Page 46 of Exiled Prince

She steps into his arms, her body so small next to his, and starts to cry. Shadow’s eyes lift to his brothers, a tear falling from them. “Baby brother.”

Salem’s throat works as he swallows, reaching out to wrap his arm around his big brother. “Time to go home, Shadow.”

Feeling like I’m intruding on their moment, I look back at the stairs.

“Fuck,” Salem grits out, turning to Laurel. “Can you get him back home?”

“Not to the Shifter Kingdom,” Shadow rasps, shaking his head. “Take me somewhere else.”

“Why?” Salem asks.

“We can’t trust King Bax, Salem,” Laurel explains quickly, her lips trembling. “He knows Shadow is here. He’s been using him to blackmail me into staying and being his seer. He’s not the male you think he is.”

Shit.

Salem loses his cool and slams his fist against the iron bars. “I’m going to kill that motherfucker.”

“He’s mine,” Shadow barks, then looks down at his mate. “Let’s go.”

“Wait, what about Xan?” I ask him, and he looks up, only now realizing I’ve been standing here.

“Who the fuck are you?” he asks, moving Laurel behind him.

“This is Bane, your new brother-in-law.” Salem smirks, nodding his head to me. “And the true Demon King.”

“Xan is a piece of shit and isn’t fit to rule. He hurts his own people, he has a cruel streak and only cares about himself,” Shadow says, his teeth drawing back in revulsion. “Go and ask your people what they think of him.”

“Come on, Lolly. I need you.” She nods, and they disappear.

Salem steps outside the cell and looks at me. “So what’s it going to be? Are we going home, Bane? Or are we starting a war?”

“We’re starting a war.”

Salem grins. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Saylor

“Shadow is safe. Laurel has taken him somewhere,” Bane assures me, placing his hand on my lower back. “But there’s something you need to know.”

“What?” I ask, scanning his gaze.

“Shadow said King Bax knew where he was. You can’t trust him.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Fuck.”

Our enemy was right in front of us the whole time. That bastard! He’s going to get what’s coming to him. “If I ask you to leave here now, would you?”

“No, why?” I ask, tilting my head to the side. “You’re going to take what’s yours?”

He nods once. “And I want you somewhere safe.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I tell him, cupping his jaw with my palm and grin. “I always knew I was made to be a queen.”

His lip twitches, and he gives me a quick, deep kiss. “I fucking love you.”

“I love you too.”

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