Page 115 of Forever Touched

He paused to face me, his expression solemn. “Are you sure you want to know? Once you do, there’s no undoing it.”

“Yes. I want to know. Ineedto.”

As he continued to stare at me, my heart started to pound. Harder and harder, until I thought it would burst from my chest. He shared a quick look with his brother, but when Everett only nodded, he turnedback to me and revealed the truth.

A truth that changedeverything.

“It was Deloris. Deloris Faircroft killed your father.”

37

ADALYN

Never in my life had I felt this used, thisduped.

Even when rich, privileged males had used my body for their pleasure night after night, I’d never felt this taken advantage of.

She’d lied to me. She’d poisoned my mind against the Venturi in order to control me. To gain my empathy. To mold me into herweapon.

As we entered the castle, I spotted three males: King Ambrose, the older warlock who I now knew was Isla’s father, and Rocky. They’d been talking but had paused to face us as we entered the massive foyer. The fallen guards from last night had been removed, and I waited for guilt to surface again. It didn’t. I was too busy feelingbetrayed.

My first instinct was to march up to Rocky and start grilling him. Out of everyone here, he knew the most about Madame Faircroft’s secret dealings. He must know of a few places where she could be hiding.

I managed to curb the instinct, though, knowing that I wasn’t completely in the clear. Everett tensed beside me, and I knew he was thinking the same thing.

“Father . . .” he began, nudging me a little behind him as he approached the king.Shieldingme. “She didn’t—”

“No,” I interrupted and grabbed his arm to stop him. When he turned slightly to look at me, I whispered, “I need to take responsibility for what happened.I’m not afraid.”

He opened his mouth as if to argue, but when my gaze held steady, he replied through our bond,I know you’re not. You’re strong, capable, and fearless, all traits that will make you a great queen.

I couldn’t help but smile at him. As I stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, he turned his head at the last second and kissed me full on the mouth. The move was definitely intentional, an unspoken albeit loud message directed at his father.

The king cleared his throat, and I broke the kiss. Squeezing Everett’s arm reassuringly, I plucked Pepper off my shoulder and placed her in his hand.

She started to protest, and I quickly said,Please, Pep. I got us into this mess, and it’s my job to make it right.

She twitched her whiskers in agitation before replying,Fine. But be careful.

I gave her a small smile.Always am.

As I turned to approach the king alone, Everett didn’t stop me. I could feel his unease, though. I might not be a fragile little mortal anymore, but I’d still brought a war to the king’s doorstep. I’d infiltrated his home like a slithering snake and poisoned the minds of some of his most loyal subjects. I’d almost murdered the heir to his throne and started a revolution.

I’d been dangerous even as a mortal witch. As an immortal hybrid, I was doubly so, and the king knew it.

His attention was solely on me now, on the female who’d almost destroyed his family. A few yards away, I stopped and deeply curtsied before him, murmuring, “My king.”

And he was. I was half vampire now, which meant that I belonged to his kingdom. This dangerous world was mine now, and I wouldn’t run away from whatever punishment their ruler thought I deserved.

As I straightened, he moved toward me on silent feet. Everettstayed where he was, but I could feel his tension like a tight ball in my chest. It made it hard to focus. To remain calm. Still, I stood tall before the king. When he reached up to grasp my chin, I didn’t so much as flinch.

His deep red irises bored into mine, studying me for several long moments before he smoothly remarked, “You’ve been turned into a hybrid, I see. I smell the magic on you. And my son. You fed on him.”

“Yes, my king,” I replied.

He tilted his head to the side. “You’ve also claimed him. I can scent your mark on him even from here.”

My eyes widened. “Oh. I didn’t realize I had. But, yes, I thoroughly bit him.”

---