“I threatened to reveal her demonfae status if she didn’t help us.”
“How… Evanora-like of you.” I stated drolly, folding my arms across my chest and leaned against the table. Evanora kept her emotions tightly bound; she almost had to, in order to keep everything together.
There was a reason Rogue wasn’t with her, why we wouldn’t see him for a while.
Zara fucked when she was angry. And she was angry at her destroyed party and her missing bracelet.
And so, right now, the very man that Evanora loved, was busy fucking her worst enemy. If she didn’t keep a tight rein over her emotions, her feelings for Rogue and what he was doing with Zara, her anger towards her sister and how she was destroying Evanora’s beloved birthright, everything would combust and burn the whole empire to the ground.
Her eyes assessed Blayde and every instinct in me battled to keep still instead of stepping between them. I tapped my finger across my bicep, holding back my emotions. I valued and respected Evanora and all the work she as doing, but I would destroy anything that threatened my fated mate.
Evanora’s eyes fell to me, giving me a knowing smile. It quickly turned to a sympathetic gaze.
She took in a deep breath and focused back on Blayde. “I love these men, they’ve risked everything to work with me. And, as soon as I realized that not only were you a demonfae, but fated mates with my men, I had to know you were serious about helping them.” She paused, her lips pressed tight. “And not that you’d come here for any other purpose.”
At that, Blayde flinched.
This time, I did step forward. “If you knew we were fated mates, then that should’ve been your hint that she would’ve never done anything to put us in harm.”
Evanora’s eyebrows furrowed and she looked back at me. “I guess I… I didn’t think about that.”
I quirked my eyebrow upwards. “Of course not.”
Her gaze softened as she looked back at Blayde. “I’m sorry. And I must apologize for Ivie, as well.” She sighed, running her hand through her smooth hair, revealing her true feelings. She was exhausted. “I had no idea. Not that Ivie loved me like that, or that she was an ice demon, or…” She sputtered out. “Honestly, I’m beginning to feel like I didn’t really know her at all.”
Blayde stepped forward, surprising me by pulling Evanora into her arms. “It’s okay. Sometimes people do things that shock us, and we feel like we never knew them.” She chuckled. “Believe me, I know what you’re going through right now. But remember that they did those things because they loved us.” She paused, her voice trembling, but she pulled in a breath, composing herself. “And I forgive you. I know you’re just trying to protect the people you love.”
Evanora’s eyes were wide as she stared up at me, clearly stunned. Then she wrapped her arms around Blayde, closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath. Her lips trembled and I knew she was trying to hold her composure, and the hug lasted a little bit longer than I expected. Blayde finally pulled away and Evanora wiped at her eye.
“Thank you, Blayde.” She smiled. “Besides, I knew that my men wouldn’t care you’re a demonfae. You were never in any harm.”
“Except Rhys. He doesn’t seem too happy about it.”
“Don’t worry about him. He’ll get over it soon.” Evanora waved off her concerns. “He just doesn’t know how to deal with the big emotions he’s feeling inside.”
Blayde tilted her head to the side, considering Evanora’s words. Then she nodded and, putting her hand in her pocket, she pulled out the Madavre bracelet. Both Evanora and I took a subconscious step away from it. “What am I supposed to do with this? Now that we have it. Does that mean that we can defeat Zara now?”
Evanora shook her head. “Yes and no. We can’t just step into the castle and wave it around.” She frowned. “Unfortunately, my vision didn’t clarify what we’re supposed to do with it. But I… I have a feeling that you’re going to be the one to figure that out.”
Blayde sighed. “And I had a feeling you were going to say that.”
“Don’t worry.” Evanora smiled and patted her shoulder, still keeping a distance from the bracelet. “We’ll figure it all out together.” Then she looked up at me, her eyes hopeful. “I heard Nana made cookies.”
48
Blayde
The news that I not only had fated mates but that