Page 102 of Cursed Heirs

“I’m in mission-mode. My stance is still the same on those matters, though.” I stared at him. “That won’t change when I ascend the throne.”

“I know.”

“You do? I anticipated that you’d try to get it out of me during our time together as I shadow you soon.”

“Truthfully, it’s not something I ever wanted toget out of you.I just needed you to be aware that it does go on in the Kingdom. But it’s not in your nature and it never will be. It’s something I’m grateful for. You have a big heart and you care a great deal—although you hide both well from outsiders—yet you’re not soft. You’re as hardened, tough and forthright as they come, you always stand your ground against whatever force may come your way.”

“I’ll always do what’s necessary, though. I just won’t make a habit out of it.”

“Not like I have to enforce my rule,” he said, actual regret there.

I veered the subject around a little, telling him, “Regarding Taelorn, he hasn’t revealed anything as yet. Forget more torture. Reach into his mind.”

“It’s protected by black magic.”

“What? Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”

“Because there was no point. There are other ways to crack him, other than extracting the information from his mind.”

“It’s taking too long.”

“You and I have both ingested enough black magic lately. Hades, I am still receiving it from Alena as she further breaks from Constantine’s hold. No more, Orpheus.”

I slammed my fist into the arm of the wraparound couch. “She’s out there somewhere withhim!In his clutches! Knowing we have the key to finding her right here and not using it—it’s not fucking good enough! We could end this, endhim!Instead we’re sitting here on our fucking hands!”

“No one is sitting on their hands. You’ve done a lot to bring her back to you. Part of it is on her. Once she’s broken free, she’lleither come back to you, or we’ll break Taelorn and he’ll lead us to Constantine’s location and we’ll retrieve her that way. When I say that, I mean me and you. Not your army.”

“I thought you just agreed—”

“They will be focused on retrieving the Orb.”

Interesting.“Go on.”

“Our rescue of Alena will be brutal and brazen. It will function as a distraction—as well as our opportunity to unleash our ire upon Constantine for what he’s done to us—that will enable the retrieval of the Orb to occur. You and I will draw fire.”

“I can help with thefireelement.”

“Talon cannot be a part of this.”

“I can’t cut him out. Not him or Xavier. Promises have been made.”

“The risk is too great with Constantine coveting a phoenix for his plans. If things should take a turn, we put more ammunition in his hands. Worse, the final ingredient he needs for his spell to rob all magic-wielders of their free will and reign supreme over us all.”

Before I could speak to that, the doors flew open and one of the palace guards rushed on in, urgency spilling from him.

My father stepped forward, that familiar menacing air radiating off him. “I am meeting with my son. The Dark Fae Prince. Punishment will befall you for this vulgar interruption.”

That was the Saryan Hart that everybody knew of all too well.

The guard nervously shoved his long, white-blond hair behind his pointy ear and offered his platitudes, “I would never normally commit such an affront, Your Majesty. However, it couldn’t wait. Abigail Rose has just arrived in the kingdom.”

Well, that was as intriguing as it was concerning.

“Very well. I’ll receive her in the library.”

“As you wish, my king,” he said, bowing on his way out, then hurrying to do my father’s bidding.

“Go,” my father told me. “Head back to Electi Academy. Ready your army.”

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