Page 33 of Foretold

“One bucket at a fucking time if I have to,” he whispers, fingers sliding along my face, tracing my lips so sweetly and gently that it makes me want to break down in his arms.

“Come on, let’s get you in bed.” He sighs, kissing the top of my head.

We zip to the front of the palace and walk inside hand in hand.

I really want to trust him, but after everything he hid from me, it’s not making me want to tell him my biggest secret.

“You’re back,” Soren says as he runs into us in the long hallway leading to our rooms. He stops in front of us, gray eyes giving me a once-over.

“Did you think I was going to do a runner?” I ask in a dry tone.

“Never know with you, Princess,” he replies, his lip twitching. He then turns to Rave. “We have a council meeting tomorrow morning. The Shifter King’s seer has seen a few things that will help us plan our next move with the vampires.”

The mention of Laurel, the seer, makes my stomach sour. The way I’ve seen her being treated and the hollow look in her eyes still haunts me.

Rave nods. “Astrid was attacked tonight. People are finding out about her succubus side and now want to kidnap her.”

Soren sighs and runs his fingers through his blond hair. “Fucking perfect.”

“We will discuss it all tomorrow,” Rave says, dismissing Soren.

He leads me to our bedroom and strips me bare. Rave fills up the tub and lets me soak in it, washing away the last traces of Bane’s blood. When I’m done, he dries me with a soft towel and tucks me in bed like I’m precious.

I’m almost asleep when I think I hear him whisper, “Please don’t ever leave me.”

But I must be hearing things because Rave would never be so vulnerable.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Astrid

After waking up to an empty bed, I walk down for breakfast, but I come to a stop when I see Rave standing there with Vale and Vera. He throws his head back and laughs at something his son says while Vera looks on in amusement. Her normally pinched expression is relaxed, and I can’t lie, seeing them together as a family hurts. My stomach twists painfully, and I absently rub the mating bands at my wrist, twisting my fingers around them.

I’m the intruder here.

How am I meant to find my place here?

Not wanting to interrupt them, I turn back and decide to skip breakfast, instead heading outside to get some fresh air.

“You okay?” Soren asks, his brow furrowing as he takes in my solemn expression. His blond hair is disheveled like he, too, has just gotten out of bed and hadn’t bothered to tame it.

“I’m fine.” I sigh, wringing my hands.

“Come here. You look like you need a hug,” he murmurs, pulling me into his arms. “I know none of us are your favorite people right now, and we all deserve that. But Rave is my best friend, and he told us he would tell you when he’s ready. It’s fucked up, I know. And I want you to know that I’m sorry.”

“I know it’s Rave’s fault and no one else’s,” I admit, sighing. “But I feel betrayed and almost like I don’t belong here anymore. I don’t know. It’s changed everything.”

This isn’t something I can just forgive because it’s a big fucking shift in my mindset and how I feel about my place here.

He kisses the top of my head. “He knew he was fucking up by lying to you, but I didn’t think he knew how bad it would be. He loves you, Princess. I never thought I’d see the day he lovedsomeone like this. I think you have to realize he never knew if he would meet his fated mate. None of us do. So, he planned his life without factoring that in. He’s raised Vale like he’s going to be the next heir. He never planned for you, but that doesn’t mean he’s not grateful he found you. You brought him to life. I’ve never seen him so happy, so at ease…” he pauses and adds, “… and now miserable, but he did that to himself.”

My lip twitches. “He really did.”

“You should have seen him while you left yesterday. He was basically looking for a fight, so I took him to the border to kill some vampires,” he adds, looking over my head. “Speaking of the devil.”

I feel his magic before I see him.

“You both need to talk to each other and lay it all on the table,” he says quietly, letting go of me and stepping back.

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