small cut and Piper was covered in dirt and leaves.
I scanned the space behind them, a stone sinking in my gut. “Where is Libby?”
My mother swayed on her feet. “The Nightfall queen’s men tried to take her. But I fought. She’s okay.”
I leapt forward just in time to catch her as she fainted.
Lucien burst from the table and came around to help me lower my mother to the ground as Piper kneeled before us, cradling her arm to her chest. She was injured.
“Talk to me, Piper!” I barked. She seemed to be in shock.
“Your dad and mom fought them but… they had fae powers. Wind, snow, fire, uprooting trees.” She paused and I steeled myself.
“Where is she, Piper?” I rested my mother’s head lightly on the ground and stood, ready to ride to their location and get my sister back.
