198

I handed Sorin the memory stick and he brought his laptop to the table nestled between the sofas. I leaned back into my seat, knowing that his life would never be the same again, not after this.

The only sound in Sorin’s office was the clicking of his mouse as he looked through the files. I could see from his expression that the truth was beginning to dawn on him. “What the hell is all this?”

“You’re looking at a kill order that King Florin sent to the Florida Elders. They reported me and my mother to the King. I merged with my dragon when I was five. When King Rex died my father was ordered to France. King Florin asked my father to remain as the King’s Assassin, which he declined, but the kill order had already been sent.”

“That is the King’s signature.” Sorin confirmed what I already knew.

“If the King ordered your deaths, how are you, your father and Abigail still alive?” Dorin was clenching and unclenching his hands.

“My father was on a jet back to Florida when he realized something wasn’t right. He killed the men on board with him, King’s Guards. He jumped out of the jet and flew home on his dragon. By the time he reached our island, almost everyone was dead. He found my mother, bleeding out, her dragon already shimmering. He had to cut her open to get Abigail out.”

Memories flashed in my mind as the men’s faces now revealed themselves to me. Ryder had killed them all as well. Our whole tribe died that day, so many bodies, blood and headless corpses.

“You’ll need more than just a kill order from the King.”

“King Rex left a video message, it’s better if you just watch it.”

I moved the laptop and located the video file. They both looked shocked, unwell even and I double clicked the icon so they could hear the truth from the King’s mouth. The video opened and Sorin inhaled sharply as the image of King Rex appeared on the screen.

‘Ryder, I don’t have much time. I’m being poisoned by someone close to me and the Florida Elders have reported your wife and son’s dragons. I’m sorry for what will happen to you because they will come for them. A friend of mine wrote this spell for you, any witch can perform it, the people present in the room will remember you but everyone else will forget your history. Your life will be erased and so will your accomplishments but that will also set you free. The first dragoness in our history will either be tamed or killed and I’m so sorry. Perhaps you’ll still have time to stop the attack. Hurry, Ryder, your family’s not safe.’

“King Rex made sure my father had an escape plan. He provided the spell that protected us and erased my father’s legacy.”

“Poisoned …” Sorin looked like he might throw up or pass out, perhaps both.

“I don’t have any proof but I strongly believe that Florin killed his father for the throne.”

“If this is all true the King will have you killed.” Sorin looked at his son that had spoken and the truth of his bonding with Abigail finally dawned in reality for him. We were all in danger if the truth ever came to light.

“That’s where you come in, Sorin. Let the King meet Abigail, let him connive a plan for bonding with Nicu. Whatever he does it’s going to involve blackmail or a threat to get her to comply. I’ll stay close to her. You can compile all the evidence against him …”

“Gathering a High Council in secret is harder than you think. They will want to see your evidence and word can get back to the King and we will all be dead.”

“That’s why you won’t be convening a High Council.”

“I won’t?” Sorin looked thoroughly confused.

“You’re going to convince the King to hold a massive ball in honour of Nicu and Abigail’s engagement, inviting the Vampire King, the Fae King, the Alpha King and their advisors. Their ranks allow for them to hold a claim trial.”

“Why would he invite them into his territory?”

“Because gaining a daughter-in-law with a dragoness gives him the added power to rub their noses in it.”

“Ah vanity. Something the King does suffer from.”

“With all this evidence you’re ensuring the King’s demise. What of Nicu? He becomes King if Florin dies and he will still be engaged to Abigail.” Dorin’s eyes flashed yellow as he said Nicu’s name.

“The engagement will be null and void with Florin’s death and Abigail will be free.”

“That is true, my boy. Wynter has a good plan, we now just need to follow it and you need to stay away from the girl.”

“I will honour the plan father, but first, I must meet her and speak with her. My dragon will not rest until he’s reached out to hers.”

“It was never my intention to keep you away from her, Dorin. You can only meet with her in our room though, in public you can’t even look at her and there will be no exchange of blood.” Dorin nodded his head in acceptance and Sorin stood up and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“You are a good son, Wynter. I would one day like to meet your father, the man that raised you to be all you are now.”

“We only have a few hours until the King lays eyes on Abigail, let’s get this meeting over with.”

I left with Dorin following me out of the office. Abigail didn’t even know she had a bonded half yet and we’d already concocted this plan to save them both. I smelled Cali’s scent seconds before I heard her voice and that of another man. It was odd that I felt a twinge of jealousy when they turned the corner, hand in hand.

Dorin bowed his head. “Prince Nicu.” I bowed my head as well because not doing so could land me in the basement cells. “Cali.”

“Dorin, good day to you.” Prince Nicu was very formal and he eyed me suspiciously.

“What are you doing here?” she asked me, her face a little flushed.

“I’m pretty sure not the same thing as you.”

“Who is this?” Prince Nicu asked her, his hand leaving hers and sliding around her waist.

“This is Wynter Grey, the man that rejected me.”

“Your loss is my gain, Mr Grey.” He smiled smugly at me and I returned the smile.

“I’m glad that you could gain a woman like Cali.”

“I’m really glad to see that you harbor no ill feelings. Cali and I have known each other since childhood and recently learned that my father approved of the union.”

“Congratulations are in order then, my Prince.” I bowed my head again as he smiled and we went our separate ways.

“You rejected her?” Dorin questioned me.

“She’s shallow and vain.” I didn’t do well with all these conflicting emotions because I was pretty sure that I had already fallen for Ally, hard.

“You rejected her remember, jealousy doesn’t suit you moron.” Echo’s voice was rough and deep, like he’d just woken up.

“I guess the bond takes time to break and I rejected her for all the right reasons.”

Echo didn’t answer me and her scent faded and disappeared as we went up another floor and I unlocked the door to our suite. Abigail came out of her room and I saw the relief on her face when she saw it was me.

“Wynter …” She inhaled sharply when Dorin appeared behind me, her eyes flashing yellow.

“This is Dorin, your bonded half.”

Dorin was rooted to the spot, staring at her, their eyes glazed over and flashing yellow as their dragons reached out to one another. Dorin took the first step towards her and that seemed to break the spell for her.

“Abigail.” Dorin was right in front of her now and I felt like the third wheel.

“Don’t do anything stupid.” I left them in the living room and closed the bedroom door behind me softly.

I pulled the burner phone from the hidden pouch in my duffel and punched Milo’s number in. It rang three times before I heard his voice come through, alert and ready.

“Milo.”

“Talk to me.” Hearing his voice took me home in my mind and I could see him lounging on the sofa.

“The plan’s gone to shit. Abby met her bonded half and he’s in on the new plan.”

“Can you trust him to follow through?”

“Yes. He’s in. We’re at the Country Palace in Sinaia, two hours from Bucharest. The King will meet Abby tonight.”

“I’m on my way.”

“Speak to Clarke, there are no vampires here.”

“I already have the dose. I’ll check in when I land.”

“See you soon.”

Abigail and Dorin sat on the sofa, Abby had her legs tucked under her and they sat staring at each other. I cleared my throat but neither of them noticed me. Their hands were intertwined and I could almost feel the despondency in the air.

I sat down and Abigail turned to look at me. “I don’t want to reject him.”

“You don’t have to.” I spent the next half hour telling Abigail about our plan, everything I’d shared with Sorin and the evidence I had against the King.

“You want me to pretend when I know he killed my mother?”

“It’s for the greater good, Abby. Who knows how many times he’s done this and gotten away with it? He’ll do it again and if he gets the idea that you’re not willing to bond with Nicu, you’ll have an accident too. He’s already killed one dragoness, don’t be the second one.”

“We won’t let anything happen to you.” Dorin squeezed Abigail’s hand and her gaze softened as she looked at him.

“So I’m the bait.”

“You’ll be safe. The King’s most prized possession, he won’t let any harm come to you, not unless you give him a reason to.”

“You can’t be everywhere.”

“Milo’s on his way.”

“Who’s Milo?” Dorin frowned slightly because Abby had smiled at the mention of his name.

“Our brother.” Abigail’s voice sounded small and I felt my heart melt just a little.

“What happens when all this is over? Nicu will know that Dorin had a hand in his father’s death. You won’t be able to stay here.”

“I don’t have all the answers yet, Abigail, but I will. All I do know for sure is that I’ll be wherever you are.”

I chuckled and turned my face away as Dorin looked at me. “Sorry, but you are so whipped.”

We all started laughing then and I left them to say goodbye to each other. We had an hour before dinner and they both had a role to play. When Abigail got out of the shower, I hugged her to me tight, rubbing my scent off on her and drowning out Dorin’s.

“Relax and breathe, Abby. Don’t look at Dorin and smile when you meet the King.”

“I know, Wynter, but Scylla’s hate is filtering through and she has a lot of it. I think I’m going to throw up.” She ran from the living room and I heard her in the bathroom as she threw up twice. I wasn’t sure anymore if she could do this.