Hidden Fate

2

“What does it feel like, learning that the son you cast away and tried to bring back can’t help you? Do you like knowing that even as you die, neither of your children can stand you?”

Thorn punched his brother in the face as a tear ran down King Arman’s cheek. Drake stumbled back several feet, blood pouring from his nose.

The king’s going to fall, I connected, as my lungs seized.

Drake wasn’t focused on his father as he pinched his nose to get the bleeding to stop.

Agony ripped through Thorn, and he kneeled in front of King Arman and pulled the man into his arms. The blood from the king’s mouth smeared across my mate’s stomach, though everything inside me screamed at me to go to him, Cassidy and Vlad tightened their hold on my arms, keeping me back.

Drake snarled as blood trickled into his mouth, making my blood run cold. Thorn’s back was turned to the asshole.

I yanked out of Cassidy’s and Vlad’s grip and rushed between Thorn and Drake, positioning myself so I could see both men.

“I’m…so…sorry.” King Arman’s words were nearly inaudible, even with my new dragon hearing. “I…was…wrong.”

Thorn moved the king onto his side to look into his eyes.

I touched Thorn’s arm, our jolt sizzling. I needed him to know I was there. At one time, the king had been a loving father to him.

“I forgive you,” Thorn whispered, taking in a ragged breath.

A sad smile spread across the king’s face. Then his already faint heartbeat stopped. The world seemed eerily quiet. The breeze slowed, and the only sounds were of everyone’s pulse and breathing.

Two things the king would never experience again, all because of Drake.

Anger boiled inside me. I’d never held such rage before. Even though the king had done something horrible, he hadn’t truly wanted Thorn to die. All of this was on Drake.

Drake wanted Thorn dead and me as his wife, so he’d ordered his warriors and all the other dragons to hunt us down.

Theron, Vlad’s father’s friend, had hidden us in his safe house near his thunder, and Thorn had healed his son to thank him because Drake was also hunting and killing injured dragons. Theron’s second in command, Wyvern, had seen Thorn do it and, without knowing the true situation, alerted Drake to Thorn’s presence. Drake had come here, willing to kill as many of Theron’s thunder as needed to draw Thorn out. And now Drake had killed King Arman because the king had finally been poised to do what was right.

It all led back to the arrogant prince.

Tears trailed down my mate’s face, stirring up that anger and hatred inside me. No one hurt my mate.

Errol, Saphira, and several warriors sniffled as they watched their king die. Every sound fed my hate.

Something moved in the corner of my vision, and I turned to see Drake pulling a tranq gun from a male warrior’s side.

I jumped to my feet as Drake pointed the gun at Thorn’s neck. There was no way in hell I’d allow him to shoot my mate. I connected, Thorn, duck!

My dragon surged forward in my mind, helping me move faster than normal. In a flash, I leapt the five feet to Drake and tackled him.

As I slammed into his chest, his arm lifted. I tried to stop my forward momentum, but Drake fell backward, and I tumbled right after him. At least he’d dropped the tranq gun.

A moment before my body would have pressed against Drake’s, a strong arm wrapped around me and yanked me back against a hard, muscular chest. My skin buzzed.

Thorn.

Warm wetness hit the center of my back, and a lump formed in my throat.

I knew exactly what it was.

King Arman’s blood.

White-hot fury blazed, but when Thorn’s fingers pressed into my skin, I realized his anger was exacerbating mine.

“You will pay for everything,” Thorn snarled, as he gently set me aside. “I’m going to tear you limb from limb.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Drake hissed as he stood. “I’m the acting king now that my father is dead.”

That confirmed my worst fear. “King Arman said the throne doesn’t go to you,” I spat.

“He never said that. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Drake moved closer to me, and Thorn stepped back to keep the same amount of distance between us and him.

Drake smirked at me. “You’ll be my wife and queen, especially with a body like that. I’ll forgive that you allowed the abomination to touch you…just for him.”

“You son of a bitch.” Thorn pulled me behind him, blocking Drake’s view, and connected, Get out of the way.

“Shoot him and detain the others!” Drake commanded his warriors. “We need to hurry back to the château. There are several executions to record and a coronation to plan.”

Saliva filled my mouth. This time, we weren’t getting out of this.

When none of the warriors moved, Thorn punched Drake in the jaw. Drake stumbled back, tripping over Tyson’s unconscious body, which lay near five of Drake’s guards.

Thorn rushed Drake again, but Drake snarled, “You know what will happen if you disobey.”

The female warrior lifted her rifle with shaky hands, aiming it at Thorn.

No! Not this again.

As her finger touched the trigger, I connected with Thorn, Get down!

He dropped, and for a split second, my heartbeat steadied…until the dart barreled toward me. I ducked, too, and the dart sailed an inch over my head.

Thank goodness Thorn had over two feet on me, or that would’ve gone sideways.

Thorn stood, and one of the king’s warriors lifted his weapon. His hands were steady as he fired…and the tranq soared past Thorn and into the woman who’d shot at my mate.

The warrior shouted, “Thorn is the future king! Protect him!”

Drake’s eyes bulged, and his face reddened. “Take down anyone who’s against me, or your families will be killed.”

Several of Drake’s guards pivoted and aimed their guns at Thorn.

My breath caught, and I wasn’t sure what to do.

“Protect Thorn!” another warrior yelled from the back, and two who were aiming at Thorn were hit with darts and fell to the ground.

Thorn, get out of the crossfire, I connected. Now that the warriors had moved back several feet, I rushed to Tyson and tossed the young shifter over my shoulder. Unfortunately, his p***s hit my arm, but there was nothing I could do about it. We were all naked for this fight.

When I turned, Thorn was running, heading toward Theron’s settlement, chasing after Drake.

A gentle hand touched my shoulder. I spun around, ready to defend myself and Tyson as best I could with one arm, but Cassidy’s familiar face made me pause.