Page 82 of Fae Mates

Prince Bradwell rushed toward the guards. “Stop,” he said. “You need to investi—”

My head snapped up to the thrones, where Queen Titania sat with both scepters on her lap. I ground my teeth. She had probably stopped Prince Bradwell from speaking out, just as she had silenced her other sons during the trial, where she tried to condemn me to the Dark Fae Prison.

Prince Bradwell rushed toward the stairs, but a bolt of lightning hit the marble at his feet, making him jump back.

“Let go of me.” I struggled in Prince Rory’s grip.

“Her Majesty won’t attack you as long as you’re with one of us.” He held onto me tighter. “Pokeweed will never forgive us if we left you vulnerable.”

Every ounce of resistance drained away, leaving my muscles weak. He was right. If I rushed in with no plan, Queen Titania would fry my body to cinders. Even if she didn’t, the guards would use me as a hostage, making Pokeweed surrender his life to save mine.

The guards regrouped, some of them with bows and arrows pointing at Pokeweed.

“Fire,” shouted their superior, a blue-winged faerie with a flat cap.

Arrows flew toward Pokeweed’s chest, and I clapped my hand over my mouth. With one swish of his arm, Pokeweed turned the arrows back, and they landed in the shooters’ chests.

Prince Bradwell raised his arms and summoned a wind that knocked the other guards to the ground.

“Traitorous wretch!” Queen Titania shot a spear of lightning at Prince Bradwell’s back.

He dodged left, but the lightning forked and speared him through the shoulder blade. Prince Bradwell stiffened, his cerise hair standing on end.

I clapped a hand over my mouth as the scent of his burned flesh filled the air.

Mouth agape, he turned to the throne. “Your Majesty?”

The queen pointed her fingers at Prince Bradwell. “No son of mine would side with his father’s murderer.” As he staggered toward her, she shot several thin bolts into his chest.

Prince Bradwell fell onto the marble floor with a thud.

I lurched forward, but Prince Rory tightened his grip around my waist. I glanced around at all the courtiers, who stood against the walls and observed as though the queen’s madness was a regular occurrence at Court.

On the other side of the throne room, a battle raged between Prince Caulden and the Duke of Nevermore. On the far right of the room, a pair of silver-haired courtiers rushed forward to intervene, but Prince August held them off with a ring of fire.

Tears burned the back of my eyes. After mating with five powerful princes, there wasn’t a thing I could do to help.

“We’ve got to do something about your mother before she attacks again,” I said to Prince Rory.

With a sharp nod, the prince swept his arm in the direction of the stairs, sending a gust of wind to Queen Titania. It swept her off the throne, but she held onto its diamond armrest with one hand and managed to raise a pointed finger toward Pokeweed.

My stomach dropped. If she could attack Prince Bradwell for trying to help Pokeweed, then her next strike would be deadly. Sweat poured down my brow. I needed to think of a way to protect Pokeweed from the guards and from the wrath of the queen.

“More wind,” I said to Prince Rory.

A guard rushed at Pokeweed with a spear, but he slipped on King Oberon’s blood and fell on his back.

White smoke rose from the king’s body, reminding me of the silvery mist that had transformed my life. “Pokeweed,” I screamed. “Form a barrier around yourself and King Oberon!”

He turned to me with a nod, and an arrow sliced through his bicep. Pokeweed hissed and clutched his arm.

“You can’t distract him in a fight,” said Prince Rory.

“It was important.”

Pokeweed stamped his foot, and the marble curved around the pair, shielding them from the next attack of arrows.

Queen Titania screeched, “Guards, kill that girl!”