Page 82 of Taken By the Fae King

“I will not let him touch you,” I vow. “I will keep you safe.”

“How?” she asks. “We do not even know who he is.”

“You scarred his face,” I tell her. “We will find him, Grayce.”

We remain entwined in the moonlit silence, as I send a wave of love and comfort across our bond. I smooth a hand across her back and shoulders, listening as her heartbeat begins to slow and her breaths even out.

“I love you, Grayce, and we will face whatever darkness awaits us together,” I whisper. “My vow.”

CHAPTER42

KYVEN

The echoes of Grayce’s remembered fear pulse across our bond as we sit across the table from her brother and Lukas. I reach for her hand under the table and squeeze it gently.

She offers me a faint smile, and I press a tender kiss to her temple.

When I turn back to our company, I notice Lukas’s eyes practically boring into me. “What?” I snap. “Is it wrong to kiss one’s mate?”

“No,” he replies. “I’m still getting used to the idea that you’re not the villain I thought you were.” He leans forward in his seat, arching a teasing brow. “And I’m thinking we might end up being friends. Which is strange, because I never thought that would happen.”

Grayce laughs.

I’d heard Wolf-Shifters were rather blunt, but I also find his honesty refreshing. Unlike my kind, his people do not hide behind words.

“Neither did I,” I admit.

“Who knows.” He flashes a wolfish grin. “You might even grow to like me so much you’ll name me godfather to your first child.”

I narrow my eyes, but I cannot help the faint smile that tugs at my mouth at his teasing. “We shall see.”

As we continue our breakfast, I notice my sister smiling and laughing with Raiden. It is difficult to suppress a snarl as he smiles at her in return. I know he is an honorable male, but Emryll is my sister, and it is hard to not be protective of her. She is the last of my family, and I want her only to be happy. I also cannot bear the thought of her moving away. If she were to bond to Raiden, I doubt he would wish to remain here among our people.

When we’re finished with our food, Grayce turns to Lukas and Raiden. “I had a dream last night.”

They both still.

“What was it about?” Raiden asks. “Was it a vision?”

“I believe it was both a vision and a memory.”

“What do you mean?” Lukas asks.

“I dreamed of my mother’s death. And in my nightmare, I noticed something I had not before.” Her gaze darts to mine and I nod before she continues. “He had wings.” Raiden’s shock is evident on his face as she continues. “Father was right. He was Fae.”

A low growl rises in Lukas’s throat as he turns a dark glare to me. “Do you know anything about this?”

“Of course not,” I vehemently deny.

“What about your father?” Raiden presses. “Would he have ordered it?”

“Do notdaredisparage my father’s name,” I grind out. “He was an honorable male, and he would never have ordered the death of Florin’s queen.”

“Then who would have done this?” Lukas asks. “And why?”

“I do not know, but I will not stop searching until I discover who was behind the assassination and the attempt on Grayce’s life.” I curl my hands into fists at my side as the memory of him standing over my mate in her nightmare resurfaces. “And I will end him.”

“He has been hidden all this time,” Raiden says. “How do you intend to find him?”

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