Seven

Moon

“ B efore any of you tries to send me to an early grave, I can explain.” Steve raises his hands in defense, his eyes scanning us until they land on my father. “My King!” Steve gasps, then drops to one knee and bows his head. It quickly snaps back up, though, as he looks the King over with wide, tear-filled eyes. “She broke the curse. You’re free…” Steve whispers, before looking at me.

“She did,” I say, lifting a brow at the man responsible for setting me on this path. I cross my arms over my chest and wait. “His words are what sent me into the games, and I suspect he’s the one that signed me up for the games, in case I had forgotten what he said to me…”

“I knew the only way to keep either of you safe, was to make the Queen–”

“Norma is not the Queen,” my father hisses, and Steve nods his head in instant agreement.

“Of course not, your grace. I apologize,” Steve goes on. “I needed Norma to believe I was working for her. That I was betraying you…” He winces as he says the words, and I can tell it bothers him. “I never did anything that I didn’t absolutely have to. Once my son was born, Moon’s mate, Fenrick, I had even less freedom. She knew exactly how to manipulate me. How to control me.”

“Still can’t believe you have a son with her…” Shine murmurs, and Steve winces again.

“It wasn’t something I wanted. Or had any control over either. Norma isn’t in the habit of asking.” Steve stands, taking a step closer to us, but my men growl in unison. He puts his hands up again. “She sent me with you to keep my eye on you and to kill Moon. I told her that you were paranoid and never left Moon alone with anyone.”

My mother’s eyes narrow. She looks ready to choke the life out of him. “I trusted you with her, all those years, and you had orders to kill her?” My mother’s voice cracks. “You were my best friend…” The betrayal in her voice can’t be hidden.

“I never would have hurt her, Shine. When I had no one, you came along and took my hand. I would have never betrayed you. She started hurting Fen, as a punishment for my failure. I told her my cover was blown, and that was why she had me arrested. The necklace I gave you was to hide your power from her, as well as a tool to help you absorb Chaos and channel it. When I told you to join the Elven games, it was because I thought if your father could see you, it would possibly help him break free of his mental prison. Of course, I had no idea at the time that the spell she had him under was actually a powerful curse.” Steve rambles a little bit.

“So you weren’t trying to get me killed?” I ask, lifting a brow.

“No, of course not.”

“Was Norma the one who signed me up for the Elven Games?” I ask, and Steve nods. Well, I guess it wasn’t him after all.

“She was hell-bent on revenge against your mother. She was also trying to get rid of any chance that someone might challenge her reign.” Steve shakes his head. “She’s been trying to kill you your entire life. There were a few times she believed the attempt was successful.”

“Thankfully not,” Kili growls.

“Fen is up there confronting her,” I say, my anxiety grows the longer we’re down here and not by his side.

“I know. That's how I knew you’d be down here. I came to warn you that she’s got something planned. I don’t know what, but she wouldn’t give up without a fight. I saw her speaking with a necromancer. She–”

“She’s dead.” It’s my turn to growl. “Whatever her big plan was, we ruined it last night when we killed the Necromancer.”

“She’ll have a back-up.” Steve shakes his head, and I frown.

“That changes nothing. We need to find Fen. Now.” I push past Steve and approach Sweet Girl. Time to go find my mate.