Page 53 of Exiled Prince

A little later, we arrive in the throne room, where everyone is sitting around the large table we set up for meetings like this one.

Rave, Astrid, Axe, Kai, August, Shadow, Sage, Silver, Salem, Laurel, Pandora, and Soren are here.

When did we amass such a large group of allies?

No one is ever going to be able to stand against us.

“Sorry we’re late,” Saylor says, pulling out the chair next to the Witch Queen and taking a seat.

I sit next to her and glance around the table. “Shadow, if you want to take the lead on this.”

He dips his head and rakes his hand through his freshly washed and brushed long black hair. “King Bax betrayed me, my mate, and my siblings. Because of him, I spent years hidden and used in The Circle while Laurel was kept as his personal seer and treated as no more than a slave. I want him dead. Raiden can step up as king, and Laurel and I will be free.”

“He’s searching everywhere for her,” Silver adds, his eyes resting on Laurel’s new mating bands around her wrists. “Andwe all know he will do anything to not give her up. She has been his secret weapon all these years to win battles and see into the future. Without her, he is weakened.”

“Will Raiden be an issue?” Rave asks, pulling Astrid closer to him. “And if he does, who is next in line?”

“Shadow is,” Saylor adds, turning those doe eyes to her brother. “But Raiden isn’t like his father. I think he will be a good leader.”

“Will he let go of the fact that we’re about to kill his father, though?” Axe asks, resting his hands behind his neck. “Or is he going to come after us?”

“He doesn’t have to know it was us,” Salem adds, smirking. “We can just pin it on someone else we hate. I can go in invisible and take my time, letting him bleed out. I’ll be long gone before anyone notices.”

I look at Saylor with an expression that saysyour family is insane.She shrugs and grins.

“I’m glad you’re on our side,” Kai mutters while Soren’s gray eyes narrow on Salem. I don’t think those two will ever be friends, but at least they are just pretending the other doesn’t exist. We can work with that.

“It will be suspicious if Laurel is missing, Shadow turns up, and then suddenly King Bax dies,” Astrid points out, frowning.

“The shifters need an alibi. Maybe there’s an event or something coming up so everyone knows they were there,” Pandora suggests, turning to Saylor with a twinkle in her eyes. “Or maybe Saylor can make it look like all of us were somewhere, but meanwhile, Salem can sneak off and kill him.”

“I can make it look like Salem is still with us,” Saylor agrees, looking at her brother. “Are you sure you want to kill your own uncle?”

“He’s my kill,” Shadow interrupts, sharing a look with Salem. “You can come with me, but he ismine. He took years away fromme and harmed my mate.”

Laurel frowns at her mate but stays silent.

“We want to come,” Sage and Silver demand at the same time, but Shadow shakes his head.

“No, you protect Laurel and Saylor.”

“I protect Saylor,” I snap, trying to maintain the nice weather outside. After a few rumbles of thunder, I manage it.

“She’s still my baby sister.”

“She’s my mate, and I will always make sure she’s safe.”

“Okay, you can both protect her,” Pandora interrupts, smirking. “You both have big dicks, wonderful. Now let’s get back to the plan.”

“I love you both, guys. Calm your asses down. Now, I can create the illusion, easy,” Saylor repeats, rubbing her hands together with glee. She’s wearing a bright pink dress today with her white gloves and yellow headband. The little evil expression on her face looks out of place.

“You can do that?” Axe asks, his brow furrowing. “You can make it so it seems like they are here when they aren’t? How?”

“It’s hard to explain, but I create it in my mind and then lock it into place,” she explains, shrugging. “I can make you see anything. I could make it look like your mate was cheating on you or that you woke up in a different realm. I could make you see anything I wanted you to.”

You could hear a pin drop.

“And I’m glad she’s on our side,” Astrid repeats Kai’s words about Salem.

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