by Bianca Cole
All of them attacked us, all of them except for vampires. We ended up often having a slightly uneasy alliance with them. Aiden insists this might help us find my family or begin to find answers as to where they are.
Flynn is a powerful fae king. If anyone can help locate them, it’s him. I take in a deep breath, knowing it’s about time. Aiden and I didn’t go in together to ensure we don’t arouse suspicion. No one knows publicly about our mating bond. I’m not sure we can ever really be together.
My family would be shocked if they learned the truth. The way I’ve been acting with Aiden, shacked up in a motel with him. I shake my head and wrap my fist against the solid oak door of the council chambers the guards led me to.
A knock at the door sounds, and he stops speaking.
“Come in,” a voice calls.
I twist the doorknob and step inside, trying to fill every step with confidence. All eyes are on me, but the only eyes I can feel burning into me are Aiden’s.
“I feel you are missing someone out, your majesty.” I bow my head, showing respect to the king of the fae. “I don’t see representation here for witches.” My eyes meet Aiden’s, and I can’t help the heat that pulses through me. Anytime we’re near, it’s like a magnet is pulling all my attention to him.
Flynn nods his head, a small, knowing smile on his lips. “Of course, miss?” His eyes flick between Aiden and me.
“Ilsa,” I say.
He smiles. “Ilsa, take a seat.”
I swallow hard as I realize the only free seat is by Aiden’s side. Somehow, I’ve got to make it seem like we’ve never met, even though we’ve been inseparable since the night we met.
Flynn claps his hands. “We have all species here that I am aware of. Rhys will speak for the shifters of North America and across the globe, as will Aiden.” He glances at a muscular, tattooed man with pale skin. “Vlad is the king of the vampires, and such our alliance is with you, be it an uneasy one.”
My stomach churns as he grins, bearing his fangs. “I’m not sure what you are worried about, faerie, scared I might get a taste for faerie blood?”
Flynn shakes his head and moves on. “Now, I invite Ilsa to speak for the witches in our council. To align our people and allow integration between all our kinds.”
She bows her head, smiling.
“Lastly, Lucy and Anastasia will represent humans. They have as much a right as any human in my eyes.”
I notice Vlad shifts uncomfortably in his chair—eyes darken with what looks like irritation. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he can think of a human better suited to the role. However, he doesn’t speak out.
The vampire’s eyes are dark and soulless—almost black. Aiden’s knee brushes against mine in an attempt to stop me from staring, all it does is drive me wild. I set my hand on his knee and squeeze gently, making him groan softly.
“Does anyone have any questions about the alliance we are forming here today?” Flynn asks, glancing directly at Rhys. If I were to wager anything, those two must have the most friction. Wolves and faeries have fought for millennia.
“No, mate,” Vlad says in a British accent. “Just get on with this bullshit. I’m fucking starving, and you’ve got two juicy humans on offer right here.” He licks his lips as he moves his attention between Lucy and Anastasia. Typical vampires. They have no control over their urges or their appetites.
Rhys growls at the vampire. It’s a risk. Uniting creatures like this in one room isn’t easy. I admire Flynn for what he is doing, but all I can think of is finding out the truth. The truth about what happened to my family.
Vlad holds up his hand. “Don’t bite my fucking head off. What do you expect when you trap a hungry vampire in a room with two humans for too long?”
“Enough,” Flynn calls, clapping his hands. “Fine, you can be the first to sign your contract and swear your loyalty to this council.” Flynn passes him a piece of paper and an old-fashioned quill.
He takes it, reading through the contract before him. “Fine, where’s the ink?”
Flynn smirks and hands him a knife. “You must write it in your blood.”
He shakes his head. “Slight problem, I’m undead. How the fuck do you expect me to bleed for this?”
I stand, knowing that I can use magic to get around that issue. “I can help with that,” I say, waving my hands toward him. Red magic shoots from my fingertips into the vampire. “Cut your wrist now as it will only last so long.”
Vlad cuts his wrist without a moment’s hesitation. The blood pours into the ink well, and his gaze meets mine for the first time. There’s a spark of admiration there. “Nice trick, Ilsa.” He dips the quill into the blood and signs his name, pushing it away. “I’m out of here.” He slams down the quill, standing. “See you all at the next bullshit meeting.” He disappears in a heartbeat, moving at vampire speed. There’s one thing I’ll give vampires. They are fucking fast.
Flynn is next to sign his name before he passes it to Aiden. He doesn’t read the document, but he doesn’t need to. I have already read it from afar, using my magic to listen in on Vladimir’s thoughts. It’s ironclad. Not to mention, I trust Flynn. I may not know him, but I believe we can trust him by reputation.
He essentially has witches for children. They are half-fae, but half-human. Aiden squeezes my knee under the table and gives me a quick wink as he passes the document into my hand. I glance down at it and then take the knife, cutting enough to spill blood into the magically cleaned ink well.
Fae are powerfully skilled at magic in different ways to witches. I sign my name in blood before sliding it along to Rhys. The wolf shifter and his mate are the last to sign.
Anastasia’s belly is big and round with their fourth child. I can’t deny that the world we live in is changing drastically.
Would it be so insane for a dragon and a witch to be together?
I know the answer is yes, even as we sit at a council meeting designed to change everything. Witches and dragons have never mixed, whereas there have always been romances between shifters and humans.
Aiden laughs, breaking me out of the daze I’d fallen into. “I’m not sure how you get away with being so scared of blood, considering your mate is a wolf shifter.” He’s talking to Anastasia, as Rhys cuts her hand and squeezes the blood into the vial.
“There, ready to sign.” He passes the quill into her hand.
I watch her as she signs, before setting down the contract and putting her hands on the bump at her stomach—a boy. I’m one-hundred percent certain. A fact I’m sure Rhys would be delighted to learn.
“Thank you, Anastasia. It looks like the contract is complete.” Flynn clears his throat. “I look forward to working with all of you to make this world a better place.” He claps his hands. “Council meeting adjourned.”
My eyes remain fixed on the happy couple, as Rhys helps her to her feet.
“Anastasia,” I say the girl’s name before I can reconsider. “Would you like to know the sex of your baby?”
She glances at Rhys, who shrugs. “Sure, why not,” she says, flicking her long strands of red hair over her shoulders.
I smile, glancing right at Rhys. “Congratulations, your prince is almost here.”
He smiles. “Seriously?”
I nod in response.
Rhys grabs her and kisses her softly. It makes my heart ache to see them together like that. Will there be a time when Aiden and I can be so open together?
“At last, a boy to tip the scales,” he says.
I turn my attention away from them and set my sights on Aiden. Flynn is talking with him in hushed tones, glancing over at me.
I leave the happy couple and approach.
Flynn smiles and nods at me, stopping their conversation instantly. “I’m glad Aiden took the hint and invited you today.” His eyes flash with playfulness. “I also believe I may be able to help with locating your family. Although you will have to leave it with me.”
He glances ov
er at Rhys and Anastasia. “If you excuse me, I’ve got something I must do. We’ll talk tonight over dinner.” He gives me a nod before rushing away.
My brow furrows as I glance at Aiden. “Dinner?”
He nods. “Yes, he thinks he can help you find your family, Ilsa.” His hands move to my hips almost on instinct, and he draws me close.
“How does he know about us?” I ask, tilting my head slightly. “I thought we agreed not to tell anyone.”
He shrugs. “I didn’t tell him. The guy is psychic or something.”
That doesn’t sound right. Fae are powerful but not psychic. I have heard that they have a fantastic sense of awareness and smell. My cheeks heat as I wonder if he could smell me on Aiden that day in the forest. It wouldn’t surprise me.
I had kept a reasonable distance after detecting him, unaware it was the fae king. Most fae have accepted the radical change he has set out to enforce, but countless still oppose him. Fae can be cruel and brutal if they don’t like you, and many of them don’t like witches.
“I feel a bit uneasy about it.”
Aiden shakes his head. “Flynn can be trusted. Look what he’s doing to unite all of us.” He wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close.
I breathe in his scent, letting it encase me. I’ve never felt more protected than I do wrapped in his arms. I just hope that Flynn can help us find my family and give Aiden a way to take back his castle from the people that killed his sister and father.
13
Aiden
I squeeze Ilsa’s hand as we stand in front of the grand, looming oak doors to Flynn’s castle. She’s uncertain about this, but I’m not. Flynn isn’t the kind of person who would double-cross us. It doesn’t help him in any way.
I understand her concern, though. Witches and Fae have never mixed in the past. The fae have a lot of natural enemies in this world, so it’s ironic their king wants to bring everyone together.
I wrap on the door and keep my hand firmly laced with Ilsa’s. She tries to pull away as the door swings open, but I keep hold of her. I’m fed up with her trying to hide what this is. She’s my mate—my world. I want everyone to know that.
A tall, skinny fae male opens the door. “Come in.”
Ilsa glances at me nervously as I pull her through the door into the grand castle. It’s similar in size to mine but light and airy in comparison. I’d expect nothing less from a faerie.
“Follow me,” the servant who let us in says.
I squeeze Ilsa’s hand, trying to instill confidence in her. She is uneasy around all beings, but particularly fae for some reason. I saw how she spoke to Rhys without much trouble, but witches and wolves have never really clashed.
We walk down a long corridor lined with paintings until the man comes to a stop outside of a room. He raps the door three times.
“Come in,” Flynn calls from the other side.
The man opens the door and steps inside, with us just behind him. “Your guests have arrived, sir.”
He nods his head. “Thank you.”
Lucy, Flynn’s wife, is sitting by his side. I’m thankful that she is here, as she may help ease Ilsa’s anxiety. It’s setting me on edge too.
Flynn stands and walks over to me, patting me on the shoulder. “So glad you could make it.” He smiles at Ilsa. “I’m looking forward to getting to know my two newest council members better.”
Ilsa doesn’t say anything only stares at him warily.
“We are looking forward to that too,” I say, squeezing Ilsa’s hand.
He smiles. “Come on, let’s eat. I hope you don’t mind vegetarian food.” Flynn gives me a sheepish look. “I know it’s not exactly a dragon’s natural food, but meat isn’t prepared in this household.”
I bow my head, but my stomach disagrees with him. “Of course, we’re happy to eat whatever you do.”
“Ilsa, why don’t you sit by Lucy’s side?” Flynn suggests.
She looks at me uncertainly, before nodding her head. “Of course.”
Flynn smiles. “Ilsa, you have nothing to fear from us.” He tilts his head to the side. “I know the witches and the fae haven’t got on in the past, but everything is changing now. I promise.”
Some of the tension visibly eases from her shoulders as she smiles and takes a seat by Lucy.
“Help yourself,” Flynn says, signaling toward the food laid out on the table.
I grab a spoon and pile a load of salad onto my plate, trying to be polite. Dragons mainly eat meat, but I can stomach it for now.
“I’m sorry it’s not your normal meal, Aiden.” He shrugs. “The fae aren’t meat-eaters.”
I nod. “Not to worry. I’m well aware of the fae’s diet.” I break off some bread and set it on the plate.
Ilsa hasn’t yet touched anything as Lucy speaks to her. Flynn clears his throat. “You have questions for me about two subject, don’t you?”
I raise a brow, surprised he’s so quick to jump into that. “Yes, I want to know if the people who killed my sister are still at the castle.”
Flynn’s expression turns serious. “Yes, they are, but I will happily help you reclaim it with my men.”
My brow furrows. “What’s the catch?”
“There is no catch. You’re not exactly going to be much use on the council if you have been dethroned, are you?”
He has a point, although they can’t dethrone me like that. “Is someone suggesting they are the new monarch?”
Flynn nods, and there’s hesitation on his face. “Yes. I thought you might have heard by now.”
I shake my head. “Who is it?”
“Charles Anderson.”
Numbness spreads through every inch of my body the moment he says that name. Charles has been my best friend since we were children.
Would he betray me like this?
“Are you sure?” I ask, my voice is hoarse.
He nods. “Certain. He has claimed responsibility for both your father’s and sister’s death.” He swallows hard. “He has a bounty on your head too.”
I clench my fists by my side. A mix of hurt, rage, and pure shock mingles inside of me as I try to process this information. Charles has betrayed me. He was the only other person, besides Ilsa, who I gave a damn about in this world. Charles is the reason I’ve got no family. He’s the reason that the only family I have left is Ilsa.
Flynn pats my shoulder softly. “I’m sorry, Aiden. I know you two were close.”
I nod and grab my glass of wine, downing it in one. “Don’t worry. I will bring Charles down.”
He smirks. “Dragons are strong, but they’re not the best fighters. My men will help you.” His attention moves to Ilsa. “As for your mate’s family, I know where they are, but it might not be easy to get them out.”
I narrow my eyes. “Are you saying they are alive?”
He lifts his glass of wine to his lips and takes a sip. “For now, yes, but not for long.”
Panic races through me, and a question I dread rests on the tip of my tongue. Before I can ask it, Flynn speaks, “Yes, your father was involved. He was more brutal than you could ever know.”
“In what sense?” I ask.
He rubs a hand across the back of his neck. “I’m not sure I’m the right person to reveal this information to you.”
“Who is then?” I shrug. “There’s no one left to tell me. All of my family are dead.”
“Good point.” He sighs heavily. “Your father has run a prison camp for a long while. They are hidden in the mountains and protected by ancient enchantments. I know, because my father set them for him when I was young. They are supernatural concentration camps. Your father has been the one diminishing witches and warlocks population for years.” He pauses for a moment. “There may be quite a few surprises there, but that’s all I’m going to say about the matter.”
It feels like my world starts to spin.
Is it possible that my father could be that cruel?
As I think about t
hat question, I realize the answer is a resounding yes. My father was cruel to Elaine. He threatened to tear her and her mate part if he ever saw them again. It means he is capable of much worse when it comes to people outside of our family.
I swallow a lump of bread I’d been chewing. “Are you saying that even now he’s gone, the camps continue to operate?”
He nods. “The camps continue to run until there is no one left alive. I’m sure the shifters that work there will wonder why there hasn’t been any new offerings, but they are shut off entirely from the outside world by the enchantment.”
“You are certain Ilsa’s parents, and brother are there?”
Flynn nods. “Of course, it’s the place your father takes all witches and warlocks lured to a meeting.” He stares sadly at the glass of wine in his hand. “I tried everything I could to get your father to see reason, but all the while, he would laugh at my attempts to integrate all species on this planet.” He meets my gaze. “He often called me weak, but I didn’t take it to heart.” He pauses a moment. “No offense meant, but he was the weak one.”
I shake my head. “None taken. I can’t believe I’ve been so blind all this time.” I narrow my eyes. “Why did Charles kill my father? Was it for power, or another reason?”
Flynn stares at me with uncertainty flaring in his bright blue eyes. He opens his mouth to answer, but Lucy clears her throat. “What are you two talking about?” she asks.
“We are talking about the coup at Aiden’s castle, princess. Why?”
She shakes her head. “I thought this meal was to get to know each other better. I, for one, want to hear all about how Aiden and Ilsa met.” She shrugs. “You both were very discreet at the meeting for fated mates.”
Ilsa turns bright red at that.
“Do you want to tell them the story, love?”