Page 60 of Foretold

“Is everything okay?” Axe asks, stepping toward me. They are all bare-chested, and my eyes can’t help but do a little wandering.

“What happened?” Pandora asks, touching my shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze.

Sighing, I give them the short version. “Vera let the vampires in and now she’s run off with Vale.”

Bane’s eyes flicker to amber. He straightens his broad shoulders as if bolstering for battle, and he shares a dark look with Kai and Axe. “Anyone want to go hunting?”

They all disappear, and Pandora, Soren, and I are left standing.

And that’s when the vision hits.

Vera is crying, pleading with Rave to spare her. Soren is standing next to him, watching Vera with cold gray eyes.

“I love you, Rave. I am the mother of your son! You can’t harm me… please. I won’t try to take him away again. I won’t betray you ever again.”

Rave hesitates, his sword trembling in his fingers. But he doesn’t lower it. He’s about to attack when Bane zips behind Vera, sword at her neck. He slices in one smooth motion, Vera instantly falling to the ground.

Bane looks at Rave. “Now, when your son asks you who killed his mother, you won’t have to say that it’s you.”

Fuck.

I’ve always been told how ruthless Bane can be, but this is my first time witnessing it.

Bane is going to murder Vera.

In front of Rave.

And I’m going to let it happen.

Maybe I’m more of a monster than Bane is.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Rave

It’s hours and hours later when Soren tracks Vera to the Shifter Kingdom. I don’t know why the fuck she chose to go there. Maybe because she knew I wouldn’t want to start a war with another kingdom, or maybe she has connections there. She’s drained from zipping when I find her sitting in her room at an inn, her head in her hands. Although she is a truth-sayer, Vera isn’t otherwise magically powerful, and she only zips in emergencies—like trying to escape me after I found out she is a traitor. Vale isn’t in the room, and it’s obviously why Soren was able to trace her.

“Where is Vale?” I ask, and she jumps, taking in Soren and me. Our arms are crossed, and our feet are spread apart.

“He got upset,” she replies, leaning back in her chair. “He wanted to go home and tried to run.”

“Where is he, Vera?” I seethe, slamming my hands down on the table. “Where is my son?”

“I’ll tell you once I know that you’re not going to do anything to me,” she replies, lifting her chin. Her red hair is disheveled and purple circles are under her eyes. Her emerald gown is ripped and has something spilled on the front. She’s usually always so put together, but now she’s a fucking mess on the outside, as much as she’s always been on the inside. I just don’t know why she has done this. I’ve given her everything, not for her, but for Vale. And yet she has no loyalty to the crown her son will one day wear.

“You betrayed our kingdom. You got my father killed. Why did you do it?” I ask, my brow furrowing.

Her gaze turns speculative. “You were meant to be mine,Rave. I did everything I could to have you. I got pregnant and gave you a son! And what did you do? You found your fated mate and tried to brush me aside. You didn’t even let me in the castle anymore. Did you think I was just going to take that?”

“So you did purposely get pregnant.”

I’ve always known she did it to trap me, but I want to hear her say it. Although I could never regret Vale, no matter how he came about. It’s time for the truth-sayer to finally speak her own truth.

“Of course I did!” She smirks, her green eyes flickering with satisfaction and spite. Her red, chipped nail taps along her mouth. “I wanted you tied to me. I wanted to be queen. And I would have been if it wasn’t for that fucking common peasant you decided to bond with.”

“Say one more word about my mate, and I will make this ten times worse for you,” I growl the words out in a deceptively calm tone. “Where is my son?”

Bane, Kai, and Axe arrive, stepping into the room and taking in the situation. Kai steps forward unthreateningly and approaches Vera, tilting his head to the side as he studies her. “Vale is with a friend of hers not far from here. He’s safe. She planned on hiding him and raising him to hate you and then come back to kill you and claim the crown one day.”

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