Page 160 of Dark Fate

"Anything!" Alinar says with a gleam in his eye.

"You're going to allow Axilya to reclaim her throne—as the queen of Luminara," Dani insists, her voice carrying a playful yet stern cadence that leaves no doubt she's serious. "You know, her rightful place?" She punctuates the demand with a cocked eyebrow, daring any challenge to her declaration.

Swiveling my head her way, I flash all the surprises a vampire has in his arsenal.

"What?" My voice cuts sharp and quick, demanding an instant rundown. "What's this about?" But she ignores my prodding.

Alinar's face slips and becomes severe, "I had already planned on it, my dear. For she is my true mate," he confesses.

My brain's scrambling to catch up—what the fuck is happening here?

Dani's composure falters momentarily, and a gasp slips through her lips. "W-What? I—I don't understand?" Her voice trembles, the once-steady rhythm now caught on the edges of stupefaction and disbelief. Her wide, honey-gold eyes mirror the shock of her halted words.

I'm just as blindsided here. I'm groping around in the pitch-fucking-black, trying to figure out what the hell has been dropped on us.

Alinar squirms in his throne, looking all antsy and shit. He takes a deep breath and winds up, "By the treacherous hand of that damned harpy, I was rent from Axilya's side, and she has held me captive—usurping the throne that was never rightfully hers. Envy coils in her black heart; she loathed my dear Axilya, coveting what was ours with poison in her soul. The moment she clutched the Soul Stone, her power surged, ungodly and malign—and she compelled me away, along with over half the Fae of this realm, the dearest prize to wound Axilya most grievously. Yet, within this darkened cage, I've played the knave, biding my time and clinging to the slender hope of your arrival to mend the fractured lands."

"You've been that bitch's obedient little pet for centuries, just waiting around and praying Dani would pop up one day?"

I'm floored, and that rarely happens to me. This dude could stomach rolling with such wickedness for so long when his mate was just a stone's throw away.

"How the hell could you do that to yourself—to your damn mate?" I ask incredulously, shaking my head. This whole fucked-up situation doesn't make any goddamn sense.

Dani's been dead silent, just as blown away as me. She's standing there gawking at Alinar, waiting for him to explain his ass.

"I gave nary a piece of my heart to that enchantress—it was all a performance, a mere masquerade to appease her dark hunger. As the moon climbed and her ceremonies of decadence unfurled further into the abyss, my essence remained untouched by her corrupt desires. 'Twas Meadow, a servant of subtle craft, who brewed an elixir to shield me from her bewitchments."

I freeze. My Mouse, doing the unimaginable, explains why she was so strong-willed—it's her and those damn magic potions of hers.

Alinar continues, "She craved naught but to wound my Axilya, spreading falsehoods that I had betrayed our bond. I played the part only to protect myself while captive in this dreadful place, though it shredded my soul for Axilya to think me unfaithful. My love, my heart—is Axilya's alone. This I swear upon my life."

"Alright, time out…" Dani exhales in exasperation, "Does Axilya have the full scoop on this epic tale? Does she know any of this?"

I don't know Axilya, as well as Dani, does, but it's always eaten at me how reserved and melancholy she comes across. And now I think I get the damn reason why.

Alinar's countenance darkens with sorrow as he confesses, "No, Axilya knows not the truth. Since my—our—captivity began, all paths of contact have been severed. I've been unable to reach her to tell her that my heart remains true. All she's filled with is what Amara feeds her and the land—I abandoned Axilya for Amara. When word came that you were journeying to parley, I saw my chance—I would reveal everything to Axilya when you arrived. But you never came. Axilya still believes Amara's web of lies, and it eats at my soul that she may doubt my faithfulness. We must find a way for me to tell her, for her to know I am still hers, in heart, mind, and spirit. I will not rest until she understands it was all Amara's vile ruse, and my love for Axilya never faltered, not for a moment."

Now it clicks. The way Alinar brushed off Amara like garbage in her room that day when she was interrogating me about Dani. How that sadistic bitch got off on keeping me as a 'pet,' knowing damn well my heart was with someone else. She thrives on shattering hearts and souls into pieces. Why? 'Cause that psychopath is jealous; she'll never have that bond for herself. How she would compel anyone for sleazy hookups every night 'cause no one in their right damn mind would willingly sleep with that miserable cunt by choice.

"Leave it to me," Dani chimes in with determination. "I'll have a heart-to-heart with Axilya. Here's to hoping she's got the patience to hear me out and grasp the gravity of the situation. It's high time she reclaimed her throne—the queen bee of this realm is overdue for her comeback."

"Indeed, my dear, you've sized it up perfectly. You have my sincerest thanks for playing matchmaker on my account, and rest assured, I'll be here, playing the patient suitor until she bestows upon us the honor of her company," Alinar declares, his voice a blend of courteous sarcasm and sincere gratitude. "And for the record, I've set up a rendezvous with King Oberon at the Sun Court to hash out these pressing matters."

Danica

74

The bombshell we learned yesterday is still sizzling in my brain, repeating like the rumble of far-off thunder that I've gotten used to. Those words are doing the mambo in my brain, throwing down some soap opera-level severe drama. Alinar and Axilya, an item? Now that's a spicy turn of events that's got me all kinds of dizzy.

I could tell there was more to Ax than her zen vibes and strategist smarts. Every hint of majesty that slipped through her chill facade totally made sense now.

Setting up shop in Whispervale, giving court life the big ol' middle finger—she wasn't just hanging out; she was sitting on an invisible throne. Suddenly, it's like, 'Hello! Here comes the queen!' she’s been hiding in plain sight.

So, what's the deal with Faderyn? Did he have the inside scoop this whole time? It's like this annoying tic I can't shake off.

He had to know, right?

How could he not see it? But then, why play keep-away with that kind of need-to-know intel? Flashbacks of our talks and those sneaky looks he shared with Axilya are all adding up, and I am feeling that sting of double-crossing, big time. Trust is like gold in this high-stakes mystical mess, and I'm starting to feel like I got played.

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