Page 26 of Ruined Kingdom

In truth, she had every right to be angry—or hate me even. After all, I’d been the reason Theodosia had died. I sent her up to that roof and asked her to put herself in harm's way. Even though I knew that the Light Fae were not equipped to fight, I still sent her anyway.

I couldn’t imagine the pain that she must have been going through—being charged with my care and well-being right after I had caused something so terrible to happen to her.

I wanted to talk to her about it, but was it to make her or myself feel better? I was so distracted with my thoughts that I barely heard Kaine telling me to meet him in the garden when I had finished changing into something appropriate for a meeting with the Light Fae Queen.

When I reached my room, my eyes were instantly drawn to a pale yellow dress surrounded with ruffles of taffeta and silk ribbons on my bed. One of the maids had just laid it out for me.

The dress was unlike anything I’d been made to wear before. I supposed a summons to the Light Fae Kingdom—Solanas, Andromeda had called it—required a higher degree of finery.

The maids had me dressed and did my hair in record time before they ushered me out of the room. I quickly made my way to the garden where Kaine had said he’d be waiting for me.

As I stepped onto the grass and into the sunlight outside, I couldn’t help but look down at my dress, watching the airiness of the material flow with every step I took. I may not have known how I looked otherwise, for the maids had rushed me from the room before I had the chance to look in the mirror, but I felt ethereal.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought so.

Tieni was waiting for me at the entrance to the garden. Her face softened into a gentle smile as she looked me up and down. “Good Goddess, you look absolutely beautiful, my dear. You put Helene herself to shame.”

I ducked my head, feeling my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “You dote on me too much.”

“On the contrary, I don’t do it nearly enough.” She wrapped her arm around me, pulling me into her side and giving me a light squeeze.

She led me the rest of the way into the garden, where Kaine and Andromeda were waiting just before a tall arch of pale roses.

Kaine was dressed in a lovely deep blue velvet coat and black leather boots. His white puffy shirt was constricted by the silk vest that hugged tightly to his beautiful form, and his black pants—well, a lady shouldn’t speak of such things.

I was more than happy to occupy my mind with the view of the powerful Alpha King, but the arch of pale pink roses distracted me.

Anxiety crept up into my throat without warning, choking off all air and my ability to speak.

My lips parted and trembled slightly as I drew in what little air I could.

My chest felt as if it was being crushed under the weight of a mountain.

Those pale pink roses—only recently in full bloom—were now beginning to wilt. They served as a horrific reminder that our time was running out.

Suddenly, the heated moment with Kaine in the hallway felt frivolous. We couldn’t afford to waste time. I was supposed to be focusing on saving him from whatever curse the Fae King had him under!

The Fae King…

I felt my skin crawl at the thought of him.

The way he watched me … the way his sharp black teeth glistened when he smiled … the way he breathed my life force into his body…

He was so powerful. And I was helpless against him.

That was the worst feeling of all. Aside from the fear and anger, nothing was quite as terrible as being completely helpless to such a terrifying creature.

Then, an idea came to mind. It was something I hadn't thought of before now.

If knowing the names of the Light Fae put them at risk because it gave me some kind of jurisdiction over them, then what if I discovered the name of the Dark Fae King…

Was it possible? Could he be taken down by something so simple as his true name?

“Sophia? Are you all right?” Kaine drew my attention away from my thoughts by leaning over and taking my arm in his.

“Yes, all good,” I said too quickly before I could wipe the frightened look off my face. “Just nervous, I guess.”

“Clearly.” His face twisted with displeasure, his eyes searching mine as if he wanted to press me for answers, but Andromeda was breathing down our necks.

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