Chapter 25

Béke Day Six

All eyes were on me when I waltzed into the breakfast room wearing a black crown glittering with diamonds, like the jeweler had pulled the night sky down and formed it into my new headpiece. All eyes except the four I truly wanted.

Where the fuck were Izidora and Ruslan?

My vision flashed black before I sucked in a breath, wrestling for control with the binding magic. I ran a palm over my face after I'd regained a semblance of it, then scanned the room for a third time, counting every noble attending Béke save for the two of them. I wanted to break something, but I was the king of the Night Realm, and I needed to act like the cold, calculated ruler I was expected to be. Squaring my shoulders and lifting my chin, I piled food onto my plate then strode to the table where the other monarchs sat.

Queen Viktoria and King Consort Geza's eyes narrowed for a fraction of a moment before they schooled their expressions, but King Airre was the first to comment on my new appearance. "Nice crown. Does this mean the Night Realm has decided on a change in leadership?"

The chair across from him was unoccupied, so I slid into it. "It does. I am now King of the Night Realm. I am afraid that Izidora will not choose me, so we thought it best that we have stable leadership in the face of uncertainty."

Queen Immonen's clear blue eyes cut my way momentarily before she lifted her drink to her lips and intently stared at the tapestry over my shoulder.

"I should think you also would like to keep a Night Fae ruler on your throne," King Airre offered, though his tone was unreadable, lacking sympathy or support.

"That we do. As High Lord Kaztar reminded me, House Vaszoly ruled prior to House Valynor." I bit into a roll slathered in butter, chewing slowly while the rulers of the Day Realm considered me.

"Does this change any of your other plans?" Queen Viktoria leaned in, voice dropping low with her question.

"It does not. The Night Realm was still attacked, unprovoked, and that will need to be answered, even if Izidora does not choose to return to her rightful home with me."

"Izidora does have a choice between two mates, you know," Queen Immonen hissed, unable to contain her words. The female was tense, fingers curled around her silverware and turning white. "The fate of our world rests upon this choice. It is not one she should take lightly."

King Airre shot her a look, placing his hand over hers in a soothing way. "What my mate means to say is that whomever Princess Izidora chooses, she must have a good reason for it."

Queen Viktoria made a low noise in her throat, and my attention immediately snapped to her. "Is there something you wish to say, Queen Viktoria?"

She waved her hand dismissively in my direction. "Only that you males are all self-important and do not often deign to consider what us females may go through."

Queen Immonen tipped her already raised glass at Queen Viktoria. "I'll drink to that." Her eyes cut my way again before she sipped.

This was not how I wanted this conversation to go.

I was losing control of the situation, fast. The hand that rested on my knee tightened over it, nearly bruising myself as I reined in my anger. "But of course, you are right," I said in my most polite, most humble voice. "We males like to fight and fuck and don't think often about feelings or the consequences."

"There is nothing quite like the feeling of victory, though," King Consort Geza chuckled. "Especially after you bested the best of all the realms yesterday, King Kazimir."

I lifted my glass to the king of the Day Realm. "Truer words have never been spoken. My mount will sport some of his new armor today for the horseback competition."

"I suppose High Lady Domi will be the ultimate winner today," Queen Immonen said quickly, clearly wanting to change the subject. "Her horses and horsemanship are impeccable."

"That would give the Night Realm a solid lead," I grinned. "Are you sure you want that?"

Queen Immonen frowned, and the rest of the monarchs sitting around the table shared a low laugh. "Peaceful competition, that is what Béke is for," she responded sharply. "If you'll excuse me, I need a small nap before today's activities."

The scrape of wood on stone preceded her departure, her silky dress floating behind her as she rushed from the dining space. "I'm afraid I am also requiring some extra sleep. I look forward to our peaceful competition later," her husband echoed before following his wife to their temporary home in the Iron Realm.

Queen Viktoria and King Consort Geza remained quiet a few seats down from me, so I turned my attention to my food, clearing my plate absentmindedly while I wondered where Izidora was.

Tuning into that tug in my belly that had allowed me to sense where she was, I found it to be faint, though not absent as it had been while we trekked from the Night Realm, through the Crystal and Day Realms, and finally into the Iron Realm to reach Radence. Excusing myself, I decided to follow that line and see where it led me.

After all, I was a king, and clearly, Izidora wanted a male who could offer her power and prestige rather than the other way around. But to show her that this change had taken place, I needed to find her, and then she would see that I could give her everything Ruslan had and more.

Between the ropes of magic in my chest, I called to my moonlight, pulling and manipulating shadows as I stalked the halls of Ryza, trying to remain inconspicuous. No one paid me any attention as the tug pulled me toward the main gates in the courtyard, and after a furtive glance around, I called on the binding magic to mix with the moonlight and cloaked myself in an invisible shield.

Out in the open air, the pull was stronger, so I called my wings to me and shot into the air, relishing their new thickness and strength since the binding magic had been gifted to me by the Fates. I flew for ten minutes in the direction of the Night Realm, curious as to why Izidora would be in this direction. The only sights below me were a smattering of houses and farms, closed up for the harsh winter, save for the animals bracing against the cold with their furry coats.

That tug had yet to lead me astray when I wanted to follow her, so I trusted that it was leading me in the right direction and kept flying until I spotted two small outbuildings that had been erected nearly against the sheer face of a large mountain. Hovering in place, I searched the surrounding area for any sign as to what the buildings might hold, but it wasn't until the sun broke the clouds that I spotted it – the hint of a reflection of glass and metal buried into the side of the mountain.

With a hard flap of my wings, I was off again, eyes glued to the spot where I had seen the flash of light. As I drew closer the building took shape, cleverly hidden so that someone who did not know what they were looking for would miss it. There were four stories in total, but the top floor had thick panes of glass wrapping its expanse, and I flew close to a panel on the end, the interior partially obscured by a thick black curtain. I pulled away for a moment, checking on my magic to ensure I remained hidden, then pressed against the glass, trying to see what lay beyond.

The room was dark compared to the light flaring outside as the sun rose over the jagged peaks surrounding us, but after I allowed my eyes to adjust, I finally saw her – naked and writhing under Ruslan. His whole torso was covered in ink, and his arms caged her in as she arched off the bed and into him, her scream reaching my ears as she fell apart. Red and black flashed in my eyes, and I forced myself to fly away to regain control, lest I reveal myself and my new powers when I needed to hide them.

My nails drew blood into my palms, and I smothered a growl in my throat.

This place was hidden for a reason, and I needed to discover what else was hidden here. Any information would provide me with an advantage, especially since the Iron Realm had always been so secretive. Dropping to the floor below, I discovered what looked like a library and formal receiving area, and below that, an expansive but deserted kitchen and staff quarters. Returning to the top floor, I forced myself to fly to the opposite side, where two fireplaces roared in massive hearths surrounded by plush, luxurious furniture. Above the palatial home, a thin railing corded off a large section of rock, the center holding a heavy iron door. If I had brought my iron-resistant gloves, I might have attempted to open it, but as it stood, I needed all the magic I could get.

The temptation to return to the window was too great, and against Endre's voice yelling in the back of my mind to return to Ryza, I flew toward it, needing to know what the two of them were doing – if they were still fucking.

Images of the two of us working in tandem to bring her to orgasm flashed through my mind, my cock hardening from both anger and lust. She fucking loved it, having two males filling her, and yet she chose to continue to only fuck him when I wasn't around? She should be crawling into bed with me, letting me worship her and show her how well we moved together. I wouldn't hold back with her next time, letting all my previously caged desires out to play. They would have scared her before, but now it was clear she enjoyed being captive, and I did aim to please.

Their movements had stilled when I peeked around the curtain, pressing my hands flush to the cold pane. Izidora and Ruslan were still wrapped together, but both held leather-bound books. Izidora glanced up from hers, asking Ruslan something and pointing. Placing his volume down, he turned Izidora's book so he could view it, stroking her arm while he read and responded to her. I clenched my teeth as she batted her thick, dark lashes at him, then returned her attention to the book.

So that bastard had taught her to read.

Izidora had accused me of intentionally manipulating her into wanting to take the throne, for not giving her contraception, and for keeping her in the dark. Me, the male who had saved her, released her from her chains, who had spent the majority of his life scouring every corner of the continent for her. Ruslan had done nothing. He was directly responsible for her abuse, and yet she believed he loved her because he taught her to read? Ruslan was the one who had manipulated her, not me.

Bile rose in my throat and I crinkled my nose as I left them alone. She was clearly delusional or had some sort of magic placed over her if she thought that he was the better choice out of the two of us.

I had to save her again, to ensure that she returned to the Night Realm where she would be safe. Where she would be my queen, and she would never leave my side. She'd have a child in her womb before the following summer if it killed me. No one would touch her, would hurt her, again because I'd never let her out of my sight. If I had overcome the effects of whatever the Iron Fae did to me when they stormed Este Castle, I would have prevented this, whatever Ruslan had done to her.

She was mine, and I would save her again, even if I had to resort to drastic measures to do so.