Page 2 of Fae's Claimed

“At sundown.”

Xian frowned. “It’s already dark.”

“That’s because we’re late.”

“No one told me the time. What was I supposed to do?”

Fuck this.I came to a halt and shoved Xian against the wall. “No more jokes. This is serious, and I need you to be present.”

The smile fell off Xian’s face. He was a pain in the ass, but he would always come through. “I am present.” He shoved me off him.

“And you understand the mission?”

“Go to the realm of mortals and find you a compliant human to keep as your own to breed.”

I nodded before we started back on the descent to the calling fields. These lands were only used for the more dangerous rituals and sacraments.

Waiting for us was a line of soldiers and guards. There was nothing more dangerous than sending a king off into the mortal realm.

Standing at attention were the other two generals, Radien and Wolfe. Each hid their disapproval under a mask of obedience.

“Is everything prepared?” I asked as I reached the portal opening. The fae opening the door between the worlds was deep in concentration, their brow furrowed as the glowing magic stretched between his hands.

“Everything is prepared,” said Wolfe gruffly. “Kier is still unaware of what is happening?”

“Are you questioning me?” I demanded. It was obvious he was, but I silently dared him to say something more to my face.

“No, Your Highness.”

The very fact that he was addressing me so formally was a sign of how much he disagreed with how I was going about this.

“If his mate finds out about this, there’s no telling what Kier would do to stop me.” I was justifying it more to myself than to Wolfe. The notion of leaving out my most trusted general felt wrong, even to me.

But I knew my reasoning was sound. As long as Kier was afflicted by this mate bond with his human, he was dangerous. His human had made her feelings about the prospect of taking more human women for our purposes well known, and I wasn’t about to jeopardize this. Even if Kier was my most likely successor if I didn’t come back.

But then the portal was bursting to life and sending a blue glow across the entire field. “No more talking,” I declared as I motioned Xian to my side.

I was going to the realm of mortals, and I wasn’t coming back until I found a human of my own.

Beautiful. Meek. Obedient.

The perfect bride. How hard could it be?

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