Page 16 of Cursed Heirs

I jolted. “No. Tell me that’s not your plan.”

He grinned from ear-to-ear. “Oh, it is, Your Majesty.” He crouched down in front of my chair. “And there are only two people who know where the Orb is located. You and Abigail. Both your minds are impossible to breach,butI have leverage over you. Unfortunately, I can’t do the same with her regarding Alena because that darling princess is set to become mine.”

“Why do you want her so intensely?”

“Celestial magic? Ever heard of it? She’s still moldable.”

“You seek to fashion yourself your own angel to do your bidding.”

He winked. “Well, to do a bit more than that. Abigail will hate that part and the satisfaction of knowing that is worth everything.”

Despicable.

“You’re too late. Alena is already attached deeply to my son and his cohorts.”

“A new bond is susceptible to severing. Especially among younglings such as they. Any manner of thing could get in the way and upset their closeness. Love can so easily turn to hate among the unlearned.”

Relief rolled through me.

He’d just made a mistake in a chief part of his strategy.

He’d underestimated them and their bond.

I knew my son.

He wouldn’t have even revealed his bond with Alena to me if it wasn’t already supremely serious, if she wasn’t already deep under his skin. It took a lot for him to get attached. Because with Orpheus, when he was passionate about something, he put his all into it, every little bit of himself.

And he didn’t let go.

“The only way I’ll reveal the location of the Orb is if we form a blood vow that you will not harm my son.”

“Beyond taking enough of his blood to fill it?”

I gritted my teeth. “Yes.”

“You have yourself a deal, Your Majesty.”

“You’ll need me to reveal the Orb. That can only be done by returning to the Dark Fae Realm.”

His lip curled up. “Is that so?”

“If you want the Orb, yes. It’s the only way.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

I smiled inwardly.

He’d just signed his death sentence.

5

~Talon~

It had been really strange going to my classes without Alena and Xavier around.

I mean, sure, Alena had moved into the advanced classes, but I would still always see her down the corridors and all four of us would meet for lunch.

At least I still had Orpheus with me.

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