Page 206 of A Bond in Blood

My stomach twisted; I was going to be sick.

She continued, “I of course told Oberon. Who in a fit of rage, banished Ulrich because we both know my sniveling husband holds no power compared to the man we both love.”

She smiled, pulling at the beast’s fur again.

“Only Icursedhim under the blood moon. He hadn’t experienced one in our world yet. Having no idea how long they lasted or thatmypower was stronger under its light. I was determined to turn him into as much of a monster as I knew him to be.” She stroked his fur again. “He was terrifying, but lived with a mask of stoic royalty. Only, I saw the monster within. When he was lost in the faerie wine, it would unleash. Random outbursts of rage. Violence so delicious it made my body heat with need.”

My head swam the longer the queen talked, trying to piece together all that she said.

Titania glanced at the beast again. “With my curse, he would live life as a beast under the sunlight, shifting under the blood moon. Periods of one hundred and fifty years of beasthood. A creature of my own making that mirrored the creature that livedinside. I made sure to mark him with my blood blade as a reminder as well, branding his skin with my own hate.”

She lifted his chin, running her fingers over the red scar his fur did not cover.

My tears fell then. Tears of realization.

“To break the curse, he had to find a woman, any woman who would fall in love with him even after seeing everything horrible that he was. If he did not, then the beast would claim him fully, adealof my own making. Turning him into my personal pet of rage and hate.”

“She was only required to follow one rule; never look upon his face before she told him she loved him.” Titania laughed. “Youfailed, Brenna. You professed your love to him while gazing upon the beautiful face that always got him what he wanted.”

“No,” I sobbed. “No.”

I didn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it.

Titania’s hands gripped the beast’s fur and she sighed. “Ulrich, shift.”

My chest was heavy with shock. My stomach twisted in knots when the beast did as he was told. The fur disappeared around him, slowly, revealing his inked skin. My hands went to my lips as our gazes locked onto one another’s.

He towered over us all. The giant that was the Unseelie King, now standing in my childhood home.

Without his mask.

Ulrich’s green eyes were so full of sorrow and regret. An expression my heart could barely handle.

Titania whispered to him and his body went rigid.

“Now, Ulrich,” she demanded.

Ulrich stepped forward and his shadows wrapped around his skin. Creating a black wisping suit around his body.

He stepped forward, barely a fingers-length from me and I reached for him.

“Ulrich,” I pleaded.

He did not look me in the eyes. My tears fell and I was sure he would not acknowledge my presence when a small tendril of his shadows came toward me, licking between my outstretched fingers.

“Ulrich,” Titania cleared her throat. “Do not speak to her. Your deal was not honored. Claim your soul.”

My pulse froze and I stepped back, watching Ulrich continue his approach. Not to me—no—he was walking straight toward my father. The thin shadows masking him and the members of our household fell, and my cry echoed across the room.

Our staff, my family, they were dead. All of their bodies collapsed as Ulrich’s shadows dropped and their clotted blood covered the wood of the dais.

“Oh my Gods,” I cried, falling to my knees.

A rough hand grasped my arm, holding me up before I hit the floor, and I leaned into Olen. Unable to process what was happening. Why Ulrich was not fighting back.

“King Enok,” Titania said sweetly. “Your daughter took something from me.”

My head went to my father, and he let out a gasp. “Brenna,” he yelled. “Unhand her!”

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