Page 17 of Taken By the Fae King

My falls open, but I quickly snap it shut as Raiden makes his way toward me.

His face is red and his breath reeks of wine as he backs me into a corner, glaring at me. “If you ever hurt her, I’ll kill you,” he grinds out. “Do you understand?”

His words would be considered an act of war if I did not realize were spoken out of brotherly concern for his sister, and that it was a tradition, so I nod. “I would never harm her, Prince Raiden. I vow this to you.”

“Good.”

I turn back to Varys, but instead find myself face to face with King Aurdyn. His silver-white wings flare out behind him as his green eyes lock onto mine in a stern look. He points a clawed finger at me. “Know that if you ever upset your mate in any way, I will burn you to ash and raze your kingdom to the ground.”

Once again my mouth falls open, but I quickly close it again. Anger flares brightly within. “How dare you threaten to—”

“Aurdyn!” Freyja—his mate, and Grayce’s cousin—snaps at him. “What do you think you’re doing?”

I observe in shock as the fierce Dragon King is chastised by his human mate.

“Why are you threatening Grayce’s husband?” she asks.

“We are mated now, and I am part of your family.” He gestures to Raiden, standing off to the side. “He told me it was tradition for male family members of the bride to threaten the groom at the wedding reception.” He puffs out his chest with pride. “I have successfully fulfilled my familial obligations, my beautiful Freyja. But if it pleases you, I will threaten him again.”

Freyja stops short of rolling her eyes and looks up at me. “You’ll have to excuse him.” She loops her arm through his, and narrows her eyes in Raiden’s direction. “Come on. We’re going to go have a friendly chat with Raiden.”

Before he can say anything else, she leads him away.

I glance back at the dance floor and see Grayce dancing with Edmynd. She is truly stunning to behold.

Prince Lukas walks up beside me. From the look on his face, I’m almost certain a threat similar to the one Raiden and Aurdyn gave me is about to be spoken. Crossing my arms over my chest, I turn to face him. “Have you come to threaten me as well?”

“No,” he replies, surprising me with his answer. “I do not have to.” He lifts his right hand and studies his nails, extending them into sharp black claws. His golden eyes snap to mine. “You already know what will happen if you hurt her.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Varys speaking with Raiden. Raiden claps his shoulder and laughs with him at some shared joke. Not long ago they considered him their enemy as well.

I can profess all I want that I would never hurt Grayce, but I understand that actions are more powerful than words. So, I will do everything in my power not only to prove myself to her, but to her family as well.

The sun islow on the horizon by the time most of our guests have already left the reception. Grayce hugs her family, and I bite back a growl as she embraces Lukas as well before she loops her arm through mine, and we follow one of the temple priestesses back to the room where we will consummate our marriage.

Fierce possessiveness floods my veins. The pull of the bond is strong, calling forth the instinct to claim my mate. Now that we are wed according to the customs of her people, I am eager to seal her to me.

Until we fully seal our bond, I worry that I will be constantly on edge, especially if she is around unbonded males. It is a primitive urge that all Fae males struggle with in the early days of a bonding. And it will not be sated until she is carrying my mark.

CHAPTER10

GRAYCE

We follow the temple priestess down the candlelit hallway, my heart pounding with equal parts anticipation and anxiety. She gestures for Kyven to go into one room and directs me into another two doors down.

This part of the castle is normally reserved for guests, but it seems a few of the rooms have been repurposed to serve as a wedding suite for me and my new husband.

Husband.The word sounds strange, even in my head. I can still hardly believe I am married now.

When I enter the richly appointed chamber, one of the servants helps me to remove my wedding dress. I step behind a dressing screen to discard the rest of my clothes and change into a silken gown of joining.

I gaze at myself in the mirror. The silken, sheer fabric is cool against my skin, and shimmers like moonlight, leaving nothing to the imagination. I can’t help but feel exposed, vulnerable beneath its silver, gossamer folds.

With nimble fingers, my lady’s maid loosens my hair from its braid and carefully combs it out so that it spills down my back and shoulders in soft waves. She moves in silence, her quiet efficiency a stark contrast to the chaos of emotions swirling inside me.

Once she has finished, she leads me to a door off to one side. I step into the bedroom, a sanctum of candlelight and shadows. The four-poster bed stands as the room’s centerpiece, its ivory linens and silk drapes glowing in the dim light. I stand at its edge, fingers brushing against the smooth fabric, my heart threatening to beat out of my chest.

I can’t help but wonder what Kyven is thinking as he prepares for our union. I wonder if he has done this before. I’ve heard the first joining can be painful, and I pray he will be gentle with me, understanding of my inexperience and nervousness.

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