Page 4 of Foretold

How many women has this male slept with?I assume he’s an incubus and a king, not to mention his age, so it’s probably a hell of a lot.

“My mother was a common fae. Her name was Elspeth. I don’t remember much about her other than she was beautiful, kind, and loving. She had dark hair, gorgeous brown skin, and green eyes.”

“Hmm,” he murmurs, looking a tad uncomfortable. “Around the time you would have been conceived, I lost my mate. I went a little… wild after that.”

I glance at his wrists, where the gold mating band should be, but he is wearing a black one instead. I want to tell him I saw a flash of them together in my mind, but I’m not ready to disclose to anyone that I have visions just yet.

“How old are you?” I blurt out.

He grins. “I’m over three hundred.”

My eyes widen, and he laughs.

“Okay, I must still be a baby to you then. And I’m sorry you lost your mate. I often wondered if my father was mated, and that’s why he didn’t want me. I thought maybe his mate didn’t need another woman’s child around,” I admit, wringing my hands together. The fae often discard their children before their mating.

Is that why Rave hid his son from me?

Or was it just because he wanted him to be the next in line to the throne?

“That’s a fae custom,” he replies, gently lifting my chin to lookat him. “We value children here, no matter their parentage, and if I had known about you, I would have raised and loved you. You are very wanted, Astrid. Never doubt that. In fact, I’m hoping you never leave here.”

“Thank you for welcoming us,” I say with a grin. “I really don’t know where I would have gone otherwise.”

The Witch Queen, Pandora, told me I was always welcomed in her kingdom, but she’s Rave’s childhood friend, so I’d hate to put her in that position.

“You always have a home here. Even if something ever happens to me, your brothers know this is your home too. Axe will be the next in line,” he says, his hands resting on his knees. “Now, as happy as I am that you’re here, do you want to let me know why you left? Because you and I both know your princewillfind you and try to take you back. I saw the way he looked at you… how protective and possessive he is, he’s probably going crazy right now.”

“Did you know that Rave has a child?” I ask him, biting the inside of my cheek. “Because I didn’t. He hid it from me.”

Zython’s jaw tightens. “I did not know that.”

“His child’s mother asked me to heal their son, who had fallen off a horse. But I couldn’t heal him. I tried, but it didn’t work. She said he was dead, and I didn’t save him.” My lower lip trembles. “I tried… I really did.”

He touches my shoulder, squeezing gently. “Are you sure the child died? No matter what happened, it wasn’t your fault. You can’t save everyone, Astrid.”

I really hope the fates saved his child. I wouldn’t wish that kind of loss on my worst enemy.

“I don’t know,” I admit, running through what happened in my mind. “I was panicking, and I ran out of there. I’m not sure…”

“He shouldn’t have lied to you,” he grits out, anger lacing histone. “You deserve better than that.”

I do.

And that’s why I’m here.

“Everything is just a mess right now,” I whisper.

I wouldn’t have cared if he already had a son, but he should have been honest about it upfront and about his relationship with Vera. The whole thing makes me feel sick to my stomach.

If his son didn’t make it because of his injuries, he’s going to blame me. He will hate me. Either way, there’s no coming back from this. I’m going to miss him. And Soren, Elios, and Sinda. Even Nico was growing on me.

Zython turns to me, and I jump into his arms, surprising him. He hesitates, then wraps his arms around me. “No matter what happens, you’re not alone. Okay? And I don’t give a fuck if he’s your mate. If you don’t want to go back, you won’t have to.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I have twenty-five years to make up for,” he replies, resting his chin on my head.

“Star?” August calls out as he knocks on my door.

---