Page 6 of Ruined Kingdom

My heart jumped back up into my throat, making it difficult to swallow and breathe. Not that it mattered, for breathing was made impossible in any case when they went numb and fell flat an instant later.

My skin prickled with anxiety.

If only I could make myself invisible to the eye…

These certainly weren't the Dark Fae minions I was used to. These things were far scarier. They raised their legs in unison, marching toward us in wall formations from every direction, boxing us in.

I looked over to the Golden Deer, only to see that they’d passed by it as if it wasn't even there. I couldn't believe it.

Either they weren't at all interested in the deer, or the deer was somehow in on it as well. It couldn’t possibly be working with the Dark Fae this time, could it?

I felt a firm, cold grasp on my shoulder, yanking me away from Yenisey. I grabbed the long icy fingers and tried to pry them off of me, but the fingers only dug deeper into my skin. I screamed out before removing my hand just so that it would stop hurting me.

The creatures grabbed Yenisey as well and, without a word, held us in place.

I saw the last glance of a fleeting hope as I looked into the eyes of the deer. I now understood that it wasn’t a simple sadness glimmering from those impossibly wise orbs… No, its eyes were trying to apologize.

“If only you knew … how long I’ve waited for this day.” Out of the shadows came the Dark Fae King, escorted by his subjects on either side of him. It was apparent that he wasn’t capable of standing on his own.

He’s weak, I realized. But how can he be here right now?

I could hardly bring myself to focus on anything other than the fact that he was still alive. Kaine had killed him that day we took back the castle, hadn’t he?

A sickening feeling settled into my stomach, turning it into knots as the Fae King approached me.

Every step he took was more menacing than the last.

He crouched down before me, dragging his long black nail against my chin. “In order for this to work, you will have to know my name, but don't think that you'll have any power over me after learning it. I will assuredly wipe it from your mind when I am done with you. All you need to do is repeat after me, Morighast…”

My mind reeled with all the possible ways he could harm me—but still, I pressed my lips together stubbornly, refusing to give in.

He gripped my face harder, giving it a violent shake. My vision blurred, and my brain rattled about inside my skull as he snarled, “Say it!”

“No!” I bit back, refusing to do whatever he wanted.

“Do it, or else I’ll have my guards kill your little friend here.” He waved his other hand toward Yenisey.

I couldn't allow him to harm her. Even if I did survive this, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I did. Betrayal or not.

My brows furrowed, and my face scrunched up as if I were in pain as I forced the name out from between my stiff lips. “Morighast.”

As soon as I spoke his name, I could feel something in my chest stir with hunger. It was as if it had been sleeping all of this time.

He smiled and mouthed the word, “Excellent.”

“What do you want with me? I’m nothing. Nothing but an insignificant human. I’m worthless to you, surely.”

“On the contrary, dear Sophia, you were the second most valuable thing in that castle. I've tried to take the Alpha King, but we all saw how that turned out… You, on the other hand, Sophia—you’re so predictably weak with that innocent little heart of yours. I knew it'd be all too easy to draw you in,” he grated out, sneering self-satisfactorily as he took another step closer. “And here I thought Lilliana would be a waste of perfectly good magic.”

“You mean Yenisey?” I glanced over to her, still unconscious next to me with her arm slung over my shoulder with me supporting the dead weight of her limp body hoisted up against my side.

“You were right to assume she was there for a reason. Unfortunately, the Alpha King was much too wrapped up in you to care anymore, but we still made use of her.” The Fae King grabbed my face with one hand and forced me to face Yenisey as she came to.

Yenisey’s eyes were transfixed on me as tears suddenly filled her eyes.

“She was sent to deceive me?” The words fell out of my mouth, taken up by the oppressive drifting breeze around me.

Kaine had even warned me that she could be dangerous, but I’d wanted to believe that she was good.

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