Page 16 of Foretold

My lips purse as I have a flashback of me sitting on Bane’s lap. “I was just a little messy. Now I’m going back to bed to feel sorry for myself.”

Axe smirks, tapping a long finger against his cheek. “I think I will need a little more information than that, baby sister.”

“How old are you anyway?” I ask, purposely changing the subject.

“Over a hundred. Why?”

“No wonder you call me baby sister,” I mutter, and he laughs.

“I’m going to be training with the guards today,” August announces, staring up at me as I stand. “Axe said they might have a position for me there.”

“That’s great, August,” I say, smiling at him. I reach out and touch his shoulder. “Come and find me when you’re free. We should go exploring in the city.”

“Sounds good,” he replies, and I know he’s watching me as I walk away.

Still needing to hand out more apologies, I search for Pandora and Bane but stop before I reach the hallway, hearing their voices.

“You need to tell her to go back, Bane. You know Rave will behere with his army if you don’t. You can stop innocent people dying over this!” she whisper-yells at him.

“I’m not telling her shit. She will go back when she wants to. Perhaps he should have been honest and told her he already has a family she didn’t know about?” he replies, sounding bored.

“He knows he fucked up, okay? Trust me. And he’s paying for it now,” she says with a heavy sigh. “You know how bonded men are. He’s going to go crazy without her.”

“That’s not the princess’s problem. Or my problem. These are the consequences of his actions.”

“And when she wants to go back to him? He’s her mate. It’s inevitable.”

“Then I’ll wish her the best and send her on her merry way,” he snaps. “Why don’t you speak to Axe or Kai about this? They’re her brothers. I’ve just been training her—”

“And spending time with her.”

“She’s my princess and the only fucking one we have. I’d lay my life down for her,” he replies, lowering his tone. “I’m not the problem here, witch. The king has said this is her safe haven for as long as she sees fit.”

“Rave will kill you if you touch her,” she warns.

“He can try,” Bane seethes, and I hear the rumble of deep, angry thunder. “Does he expect her to go back and join his family? What does he want from her? She deserves better than that.”

“The fates chose Rave for her. When you find your own mate, you will understand.”

Not wanting to hear anymore or run into them, I head outside to the gardens instead—back to where Bane trained me yesterday.

What a fucking pickle I’ve gotten myself into.

Both have valid points, and I don’t know how to feel right now.

But the bottom line is, I’m not going to let anyone die over me. I can’t let the two kingdoms fight each other, not when they already have the vampires to worry about.

Suddenly, a vision hits me.

Rave is sitting on his bed, his head in his hands.

He’s hurting without me.

I feel the pain he’s in, and it makes me gasp.

He’s coming for me. And he has no idea what to do with me when he gets me, but he will do whatever it takes. He’s overwhelmed and regrets not telling me the truth, but losing me isn’t an option for him.

I’ve never seen Rave regret anything, and if I didn’t feel it for myself, I don’t think I would have believed it. The messed-up thing is, even after everything, I don’t like seeing him like this. I knew it would only take time before he came to take me back to Aravelle, even if it was against my will. And not only do I not want to start a war, but there’s only so much time I can be away from him, no matter how angry I am at him.

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