Page 127 of The Fallen Fae King

“Then I am doubling your salary. Send half back home to your family, and you better fucking keep the other half for yourself and start thinking of how you want to lead your own life. Do you understand, Iggy?”

I enjoy Ignatius’ stunned look.

“You’re serious.”

“I can be sometimes,” I reply, dryly.

He shocks us both by laughing, before he covers his mouth with his hand.

It’s surprisingly satisfying to see the sparkle in his icy blue eyes. It reminds me how flat they appear most of the time, especially when he is around that haughty bastard, his Omega dragon rider.

I wipe my hands together. “I imagine you will need it. That new Omega of yours appears to be the type to have expensive tastes for things like courting gifts and nests.”

A high maintenance Omega, I mean.

Instantly, the light in Ignatius’ eyes dims.

His shoulders stiffen with tension. “Aquila’s father, Cato, is an elite silver dragon on the Council. I can’t blame Aquila for being unhappy that my dragon bonded with him. After all, my family are just nobodies from the borderlands.”

Nobodies from the borderlands. The snobbish brat said that to my cousin…?

I stand, leaning over the desk. “How dare he say that to you? You’re the King’s cousin.”

Ignatius appears startled. “We’re newly bonded. I’m sorry, Your Majesty. Aquila meant no offense. Punish me in his place for insulting your royal line.”

I wave my hand. “Don’t be stupid.”

“We’ll work things out. My Omega is an exceptional cadet and rider. His record is⁠—”

“I don’t give two figs about his military record. If he disrespects you again, then he can answer to me.”

Ignatius’ cheeks flush. “Aquila is not so bad. Sometimes, he can be sweet, especially when he forgets himself and just allows himself to nuzzle and purr like he needs. He’s uptight like he’s frightened I’m going to punish him all the time. So, he hits out instead. Surely, it’s hard between all bondeds to begin with?”

“You could say that.” I hold out my hand. “Wraith’s daily report.”

Ignatius scrambles to pass me a parchment from underneath a pile on the desk.

I scan it hungrily.

Every day, I insist that the Guild sends me a detailed report on their games with Lanlin. If they need to keep a record of their methods, then they know that I am watching.

They won’t go too far.

I hope.

…forced silence…Truth or Hunger…VICIOUS dripped onto his back in wax…

I grimace but force myself to read to the end.

If Lanlin must suffer this month, then it is my duty to act as the witness to it.

My breathing picks up.

Once, I would have delighted in every detail of my revenge on the vampire king who killed my heroic brother. Now, I know that my brother was never the hero — the vampire was who saved my life.

Everything has been turned on its head.

Lost in the report, as my mind is somewhere deep in the dungeons with Lanlin, it takes a moment for me to hear the gentle laughter and voices, then the sound of a door opening.