Page 92 of Finding Love with the Fae King

A small chandelier hung at two corners of the room and candles lit throughout. “Osirus,” I whispered in surprise while touching the small pieces of furniture. How could this all fit in here? The whole treehouse looked like a shack on the outside.

“It’s a cloaking spell. I had a friend cast it so no one would ever find this place.” Osirus stepped in and led me to the gigantic bed on the floor. He pulled me to his lap and peppered kisses on my neck. “It’s a place I used to hide as a child, before my father…” Osirus looked away and stared out the large windows that overlooked the valley. “Before he became blind to Cosmo’s devious ways.”

I used my fingers to tickle his chin as he looked back into my eyes. “There is a lot about me you don’t know, Melina, and I wanted to explain that to you today. I want you to get to know me as I have gotten to know you.”

Daphne

I continued to sit on the most uncomfortable bed of my existence. I should have been used to it. I had been here several times when I got on Osirus’s nerves.Damn King doesn’t know what he’s missing.Letting out a huff, I stood up to pace the floor. It had been five days since he’s locked me down here. Five days, even after I gave up my father.

Who knows where he could be. Actually, I know. He’s down past the dungeons and in the torture rooms. He’s been there before, but never on the receiving end, always the one giving.

Peoni was sobbing across the hall. Peoni had become a good chess piece in all this, finally hammering in the nail that I needed to get my way. My father trained me for this mess. He just expected that I would do it for him, the pot-bellied fool.

I loved my mother, I did, but power was more important. Once I got the power I wanted from Osirus after the bonding, I would go back to her. She might not like what I had done, but I’d keep her safe. Even if it meant sacrificing innocent lives for it.

“Peoni, I’m sorry,” I pleaded to her. “I just had to save my mother. You know how cruel my father is!” I let a few tears drip down my cheeks, milking this for all it was worth. Maybe I could use Peoni again. I wasn’t sure how, but it was always good to have a backup.

“It’s all right. He’s the one that imprisoned me, not you. You are just trying to protect your own blood,” she whimpered again and rolled over in the bed. Internally laughing, I went and sat back down, only to hear the large dungeon door slam. You couldn’t hear much movement, but you could certainly tell it was a powerful presence, one that I had come to know since Osirus made him deal with me.

“Alaneo!” I cried. “Please, let me go see my mother. I must check if she is all right!”

Alaneo gave me a side glance and ticked his jaw in my direction. “His Majesty is out for the day. I’ll have more information for you tomorrow.” He walked past me as the bottom of his cloak touched the dirtied stairs as he reached Peoni’s cell.

The key made a loud clack as the door was unlocked, which in returned let out a long whine as the door opened. “Let’s go, Peoni.” Alaneo turned and didn’t wait for her to follow. The three red-headed freaks nodded to her sorrowfully as she walked out behind Alaneo.

“What are you going to do to her?!” I cried. “She’s innocent! She was just trying to protect her mate!” I gripped the bars and leaned my face as close as I could to get a better look. Where exactly were they taking her? She betrayed them. Surely she wasn’t getting out this soon.

“She’s got information, just as you did, Daphne,” Finley spoke while he eyed me warily.

“Oh, that’s good then!” I chirped. “What kind of information?” Finley let out a sigh and continued walking.

“That’s what we are going to find out,” he responded, annoyed. Peoni couldn’t speak too much. She took a Faithful Tonic to Cosmo. Any secrets she had with him would never come to the surface, so at least part of the plan where Melina would be killed would still be in place. Luckily for me, I was nowhere near my father during the exchange.

“Good luck, Peoni!” I cheered for her as her head was still low.

“She doesn’t need luck. She’ll have the antidote,” Braxton jeered as he nudged Finley with his elbow. “Yer a damn idiot, did ya know that?” Finley silenced him as I watched them walk out the dungeon door.

My heart spiked.They knew she took a Faithful Tonic. Shit.

“You’re worried.” I heard a low voice at the back of a nearby cell. I didn’t even know anyone else was still down here. “Question is, what are you worried about?” Footsteps came closer to the cell that was three doors down adjacent to me.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Melina’s ex-best friend.” Her voice was heavy as she paused. “So, what is it? Afraid of what they will find out or afraid for Peoni? Because if anyone knows about fake sympathy, it’s me, and honey, you aren’t that great of an actress.” I could almost imagine the fake eye-rolling from the smelly mutt.

I gritted my teeth, wanting to spit in her face. I could trick my aura to radiate innocence, but she didn’t think I could act. How dare she talk to me that way, the stupid dog. “Why do you care?” I hissed back.

“Because if you are worried about some plan being exposed or have plans to ruin the star-crossed lovers, I want in, and I can help.” The woman tried to grip the bars, but it instantly burned her hands, causing her to hiss.

“Why should I trust you? You were a close friend,” I questioned.

“Because I’m tired of being ignored. Growing up with her was a pain in my ass. Melina this and that, she’s so strong. She lost her parents. Look how great she turned out!” The annoyance in her voice grew louder, almost a yell.

“My own parents thought of her more of a daughter than me! Then I invited her to my mating ceremony so I could be the center of attention for once, and she came to be mated to the freaking Fae King! How unfair is that!?” she whined as she punched her cell wall.All right, a motive to hate her. I could work with this. She’s got the muscle I need.

“All right, say if I trust you. What are you willing to do and what do you want?”

“Anything, take her away from her mate and make her disappear. We can throw her back on Earth or give her to the rogue vampires. I don’t care.” The voice was filled with malice and disgust.

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