Page 120 of Finding Love with the Fae King

“I mean, I have twelve boys and one daughter. We just found out a few weeks ago.” I took Melina’s hand and rubbed her knuckles with my thumb. Elaine gave a small smile in understanding.

“That doesn’t bother me. They are your children. I have one of my own, but things get complicated from there.” Melina tried not to show any emotion and played with her fingers.

“My daughter is the reason for all the commotion.” Elaine sucked in a breath. “She wants to get rid of Melina and have Osirus have her as Queen.”

A growl ripped through my throat as I heard this. Trying to clear it from my throat, she looked at me with no judging eyes. “I know this makes things complicated, and I hope she will relent. I think it is best if I speak with her father and see if he can change her mind.”

Melina scoffed and folded her arms.

“What makes you think he will listen to you, Elaine? He tortured you, forced you to do unspeakable things. What makes you think he will speak to you now?” My fists gripped in anger. I didn’t know Elaine’s complete story, but from the sounds of it, I needed to rip this guy’s dick off.

“We have ways to make him talk.” Osirus walked through the open door. He glanced at Elaine in my lap and gave me a bow. “Congratulations Your Majesty on finding your mate.” Elaine glanced, turned to look at me, and then looked at my head, adorned with the crown of my ancestors.

“I-I didn’t realize,” she sputtered.

“And that is why I adore you because you saw me instead of a crown. Now you will be my queen and rule all over Atlantis.”

Melina

Well, this is hella awkward.My stepsister was trying to get my mate. How the hell did that end up happening? What were the odds?!

Elaine seemed like a pleasant woman. I could already see the color returning to her face as my father held her in her arms. She was happy. Seeing the white of her teeth told me this would work out for the best. They were mates, supposed to be bonded together. The whole Daphne thing was just a hump in the road. If a bond told me anything, you could pass whatever hurdles you might encounter.

Lucca looked longingly at our father, as well as me. I knew he wanted a mate. Some of his brothers had waited longer, but Lucca wanted it the most. I thought of all the times he went to the surface to watch for those that needed help and aided them to Atlantis. From what he spoke of, he found all of them their mates. Was he trying to help those women that needed help, or was he secretly yearning for his mate? It could have been a combination of both. Lucca had a tender heart, and I prayed he found someone soon.

Once Osirus entered the room, the tension was lifted. The alchemist that had helped Peoni and Carson had left several vials of Truthing Serum. These were scarce and very expensive to make since the flowers used in the serum came from near the dragon shifter territories. The flowers were gifts to friendly sorcerers or to any that have mated to a shifter.

Elaine was still too weak to walk long distances, so my father happily grabbed her in his arms and carried her along with a quilt holding close to her body. Her head lulled right into the crook of his neck as he held her close while we walked down the hallway to the dungeons.

“Stay close to me, Melina, and do not let go.” Originally, Osirus wanted to bring Cosmo to the throne room but didn’t want any chance of escape. With no word from Tulip or any threats to the palace, we couldn’t take that chance. I shrugged my shoulders and held onto his hand as we descended the dark stairwell that led us underground.

Osirus’s grip tightened around me and eventually went around my shoulders as we passed through several levels of cells and cages. The race of the prisoners was vast. Several pixies, fairies, and fae had cells that accommodated the power they held. The pixies were stored in tiny containers one would find completely barbaric. They sat in glass jars with holes poked in them that were strapped to the wall. I wondered if you could use them as a night light?

“What could a pixie possibly do?” I muttered to myself. Osirus’s frown deepened as we walked by.

“Never underestimate a race, darling. They were spies at the time of the Shifter War. They will remain here for another one hundred years to finish out their sentence. By that time, their mates will have been granted a second chance at a mate or have died. That is their proper punishment.” My heart ached, but knowing they went against their kingdom during a time of war was disheartening.

I kept the thoughts at bay as we passed by shifter cells lined with Wolfsbane and silver. Wolves were growling and salivating as we walked by. One grabbed the edge of my dress, and Osirus pulled me away and hissed at the beast. “Double the dose,” Osirus barked as a fine mist sprayed through the bars. It coughed and wheezed until the wolf turned human. He was ragged and dirty, with no soul left in his eyes.

We descended deeper, and it felt we had walked miles until we reached the end of the corridor. A strong scent of metallic seeped through my nose as I held it closed with my hand. Elaine gasped as she looked through the bars where we had arrived.

Cosmo sat in his filth. His stubble of a beard had now grown, and his hair was messily hanging over his eyes. Instead of looking at the floor, his head was leaned back against the stone walls as he took in a large breath of air.

“Elaine….”

Chapter Sixty

Melina

Elainegrippedontomyfather’s neck collar as Cosmo tried to stand up but slipped in his own puddle of urine. His eyes were hazed, and an evil smirk tainted his face as he grew closer to the bars. My father gripped Elaine and whispered encouraging words in her ear while Osirus held me back. I never knew just how evil a fae could look until this moment.

The dark shadows clung to his features, the slight shine of his fangs that had now descended. Feral was the only word to describe him now. No longer the strong Speaker of the Court, he had fallen from the pedestal he had put himself on and had given up.

Cosmo gripped the bars and showed his fangs, something he would have never done before coming down here. He was untamed, a monster, and the dirt on his face only enhanced the slimy person he indeed was.

“Elaine…” he hissed. “Never thought I would see you again after sending you away. Did you finally get someone to love your sorry ass?” Elaine stood frozen while my father growled lowly.

“Watch to whom you speak, for she is the future Queen of Atlantis.” My father’s deep voice made Elaine squirm while I held back a laugh. She was turned on even though she was scared to death. I knew that feeling all too well.

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