Page 26 of Foretold

“It’s beautiful,” I murmur, admiring the black diamond. I turn around and move my long braid so it’s sitting over my shoulder. His lips almost touch my ear as he puts it around my neck, his fingers brushing my nape and sending tingles down my spine. “Thank you.”

He circles to face me. “Anything for my princess. I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”

“Thank you,” I say quietly, running my fingers over the pendant. “And Rave?”

“Yes?” he replies, and I hate the hope that flashes in his gaze like he thinks I might be changing my mind about leaving.

“Don’t leave the city in darkness again, please.”

I can’t have that on my conscience.

“I’ll try not to lose control this time,” he promises before leaning forward and kissing my forehead.

I step away from him, smiling at the guard who opens the gatefor me.

“My princess…” He bows, then glances up at me. “The king will be so happy you have returned.”

I step into the Incubus castle, leaving behind my mate. I feel his eyes on my back as I walk up to the palace, yelping in surprise when Axe zips right in front of me, lifting me in the air. “You’re back.”

“I am.” I laugh as he puts me down and looks over my shoulder at Rave.

“Take her again without her permission, and it’s war,” he calls out, scowling. “We were just getting ready to zip there to retrieve her.”

“My princess and I have come to an agreement,” Rave calls back, shadows swirling in his palms at the threat. “If anything happens to her while in your care, you will all die. I will set this kingdom in darkness for the rest of its existence. Do you understand?” Axe nods once, and then Rave brings his icy-blue stare back to me. “I will see you later, baby.”

He disappears, and I look up at Axe, who has a raised eyebrow and green eyes full of questions. “Come on, let’s go tell everyone you’re here. We’ve been getting the army ready to march to the Fae Kingdom. Bane has been extra determined to get you back. You must have really made an impression on him, little sister. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Bane care about anything. Not that I’d mention that to the Prince of Shadows.”

Okay, I can’t handle that bit of information right now.

Bane is the last person here who should want to fight for me because I’m not related to him. I’m literally not his problem at all. Even though I didn’t need saving, it’s sweet that he would have come for me if I needed him to. And August? Where is he?

“I don’t want a war started over my messed-up love life,” I respond in a dry tone, letting him lead me through the palace, where we run into Kai and Zython.

“Astrid?” My father says, pulling me against his chest. “He let you come back?”

“I made a deal,” I explain, shrugging. “You guys are my family, and I won’t let him keep me from you all. There is no need for war over this.”

He lets me go, only for Kai to hug me next. “I’m glad you’re okay. We were worried. Rave has a reputation for being a hard-ass.”

“Rave would never hurt me.”

I’m the one person safe from him.

Well, Vale and me, of course.

And Vera.

How could I forget her?

We’re allone big happy family.

I don’t mention to them how he locked me in my old room. They don’t need to know that. If Vale didn’t break me out, I wonder how long Rave would have kept me locked up in there.

Zython leads me outside, where Bane and August stand together, a group of four tall, muscled warriors with them. The first thing I notice is that Bane is shirtless. And I’d be blind not to notice. Like Rave, he has an extremely muscled body, likely forged by years of training. His tattoos and runes cover his chest and disappear into his trousers.Just how low do they go?The tattoos look a little raised, as if they might be covering some scars.What’s the story behind those?The second thing I notice is that he has cut off his hair—his once shoulder-length locks are now gone. The longer on top and short on the sides style suits him.

Zython clears his throat, clearly catching me out, and I turn to him with a shrug.

“I’m mated, not blind,” I mutter.

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