A COURT OF SHIFTERS AND SECRETS

F I F T Y - S I X

THE DARK PRINCE

I paced my library and watched in utter helplessness as fae after fae started to surround the charred cabin that currently housed my Mate and her father's dead Wolf.

Judging by the glowing eyes of the Air elemental, I knew that he was masking the onslaught of sounds with his power.

Which meant that my Mate was going to die if I couldn't intervene soon.

My eyes snapped to the chronometer, noting that I had approximately thirty minutes before the damned gate was weak enough for me to pass through it.

My eyes snapped back to the screen as a small squeal sounded out, my visuals immediately blacking out as the creature I sent to monitor the situation was maimed by the last person I expected to see in the Wolf Realm.

"Helios..." the familiar voiced cooed, his face filling the screen as he held my creature in his hand "How long has it been?"

"Ailbhe" I sneered at him "How unfortunate."

"Don't be like that Little Prince" the man who I once considered a father figure stared smugly at me through my shadow creatures eyes, his own gleaming eyes reminding me just how much of a snake he really was "I truly do miss you. The Courts aren't just the same without your spirited presence."

I gritted my teeth "What are you doing Ailbhe?"

"Whatever do you mean?" His fake innocence irked me to no ends.

"You are many things Ailbhe" I sneered "A liar and a snake, sure, but an idiot you are not. What are you doing in the ShifterLands?"

"You always could see through me Little Prince" He sighed drastically "I guess now's the time for me to divulge my evil plan, isn't it?"

I cocked my head to the side, confusion marring my features at his words "What?"

Instead of answering me, he incinerated my shadow creature without a hint of warn, causing me to wince as I felt the entity's pain.

Son of Ęos...

Based on the time on the chronometer, I still had fifteen minutes trapped in this fucking prison of mine before I could save my Mate.

The only problem was that Ailbhe was much closer to her than I was and I knew without a doubt that if they sent him, the man they called the Knight's Blade, than he was going to kill her.

And it wasn't going to be a swift death by any means...the sick bastard was going to prolong her suffering until her sweet body gave out.

I mean, why wouldn't he want her to suffer? 

After all, her mother did reject their decades long engagement when she ran off and Mate with Wolfe Lupine.

~~~~~~

NOVA

I raised my trembling hand to the head of the Creature...my father, tears blurring my eyes as he nuzzled said head into my hand, a low whine rising in his throat.

"You're really him?" I whispered, pushing away the dirty moss and a few layers of decaying fur "You're really my father?"

He just blinked at me, that whine getting even more higher in pitch.