Taunting Destiny(146)

I fell back against the soft mattress with a startled squeak, but his body pressed and held mine down, stifling any other complaints from my lips. He didn’t kiss me. Instead, his lips curled in to a wicked smile as his fingers played with a soft tendril of hair that had fallen over my face.

“They plan to give me to the Horde King tomorrow in some kind of ceremony in front of the entire kingdom,” I said softly, and quickly wetted my lips.

“I bet they do. It’s a show to ensure the Horde does not retaliate while under truce. Do you know anything else they have planned?” he continued.

“No, they plan to go through with giving me over, and that’s the end of it. Ryder, if he is like they say he is, I need you to tell me everything you know about the Horde King; weaknesses, shortcomings, anything that can help me—because I think the only way to get myself out of this mess is to kill the Horde King,” I said, knowing if I could tell anyone my plan, it was Ryder.

His eyes grew large and round. “You’re going to kill the Horde King? That’s a joke, right?” he asked as his eyes once again narrowed as he took in my face, which was all the proof he needed to tell him I wasn’t joking.

“No, it’s the only way to void the contract my parents made with him. We’ve thought him missing this entire time and he’s been here the whole time. My parents told me he makes regular demands from them, so he’s got to be around. If I take him out I’ll be free, Ryder. I’ll be free to go with who I want to, and I can help you find the real Light Heir and get the relics.”

“You’re talking about killing the Horde King; the fucking Horde King. Have you even thought about how disastrous that would be, not to just to your health, but to the entire caste of the Blood Fae? Or did your newly found family talk you into it?” He was mad, and it showed and resonated like a tuning fork from his entire body pressed against mine.

“It’s the only way I can get away from him. I’m going to the Horde King! I’m supposed to be some timid female. He’ll never expect it, so it’s perfect.”

Ryder glared down at me, “You think you’re the first fucking person to try killing him? He can’t be killed; your parents are sending you on a fucking suicide mission.”

“My father didn’t ask me to do it, and I won’t let him hurt me. There’s a way—there has to be a way to kill him,” I argued.

He was right, it was a suicide mission, and while it sounded impossible, there had to be a way to do it. If not, how had the last Horde King managed it?

“I’m coming to get you, so get any thoughts of killing the Horde King right out of that mind of yours.” He lowered his mouth and kissed my forehead gently before his hand slipped between us, and ran over the flesh of my abdomen. “Promise you will let me save you and then we can figure out what to do about the contract.”

“I can’t promise you that,” I whispered and searched his eyes.

“Dammit woman,” he growled before claiming my lips in a bone melting kiss. “I’m coming to get you. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“Ryder, I need you,” I moaned hungrily, but noticed he was moving away from me to stand up.

“Be a good girl for me and I’ll save you from the big, bad Horde King. I’m coming to get you, Pet, so remember you just admitted that you need me. Watch for me tomorrow, and don’t let these people talk you into doing anything stupid…like killing the Horde King who can’t be killed by just fucking anybody.”

“You gonna scale the walls and be my Prince Charming?” I asked, raising a delicate brow in question.

“No Pet, I’ll be your Prince Fucking Charming,” he smiled wickedly and disappeared.

I allowed a single sob to escape my chest, but it wasn’t until someone else started to form that I really sobbed. She was beautiful with long blonde curls, and blue-green eyes. An un-controllable sob racked my body as she looked around surprised until her eyes landed on me.

“Synthia,” she whispered and ran toward me as I stood and opened my arms.

I was still dreaming, I knew because she was dead. I’d killed her myself by deflecting the bullet she had aimed at me on that horrible day. There. I was sure I was dreaming, because, here, she had no blood from the gunshot, and no evidence of the horror that she’d endured at the hands of the Fae.

“Momma,” I whispered, afraid she’d disappear on me.

“Oh, Baby, you’re so grown up now,” she whispered and moved to close the distance between us.

“Momma,” I whispered and threw myself in to her arms. God, she felt so real. “I’m so sorry!” I sobbed, finally letting it all out.