Wolf Princess Sold to the Dragon King

”Okay, Shadowfell was invited to a celebration that included twenty kings in a public setting where you, father, facilitated a conversation of a marriage between myself and one of them, without giving me any kind of warning in advance, and one where they called out what they would pay for me until there were two left, and Maddox won after tossing you an urn and filling the hall with chests of gold.”

Renwick didn’t blink. ”I did not raise you to speak on emotion, daughter. You and I both know that is an exaggeration of what actually occurred.”

”Sure, Father,” she said with warmth. ”How about we call it an unplanned spousal acquisition event where Maddox assertively presented counter-financing for me in a competitive social environment?”

”Let me guess,” Kael deadpanned. ”Maddox said something devastatingly cocky while doing it. He did, didn’t he? Your face gives you away, Wolf Girl. He did.”

Renwick ignored Kael, his gaze on Guinevere. When he spoke, it came out as an Alpha command. ”You will not speak to me like that, daughter. Shut your mouth.”

Lord Solandris held up a hand. Every head at the table swiveled towards him as one.

”Here’s what I suspect: Dark magic altered Maddox’s mind. He was functioning normally, so you, and everyone else have been trying to cover it up until you are able to solve it. The dark magic has something to do with keeping you away from him. Last night, he connected the dots on his own, which is why we had a three part family drama act plus an encore.” He paused. ”How am I doing so far?”

”Answer him. Tell the truth,” Renwick commanded, still using his Alpha tone.

Guinevere’s mouth opened without her permission. ”Congratulations. You’re the first person in this tent tonight who’s been right about something. Marek, take notes.”

She didn’t hate her response delivery. But she was furious at the fact she was the weakest link in keeping that a secret and now it could come back to hurt Maddox.

”Quick question, Renwick. Do you Alpha command all your children into honesty, or just the ones you sell?” Kael asked.

Renwick’s eyes flashed with pure rage. ”Watch your fucking mouth, dragon. You don’t know a goddamn thing about what I did or why.”

Lord Solandris looked at Kael. ”You, boy, saw a moment of weakness last night, and claimed her under the pretense that she took your flame, not your brother’s. You thought you could get away with it too, because he had no memories of her, but he figured it out.”

”Woah, buddy,” Kael replied. ”You are barking up the wrong damn tree. Yes on the matching flames bit. Hers is a little taller than mine, but you know, mine makes up for it in girth and stamina.”

Eron and Marek opened their mouths at the same time. Kael held up a hand matching what Lord Solandris had done a minute ago. Both shut their mouths.

”The rest of that statement is horseshit. Last night my baby brother knocked her to the ground, marked her, and gave a giant middle finger to all you pearl-clutching pricks. Ask anyone.”

Guinevere’s face heated at that. Her memory was fog and she was hoping that was an exaggeration. To quote her father, Kael was just being emotional.

”Oh yes, the entire damn continent knows,” Eron snapped.

”You mentioned the term activated. Why am I here tonight?” she asked, breaking free from the Alpha command.

Renwick and Beta Draven both blinked, completely shocked. Guinevere was also pleasantly surprised.

”Dark Fae knocked on the front doors of twenty-two Dragon Houses this week looking for you, girl,” Eron answered. ”Your husband is a king first, husband second. If it comes down between you or his people, he will choose his people.”

Lord Solandris took a sip of his whiskey and let out a breath. The first crack in his ice composure the entire night.

”It’s not looking good, Granddaughter, unfortunately. The dark fae are everywhere you are. I didn’t believe their response would be so strong until I saw it with my own eyes. The Eclipse Court has a standing offer for you. The dark fae don’t want Velkaris. They want you.”

”For fuck’s sake.” Kael rolled his eyes at the ceiling. ”Lighten up. Somebody open a goddamn window.”

”Dark fae are also scratching at Lunaris’s door and every pack in Nyros because you exist,” Lord Solandris continued. ”They drink flame. So the dragon fleet your husband promised your father cannot help.”

Guinevere looked at her father, who was silent.

”That is a genuinely diabolical sales pitch,” Kael announced to the room, with the appreciation of a connoisseur sampling a rare poison. ”Wrap a kidnapping in heartfelt concern for the victim’s loved ones. Chef’s kiss. Monstrous. Please, continue.”

”Understood,” Guinevere said. ”I don’t have your white light. I think you have the wrong person.”

”We shall see. There is one final thing we are going to do to ensure that is not the case, Granddaughter. Something we didn’t want to resort to until we knew for certain, but this will be easier than the other things.”

”Hard pass,” Guinevere replied immediately, ”Your concern, is noted, truly. And it was wonderful meeting you all.” She considered her words. ”Not really, actually. It’s been terrible. But maybe next time it will be under better circumstances.”

”Silence,” Renwick ordered in his Alpha command.

Guinevere didn’t have anything else to say to these people.

Lord Solandris lifted a hand.

A man entered through a side flap that connected to another tent.

He was beautiful in a way that felt designed rather than born: hair like late winter sun, the face of a god, and silver-blue eyes that landed on Guinevere immediately.

His pupils dilated.

Guinevere blinked, then looked away from him, back at the table in front of her, only to see Marek, Eron, and Lord Solandris standing.

All three bowed. Lord Solandris with grace, Marek with one functional hand, and Eron with the slumped posture of a man who had been thoroughly broken by the thing he’d spent hours trying to break.

Kael’s face went through four stages in two seconds: surprise, delight, the urgent need to say something devastating, and the superhuman restraint of not saying it.

Guinevere took a sip of her drink, fully aware she was technically being rude for not acknowledging him, and fully at peace with that.

”My granddaughter is confused,” Lord Solandris said. ”If she appears rude, it is because we’ve been trying and failing to unlock her light for a few hours, and I would consider it a personal favor if you did not hold it against her. Her usual demeanor is docile and agreeable.”

Marek didn’t react. His face was a wall. His hand, however, twitched involuntarily at ”docile.” Eron’s expression was equally empty, the blankness of a man who had been bitch-clapping at the docile woman for hours.

Beta Draven raised his glass to his mouth and left it there. Renwick closed his eyes for a full second.

Kael’s shoulders shook once. Twice. Then his face cracked and what came out was a noise that lived somewhere between a cough and a cry. He covered it by clearing his throat. The throat-clear convinced no one. Guinevere looked at him. He looked at her. The look between them lasted one second and contained an entire review of the word ”docile” that neither of them would ever say out loud but both would remember for the rest of their lives.

Still standing, Lord Solandris shifted his attention down to Guinevere. ”This is the King of Light, Granddaughter. A great war is coming, and that light is the only thing that defeats dark fae.”

Guinevere still wouldn’t look at him. It was taking great effort because she could still feel his gaze burning a hole in the side of her head.

The King of Light spoke. ”Something dark has touched her. Who.”

”No one touched her. She was unable to produce Luminari magic this evening.” Eron answered for the room. ”But the dark fae responded to her without exception. Every one of them named her vessel. There is no question. She is the one.”

”Pretty sure that qualifies as having dark fae touch her,” Kael snapped.

He looked at the King of Light, then back at Guinevere who was refusing to look at the king. Then back at the radiant king who was staring at Guinevere in a trancelike state and arrived at the conclusion. The last one at the table to figure it out. ”You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

Guinevere didn’t hesitate, still looking straight ahead.

”I, Guinevere Lunaris, reject the King of Light as my fated mate.”