Page 57 of Foretold

“What about Pandora?” August asks as he walks over to say hello to everyone. His gaze drops to her throat. “Looks like she’s already been in a fight.”

“Or had a wild night in the bedroom,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood. But then I realize she and August slept together, so now it’s kind of awkward. “I mean. Shit. Bane? How are you?”

Bane’s lip twitches. “Good. It’s nice to get out of the dungeons.”

Right.

Because he’s been down there torturing Rion for information on why he tried to kidnap me.

I chance a look at Pandora, only to find her violet eyes dancing with amusement. Obviously she and August aren’t exclusive because he doesn’t appear bothered by mentioning her being with someone else. I shrug at her, trying to tell her without words that I have no idea what’s going on anymore. She simply laughs, her delicate shoulders shaking. “It’s okay, Astrid. August and I had a little fun, but we know we are better off as friends.”

“You don’t need to explain anything—”

“Yes, we do, Star. You’re nosey,” August adds, his lips twitching as he slides his brown curls off his forehead.

We all turn back to the ring as Rave pretends to be defeated by his son, making the crowd cheer and clap. Vale beams, bowing for everyone, and I laugh as the little show-off enjoys his time in the spotlight. Rave approaches me when he leaves the ring, his eyes narrowing slightly at how close I’m standing to August and Bane. He’s still shirtless, a sheen of sweat on his smooth, tanned chest. As soon as I’m in reaching distance, he pulls me against his side and leans down to possessively kiss my neck.

“You didn’t tell me you invited my family here,” I say, a warm smile on my lips.

“I wanted to surprise you,” he murmurs, nodding in greeting to everyone. “And I didn’t know if they’d come.”

“We wouldn’t miss spending time with our sister,” Axe says, his green eyes softening as they land on me. “We all need to get along for Astrid. We all love her and want to keep her safe.”

“Agreed. Now, let’s beat the shit out of each other, hey?” Kai adds, grinning. He pulls off his tunic, flexing his muscles at Pandora with a wink before heading toward the ring, the rest of the men and Pandora following him, leaving Rave and me alone.

“Should have known you’d all bond over violence.”

Rave gently rakes his hands through my long hair, gently detangling it with his fingers. “We’re forcibly bonding over you, Astrid. I can’t deal with you going to Chaos alone anymore. This way, they can come here and see you too. But if Bane keeps looking at you like he wants to eat you, I’m going to have to teach him a lesson.”

“Leave Bane alone. He’s done nothing but be a gentleman to me,” I say, my jaw tightening.

Even when I was being kind of flirty and inappropriate. Shit! Maybe I should have a chat with him. I should tell him he will find his mate, and he and I will always be good friends.

“Defending him won’t help him,” he growls out in my ear, his teeth biting down on my lobe. “This is what I get for bondingwith the most beautiful, strong, sexy fae in all eight kingdoms.”

Rolling my eyes, I pull his mouth toward me and kiss him. “I’m your queen. And I’m not going anywhere.”

He’s about to reply when Sinda walks toward us, his sword pointed at the neck of a vampire standing next to him. I recognize him as Drake, one of the Vampire Princes. It seems like a lifetime ago that I healed Drake’s mate, Pearl, when she was stabbed.

Rave puts me behind him, his shadows curling around his open hands.

“He was standing outside the castle ward lines… says he just wants to talk with you both,” Sinda explains, not lowering his sword. “He’s unarmed.”

I move out next to Rave so I can see Drake. I don’t think he’d hurt me. Last time in the forest, he left the battle because I was there and feels like he owes me a debt for saving his mate.

“Speak,” Rave commands, and I notice everyone around us has stilled and is watching.

“I wanted to tell you both that I had nothing to do with the death of your king,” he says, his throat working as he swallows. “I’m sorry for your loss. The vampires are divided, and we knew nothing of this plot to murder him. My mother was in love with your father, and he was trying to protect her. She would never have seen harm come to him.”

Rave and I share a look, and because of my vision, we knew they had been sleeping together and that King Tane was hiding her from her husband, the Vampire King.

“What are you saying, Prince?” I ask, my brow furrowing. “That your king was behind it, but you are no longer aligned with him?”

“We are in a civil war with the queen, my mother, returning to stand against her husband. I have chosen my side, and others have done the same.” He pauses, hesitating for a moment. “Wewant to align with you to take down the king. And in return, I will tell you how the vampires got into your castle in the first place.”

Rave’s darkness gathers, his eyes bleeding black. “Are you saying we have a traitor?”

Drake nods slowly, his red eyes momentarily flickering with sympathy.

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