One of the warriors was brave enough to step forward. “Get up,” he said, keeping his distance still.
Fighting down a smirk, I pushed to my feet, my hands still raised. The warrior reached out and grabbed one of my wrists, tugging it behind my back. He snatched my other one and did the same. Using his power, he materialized cuffs made of crackling energy that sent an electrical shock to my wrists every time I moved my hands too far apart.
“Walk!” The warrior snarled, shoving me in the back.
I stumbled forward. Then allowed myself to be led along by a group of surrounding warriors. They took me through the palace and up pearly white stairs to the second floor. We walked down another corridor heading toward the back of the palace, past pictures of the King in different poses. I walked along the thin golden rug that spanned the center of the hallway. Glancing around me, I caught the sneers of the warriors, though there was a flicker of unease that shadowed their eyes as they escorted me.
I knew wherever they took me, Ember was close. I could feel the tug of the mating bond as it thrummed with our close proximity. I was led up a flight of stairs within a stairwellwhen I realized it was the same stairwell my family and I had escaped from upon rescuing Melodina.
Cresting the stairwell, I entered the large room. My gaze fell upon Ember.
Rage ignited within my core.
She was chained to the wall, shackles around her wrists and ankles. Her face was bruised from repeated blows, not giving her body time to kick its regenerative powers in and heal. Her hair was a tussled, tangled mass as if she had been tossed around.
Her gaze lifted, and I saw her eyes widen in horror.
“Drake!” She cried.
Her voice caught the attention of the other fae warriors already present in the room. They parted as a male in opulent golden robes stepped forward. The king of the summer fae.
A wicked grin creased his lips. “Well…,” he said. “What do we have here?”
I shot the king a hard glare, my killing instincts ratcheting up.
“What are you doing here, Drake?” Ember cried.
With great difficulty, I tore my eyes from the king and looked at Ember. “I’m protecting you.”
“What?” She asked, her face twisting with confusion and anxiety.
I turned my focus back to the king. “I am here to exchange my life for Ember’s.”
Shock rippled through those present.
“No…,” Ember breathed. She shook her head. “No! Drake, get out of here. I’m not worth it!”
I held her gaze. I wasn’t going anywhere. The summer king seemed to be enjoying the show, for he stood back with a wicked grin across his face, his gaze flitting from Ember to me.
She gritted her teeth and snarled at me. “You idiot!” She snapped. “Why would you do this? Why would you sacrifice yourself for me? Your people need you. Melodina needs you!”
“My people and Melodina can live without me,” I said simply. “But I can’t live without you.”
Ember’s eyes widened with understanding. She stared at me, her mouth parted. I let all the love I felt for her show through in my eyes. Saw when she finally comprehended—understood that life without her in it wasn’t possible for me. She was the end and beginning of my every breath.
“I love you, Ember.”
A lone tear slipped down Ember’s cheek. Her face twisted with regret—I read in her eyes regret for what our life could’ve been. What we could’ve said and done all those years ago. If only I had done things differently. I also felt my own eyes burn from unshed tears. My throat grew thick with emotions.
A dark chuckle sounded from the king. “Ah,” he said. “True love.” He asked. “They say nothing is stronger, more powerful. Such a shame it won’t save you,” he said, looking at me. He walked toward me, his steps light and unhurried. He stopped before me and cocked his head, his gaze taking on a calculating look. “You would make a better trade than some lowly mutt.”
I bit down hard on my tongue till I tasted the metallic tang of blood. I knew the king was trying to get a rise out of me, but I wouldn’t entertain him—not if it meant putting Ember’s freedom in jeopardy.
The summer king nodded. “Yes, you’ll do.” He turned toward his warriors guarding Ember. “Release her.”
The warriors stepped forward and undid her shackles. She collapsed to the ground, the chains falling around her to lay like snakes on the floor. She stepped out of the coils and bolted for me. The summer king threw up a wall of light, blocking her. Ember slid to a halt. “No, you don’t.” He said.
Two warriors apprehended her, grabbing her wrists. She struggled in their grip as she tried to reach me.
