Page 212 of A Bond in Blood

I snarled again.

Titania laughed again. That annoying, shrill sound these irritating creatures all made.

“I smelled your little pet on her as well.” Titania frowned, the expression was like a child’s pout. “Why did you never offer him to play withus? That is rather rude, Ulrich.”

“Olen doesn’t hump trash,” I growled. “His standards were always higher than mine used to be.”

A spear rammed into my side, forcing an echoing shout from my lungs.

“Behave, Ulrich. I could force you to destroy this entire little village.”

I met her eyes. “You wouldn’t,” I warned.

Her eyes went past my head to the palace door behind me. “Oberon and Mab are on that ship. Likely lost in their disgusting lust. Gods, somedays I wonder why I stay. Why I sit on the side allowing them to live their little bubble of love and family with all of their disgusting offspring.”

“It’s because you’re too much of a coward,” I replied. “You couldn’t even end the man yourself. You had to beg the new monster that entered your world to do it.”

Titania was before me in an instant, her hand gripping the fur on my neck.

And I could do nothing. Could not fight this curse she held me in.

“I am aqueen, Ulrich. I do not get my hands dirty.”

“You just have him do it for you,” I growled. “Did he enjoy removing my peoples’ heads?”

She laughed again. “Gods, yes he did. After the bloodshed was the first time he and I enjoyed each other’s beds in decades. It gave him a thrill that I had begged him to put you in your place.”

She held her grip tighter while her finger dug into my open wound.

“It’s time to actually put you in your place, Ulrich. Once and for all.”

I struggled in her grasp, biting my snarls and growls from the pain of her attack.

“Wake them all,” Titania ordered, standing and eyeing her guards. “Gather them in the great hall.”

“What are you doing?” I demanded.

“She’ll never forgive you after this. She’ll never come for you.” Titania laughed. “Gods, she’ll hate you even more than I believe she already does.”

I was ordered by my newly claimed master to remain in place while her guards gathered Brenna’s father and his staff. Innocents in mourning, rubbing their sleep from their eyes.

“What is this?” King Enok demanded from the throne her guards forced him upon.

Titania laughed and stroked my fur.

“Beast!” Enok yelled. “Where is my daughter? Have you claimed her once more?”

“Do not answer that,” Titania whispered.

The words were like a lock on my throat, preventing my words from forming.

I would kill her for this. I would burn her kingdom to the ground.

“King Enok,” Titania breathed out. “Your daughter took something from me.”

Enok’s eyes went wide, and he moved to lift himself from the throne, but her guards held him in place with their spears.

He shook his head in disbelief. “My queen, I can promise she has not.”

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