Page 42 of Exiled Prince

Goddammit! I really don’t like this guy, and I can understand what Saylor was trying to tell me. Yes, he has provided for her and given her everything materialistically, but he’s ice-cold. She’s lucky she has her brothers. The thought of this man being her father figure makes me want to wrap her up tight and never let her go. Exiled from my kingdom, I lost all that I knew. Saylor also lost her parents, growing up without them. I know how that feels and how lonely it can be.

It leaves behind a mark, but Saylor is strong. She’s the strongest female I’ve ever known, but deep inside, I think she needs me as much as I need her.

“She’s been painting a lot,” Raiden comments absently, shrugging. He doesn’t look anything like his father with his darker hair and blue eyes.

King Bax’s brown eyes twitch. “She paints her visions sometimes.”

“I wanted her to meet my mate,” Saylor adds, swirling her red wine around in its glass. “But I guess that will have to wait for next time. What else is new with you, Uncle?”

The king talks about himself for the rest of the meal, and we politely smile and sit through it.

When we return home, all I want to do is strip my mate down and make love to her all night, but Soren shows up.

And by the look on his face, he hasn’t come bearing good news.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Saylor

In a gray tunic, leather pants, and twin swords behind his back, Soren is the epitome of a badass warrior.

“Did you find him?” I ask, swallowing hard. Bane reaches for my hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.

“I did,” he replies, dragging out the word. He pushes off the wall where he is waiting for us and comes to stand in front of me.

“And he’s alive?” I gulp, my heart in my throat. If Shadow is dead, I don’t know how I will recover from that. I’ve pushed through these last few years telling myself he’s out there somewhere, and if he’s not…

“Yes, he’s alive,” he replies, his gray eyes softening. “But this whole thing is about to get very complicated for you both.”

“You saw him?” I ask, shifting on my feet.

“Tell us,” Bane demands, pulling me against him, like bracing himself to protect me from whatever I’m about to hear come out of Soren’s lips.

“He’s in The Circle,” Soren explains, his eyes cutting to Bane.

“What is he doing in the Demon Kingdom?” I ask, my brow furrowing. I turn to Bane, and our eyes connect and hold as our two worlds collide.

The Circle is the Demon Kingdom capital.

Where Bane was exiled from.

Where Bane is the rightful king.

“I saw him, yes, Saylor. But you aren’t going to like what I saw. He’s being held prisoner. I don’t know why or how, but he is,” Soren says, his fingers twitching.

“I know why,” I whisper, my voice hitching. “Shadow’s magic. They must be keeping him, just like Laurel is kept.” I lowermy tone. “Shadow can see the past. They could use him to see everyone’s secrets and skeletons. Anything they have done and tried to hide, Shadow can see it all.”

“Fuck.” Bane snarls, letting go of my hand and placing both hands behind his neck as he starts to pace. “Axe told me the Demon Kingdom is getting stronger. And, of course, they are with Shadow. They could blackmail anyone onto their side with that kind of information.”

“We can’t tell anyone about this,” I declare, wrapping my arms around myself. “Aside from my brothers. We don’t want word to get back to the Demon Kingdom that we know. Me and my brothers can get in there and break him out.”

Bane stops pacing and pins me with a look, amber eyes angry. “If you think you’re going on a rescue mission to my kingdom without me, you have another thing coming.”

“He’s in the top tower of the castle. It’s heavily warded, eight guards and strong witch spells,” Soren adds, studying me. “Pandora and I want to help. However you want to do this, we are in.”

“We either go to war, or we try and get him out stealthily,” I mutter, tucking my hair back behind my ear. “Thank you, Soren. I really appreciate it.”

Stepping forward, I give him a big hug, ignoring the growls coming from Bane behind me. I’m a hugger—he better get used to it.

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