Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Ryker

“Where did you find her?” I inquired.

“An outer realm.”

It was an odd place for such a refined woman; the outer realms were usually far less civilized than other realms. Many were barren, rocky lands no one had inhabited, and some of the most dangerous members of the Shadow Realms had settled others.

Some outer realms had become lush environments under the guidance of the immortals who inhabited them. And others were unexplored mysteries waiting for someone to stumble across them.

Most outer realms were forsaken, lawless lands where those who shunned formal society, or were wanted criminals, went to live. Right now, leaving Tempest and fleeing with Ellery to one sounded enticing, but even if I could escape, I’d promised Leo to look after our realm if something happened to him, and I would uphold my promise.

“And you just randomly ran into her while you were traveling. ” I purposely emphasized the word like he had. “What are the chances of that happening?”

He rubbed his chin while a smile tugged at his lips. “I’d say they’re very slim, considering there’s an unknown number of realms and endless possibilities.”

“You knew she existed before you encountered her.”

It wasn’t a question; I knew my father well enough to know he’d planned this somehow. But how could he possibly know about her existence when Leo didn’t?

Leo might have known.

I’d believed Leo and I shared everything, but there were things I hadn’t told him… such as my father’s abuse of me. If I’d kept things from him, why wouldn’t he keep them from me?

But why wouldn’t Leo tell me about his daughter? It didn’t matter she was a half blood who was born out of wedlock; as Leo’s daughter, she had a claim on the throne, but as a half blood, many in the realm wouldn’t welcome her there… mainly the aristocrats and Leo’s brother, our current king, Ivan.

Was that why he’d kept her a secret if he had known about her?

No one, other than a pure-blooded amsirah, had ever ruled Tempest before. She was still the rightful ruler, even as a half-breed, but her dark fae blood would keep many from fully embracing her as the amsirah queen. Many would fight against her.

If Brianna tried to become ruler, it could result in a Civil War, which was the last thing Tempest needed. We’d already lost too many amsirah to the Ghoul War, and many more of them were suffering beneath Ivan’s rule.

Shit . I ran a hand through my hair as dozens of scenarios raced through my mind.

Things had gotten much more complicated, something I hadn’t believed possible. And I still didn’t know the most important thing of all… What is my father doing with her?

I didn’t know the answer, but whatever his plans for Brianna, they would benefit him and most likely hurt her. Hurting others was what he did best.

When I met them again, my father’s pale green eyes sparkled with amusement. I could feel him trying to peel back the layers of my mind to see what I was thinking, but I kept my face blank.

I couldn’t give him the reaction he sought, but questions bombarded me until they became a tumultuous, endless noise in my head. To quiet the racket, I focused on taking in the details of this man I loathed so much.

No matter my hatred for him, I couldn’t deny the similarities in our features. He wasn’t as broad or tall as me, and his hair was a dark blond instead of a dark brown color, but no matter how much I’d tried to deny him over the years, he was my father.

He was also one of the most evil, conniving men I’d ever encountered, and I’d met some horrific beings during my lifetime. Some of those beings had thrown me in a dungeon and tortured me; others had tried to take over my realm and kill me, but I still considered my father the worst.

“I knew she existed before I met her,” my father confirmed what I’d already suspected.

“How did you know?”

“Leo told me.”

I’d worked to keep my expression blank, but those words staggered me. I tried to cover it, but his smug smile told me I’d failed to hide my shock.

Cursing myself, I suppressed a sneer as my eyes narrowed on him. “ Why would he do that?”

“Because he was seeking my help in getting you to marry her.”