Page 234 of The Fallen Fae King

No one will be left behind.

I shudder, sensing the portal’s seductive pull this close.

A cold wind and snowflakes swirl through the portal. My face lights up at the feel of my frozen Unseelie Kingdom.

This is it.

I’m finally coming home.

The Fallen King is returning.

“I knew that pets were the villains and couldn’t be trusted,” a sneering voice cuts across my joy. “You should have been kept caged. From now on, you will be.”

Maximinus.

Alarmed, I attempt to shove Freya through the portal.

Suddenly, however, something golden and metallic shoots out. It catches my Omega around the waist.

Freya screams.

Terrified, I twirl to face Maximinus. “Let her go.”

We are so close to escaping.

This is the first part of the secret plan that I have held from the beginning.

I can’t let it fail now, but I also won’t allow anything to happen to my Omega.

I feel like I am being torn in two.

“Thorn…” Wren gasps, slumping forward.

The portal wavers, as if it is barely holding together.

“Just a little longer…please…you can do it.” I stare at the blinding gold in front of me, tormented that I have lost Freya somewhere in the shadows. “Maximinus, you can have me. Take me, cage me, bloody make an example of me in front of the whole capital. I don’t bloody care. I led this treason and rebellion. I admit it. But let my Omega go.”

“Why would I do that?” Maximinus mocks. “Two public executions are better than one.”

Cold fear freezes me to the spot.

This entire room is filled with gold. It was always the risk that if Maximinus caught us, then he could use every part of it as a weapon.

I try to gently push Five off my shoulder with my shadows to urge her to go through the portal but she fiercely holds onto me with her claws.

“Leave through the portal,” I whisper to Wren.

He shakes his head. “Not without you, Your Majesty.”

I’m surrounded by loyal idiots.

Suddenly something gold shoots toward me, grabbing me around my waist. It sears me with dark magic.

I scream, as my wings are scorched. I am lifted into the air.

Then I am facing Freya. We stare at each other in shock.

She is breathing fast in pain.