The Cruel Alpha's Fae Slave

I will kill him. I will kill the Lycan alpha who murdered my brother and my betrothed. Evander Veyr he was called. A savage. A complete savage. He terrorized my kingdom, but now, he has gone too far. He had taken what belonged to me. The air in the grand hall of my father's palace was thick and suffocating. I stood at the centre of the room, my hands trembling as I clutched the heavy folds of my white gown. The fabric was exquisite—a cascade of silver and ivory, it was beautiful. I wore them because I thought my brother and betrothed were finally coming home after the war. I had been preparing for a celebration, only to hear the news of their deaths. I felt sick to my stomach. My father, King Oberon Ashthorn, stood at the head of the room, his expression unreadable. His crown of twisted antlers cast long shadows across his face, making him look more like a statue than a man. Beside him, the elders of the Obsidian Court watched me with cold, calculating eyes. They had already decided my future, and my tears meant nothing to them. "Please," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Father, don't do this. I beg of you." My father's gaze flickered towards me, but there was no warmth or pity. "This is not a request, Lirael. It is your duty. Alpha Evander has finally agreed to a treaty with us. He has finally agreed with our conditions. We cannot pass up this chance." "But he's a monster!" she cried, her voice rising. "How could you?! He killed your son! He killed my betrothed. He has the blood of a hundred faes in his hands, and you think that marrying me to that savage is the next option?! He shall destroy me!" "Enough!" Oberon's voice thundered through the hall, silencing me. "You will do as you are told. Our whole kingdom is riding on this treaty. We need to make peace with our neighbors. The lycans are here to collect you. Do not shame us further." As if on cue, the heavy doors at the far end of the hall creaked open. A group of lycans strode in, their presence immediately dominating the space. They were tall and broad-shouldered, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. Their leader, a woman with sharp features and a scar running down her cheek, stepped forward. "The Alpha is waiting," she said, her voice low and rough. "Bring his bride." My heart pounded in my chest as two of the lycan guards approached me. I took a step back, my instincts screaming at me to run. But there was nowhere to go. The walls of the palace felt like a prison, closing in on me. "No," I whispered, shaking my head. "No, I won't go." The guards grabbed my arms, their grip like iron. I struggled, my magic flaring instinctively. Vines burst from the floor, wrapping around the guards' legs, but before I could break free, a sharp pain shot through my skull. One of the elders had cast a silencing spell, cutting off my magic. "You will learn obedience," my father said coldly as the guards dragged me toward the doors. I fought with everything I had, kicking and screaming, but it was no use. How could my father do this to me? Bargain with me like I was some sort of chattel? What manner of fae fed his own daughter to the wolves? His only daughter? The lycans were too strong and the silencing spell still had a hold on me. One of them backhanded me across the face, the blow sending me sprawling to the floor. Blood trickled from her split lip, and my vision blurred with tears. Mad. They were all mad. Once I was at full power, I would kill all of them. I would make sure of it. I thought as I marked their faces. "Try that again," the scarred woman growled, "and it'll be worse." I was hauled to my feet, my arms pinned behind my back. I was shoved forward, stumbling as they marched me out of the palace and into the cold night air. A carriage waited outside, its blackened wood and iron bars making it look more like a prison than a bridal vehicle. I was thrown inside, the door slamming shut behind me. The carriage lurched forward, and I collapsed onto the hard bench, my body trembling. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold back the sobs that threatened to overwhelm me. The journey to the lycan territories was a blur of pain and fear. The carriage rattled over rough terrain, the cold seeping through the cracks in the walls. My tears froze on my cheeks, and my breath came in ragged gasps. I had never felt so alone, so helpless. I tried to use my powers, but it was almost impossible. The metal of the cage must have been made with Luthium, the only metal that could dampen my powers. Hours—or maybe days—later, the carriage came to a halt. The door was wrenched open, and I was dragged out into the snow. I thought I was going to freeze to death. I was in the cold wearing nothing but a flowery dress. Before me loomed Alpha Evander Veyr's fortress, a monstrous structure of black stone and jagged spires. It looked like something out of a nightmare, a place where hope came to die. I had heard horrible stories, nobody ever came out of the fortress. Nobody who climbed those mountains came back unscathed or unharmed. It was a terrible thing, to be there as a prisoner. The lycan guards shoved me forward, forcing me to climb the steep steps to the castle's entrance. My legs burned with the effort, and my bare feet were numb from the cold. At the top of the stairs, the massive doors swung open, revealing a dark, cavernous hall. At the far end of the room, seated on a throne of bone and iron, was Evander Veyr. He was every bit as terrifying as the stories had described, even worse than I had imagined. His broad frame was draped in black fur, his piercing blue eyes glowed in the darkness. His expression was cold, unyielding, as he watched me approach. My knees buckled, and I fell to the floor at his feet. I could feel his gaze on me, weighing me, judging me. "So," he said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble, "this is the fae princess they've sent to tame me." I lifted my head, meeting his eyes despite the fear clawing at my chest. "I'd sooner tame a mountain goat than a savage beast like you." Evander's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Good. Because I have no intention of being tamed by some fae b***h. Welcome to Veyr."