Page 235 of The Fallen Fae King

“Love,” I whisper, “I’m sorry…”

“Don’t.” Her voice is hoarse. “We saved our Vampire King. We freed your family. Fuck the Draca Kingdom. Let them kill us. At least then we die side by side. We wanted to spend our lives together, and it’s not much different to die together, right?”

My eyes prick with tears. “I bloody love you.”

She forces a smile. “I love you too.”

Unexpectedly, I get the strange sense that I am being watched and not by Maximinus.

I turn my head.

Then I shiver in shock.

I am staring into the dark, possessive gaze of Aurelius.

Except, it’s not him.

It’s a giant, golden statue of Hadrian.

His hands have been transformed into chains, which are wrapped around Freya and my waists. The statue has bound us against him.

The statue’s eyes are cold.

I can see the destruction of the realms in his dead golden eyes.

The cursed magic of his grip burns my wings. I writhe in agony, attempting to pull myself free.

Why do I feel that part of Hadrian’s soul is inside this statue?

It’s too real.

What if Hadrian’s golden core was transformed into this statue, before the rest of him was turned to ash? What if he has been held in this living death like the creepy statues in Maximinus’ study?

I want to hurl.

I may be the bad guy here — I have played every one of them to revive my Winter Court — but I have still served them. After all, I am saving Aurelius from this fate.

I am saving him from his uncle.

Lanlin, Freya, and I are united in that aim.

Aurelius won’t believe me. He’ll hate me.

Bloody let him.

If I survive and make it to my kingdom, I’ll be the leader, rather than the captive.

Funny, how the tables turn.

Except, that will only be if I make it through that bloody portal.

The statue drags Freya and me higher, dangling us in the air.

Five yowls, swiping at the statue.

“Hadrian,” Freya calls, as if she can appeal to the statue’s cold heart.

Except, this isn’t our Hadrian who would burn down cities to save us. This is whatever remains of the original Hadrian’s golden core, and he’s under a dark curse. He’s been controlled for centuries by Maximinus and his sorcerer ancestors.