Page 79 of Foretold

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“Zython was seen meeting with Declan again,” Bane announces, glancing around the table. We’re having a council meeting about the whole situation. Axe and Kai visited me and promised they had no idea about Zython’s plans. Even so, I know they are now put in the middle between their father and me, whom they haven’t known for long. My heart hurts to be given a family only for them to be taken away, but I need to let them all go for now. Bane, however, has chosen a side and gone against Zython. “They are going to announce that Axe will be marrying Declan’s daughter.”

Milana.

As soon as the meeting is over, I pull August aside and ask him to walk with me to the stables to see Willow and Bear, making sure no one is around to overhear our conversation. “I need to tell you something.”

Running my hands over Willow’s mane and then Bear’s, I wonder what’s the best way to tell him.

“What?” he asks, pulling me away from the horses, cupping my chin, and lifting my face so I have to look at him.

“We can’t allow Axe to marry Milana,” I say, looking into August’s chocolate-brown eyes. The eyes that were once my safe place, and still are, just in a different way now.

“Why?” he asks, looking confused as to why I would be telling him this.

“Milana is your fated mate.”

He stills, his brow furrowing as he processes this. He lets go of my face, his jaw tensing. “The woman who tried to kidnap Vale?”

Wincing, I nod, reaching out my hand to comfort him.

He takes a step back, ignoring me, his face etched with confusion and pain.

And disappointment.

He walks away, and I let him.

Because my heart hurts with his.

EPILOGUE

Rave

Astrid places her small hand over my heart, feeling my racing pulse. We’re both naked in bed, clinging to each other like we’re all that we have. And we are—all that matters anyway.

“I’m glad Vale is talking to you now,” she murmurs, running her hands over my pecs.

It took a little time, but he’s getting back to the old Vale, slowly forgiving me for lying to him, but he’s turned a lot of his anger toward Bane, which isn’t fair on him at all. If Vale knew the truth, he would hate me. I know it. Astrid knows it.

But Bane has taken this heat for me, and we will all take it to the grave.

He saved my relationship with my son and made himself the enemy.

I owe him more than I care to admit.

We still need to kill Declan, and I don’t know what Astrid wants me to do about Zython. I don’t want to murder her father only for her to resent me for it.

But I will do anything to keep her safe.

The realm might be going to hell, but everything with us is perfect.

We fought to get here, and I will fight like crazy to keep it that way.

Astrid

Pandora comes around, and we carry a bottle of wine outside and sit in the gardens, staring at the stars. She pours me an almost overflowing glass and hands it to me. Our hands touch inthe process, and a quick vision hits me.

Frowning, I look at her with furrowed brows, trying to figure out what I just saw. Lowering my voice, I lean my head closer to her. “How the fuck is Soren your fated mate?”

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