Page 15 of The Curse of a Kingdom
Nava understood why at first glance she hadn’t seen that the prince had shadows around him. She had never seen what others did with Arkimedes’s aura. He’d always looked normal to her.
Not like the scary fae hungering for blood—or like a prince.
What had they done to him? Her eyes raked down his face as he avoided her, his own fixed on Devon.
He’d almost killed a man. However, his face wasn’t twisted with remorse like she’d expect him to feel. It was in his nature as her mate to want to protect her at all costs, but she knew Arkimedes often refrained from using his shadow powers, as she liked to call them since it absorbed parts of other people’s souls.
“You called my son by his human name,” the king said, and she squirmed under the weight of his gaze, quickly facing the ground. “Have you met this woman before, Orion?”
Nava brought her eyes up, meeting Arkimedes’s heavy gaze. He narrowed his eyes at her, and her breath caught in her throat. Her skin was tight with pressure. Nava reached for the bond to find what was in store, but it told her nothing. There was recognition, yes, but none of the burning love he’d had the night before.
Her stomach tightened as her mind ran rampant with thoughts that were too wild and scary. Something was off.
“I have not met her before,” Arkimedes spoke, standing from his throne, and took the steps down the polished marble stairs with a trot, his tunic billowing in the air.
What did he mean, he didn’t know her? Her lips parted, and her body temperature dropped when she felt his confusion and wariness—toward her.
He didn’t remember her? Then why was there a spike of something churning between them? She guessed it could be the bond making him feel something. Was this all a charade? Was he buying her time or was there something she was missing from his blank expression?
“I see.” The king's intense blue eyes shone behind the dark smoke of his aura. Nava averted her gaze when she realized she’d been staring at him once again.
“Devon is my brother from the Society,” Arkimedes continued, calling the king’s attention back to him, and her entire world went still.
He is—as in, present tense?
“So, Devon . . .” The king’s gaze reluctantly traveled to the man next to her, his hand moving in graceful circles as if trying to fill in the void of his name.
“Black, Your Majesty,” Devon chimed in with a polite dip of his head.
“A Crow in my kingdom. That would explain how you could open such a portal.” A frown morphed his gentle features into a wicked expression. His youthful expression fell apart as wrinkles tainted his face. “The Society isn't welcome in my castle. They stole my heir away.”
No. Freaking. Way.
Nava had gone to sleep and had woken up inside a nightmare. Was Arkimedes the stolen heir? It was obvious by the crown resting on his pretty head.
She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. The king’s words didn’t match the tale Arkimedes had fed her a year ago about him being dropped at the doorsteps of an orphanage.
“It took us too long to bring him back, where he belongs.”
Her mouth opened in indignation. Arkimedes didn’t belong here. He was supposed to be back home with her. Making hot chocolate and practicing magic in their backyard. Building their life together.
Preparing for an attack from the Zorren.
“The Society also took Devon to serve them, Father,” Arkimedes chimed in, and he stood next to Devon.
There was a silent conversation happening between the royals. Arkimedes’s emotions were all but shouting down their bond. Confused but determined, her mate didn’t waver or look at her.
How could she get him out of here if he didn’t even remember her? Nava’s whole plan, albeit not a great one, had been to get to him so they could work together in the escape. She’d expected to have time to come up with the next steps, but now, how was she supposed to do that from a cell with an unwilling partner?
Her powers were still there; she could transfer—even if it was a few feet at a time. There was also the possibility of doing the same thing she’d done at the prison on the island, to get to Arkimedes and somehow get him out of here.
“Well, if Orion considers you family, then you’re welcome in our kingdom, of course.” The king’s tone was definitely not the friendly, welcoming kind. His gaze came upon her again, and she steeled her spine, ready to be accused of something. “What about the . . . sorceress?”
Would Devon let her burn now that he was safe and Arkimedes didn’t remember her?
“She is my fiancée,” Devon said without missing a beat.
Her mouth fell open as she took a step back, looking at Devon.What?
