The queen looked sad. “He didn’t want me, Radella. He wanted power. He wanted the throne. So did your father.” Queen Celene raised her finger and pointed it in Radella’s face, her voice going deadly quiet. “And so did you.”
“He loved me! But he had to fuck you. Had to claim the pussy of the virgin queen!” Radella’s eyes were wild, almost feral and she raised her arms as if to choke the queen. Captain Turaya blocked her, gripped her arms and tugged them behind her back with one hand, the ion pistol in his other aimed at her head. Still, she struggled and fought his hold.
Her words were irrational. Mykel didn’t want Celene, he wanted the throne.
“You knew, Radella,” the queen said. “Knew of his intentions.”
“You think I wanted my mate to fuck another?” she spat. “Every time I saw you together, I couldn’t miss the way he looked at you. The smiles, the lover’s touches. Even if they were fake, they were meant for me. He was mine.”
“Would it have been worth it if you’d become queen?” Trinity asked her.
“He died. You came back. It was all for nothing,” Radella countered. “But my son. Don’t hurt Pawl. He’s innocent.”
The queen stared at her, wide-eyed. Thinking. “Did you know Mykel’s intentions all along?” she asked.
Radella shook her head, her hair flinging about, tears forming in her eyes. “He wanted the throne and intended to take it.” The female sobbed outright now.
Pawl shifted on the couch, somehow got himself to standing even with his arms restrained. Thor moved to his side. “Don’t hurt her!” Pawl shouted.
The queen raised her hand. “No, she will not die. No one else dies because of this. Have the guards take her away. She will be questioned more later, but her life has moved from the palace to more… humble accommodations. Take her to the prison.”
7
Destiny
This was like watching Dynasty and Dallas and every daytime soap opera rolled into one. But this was my life.
All I knew was that my mom and sisters were safe. Nix was by my side and Dad was here.
Dad. An entirely different dad than I knew.
“You’re not from Kansas?” I asked Dad.
He looked to me and shook his head and held out his hand to Mom, but she stepped back, shook her head. The anguish in his gaze was horrible to see. I’d never seen them fight, or argue or even bicker. Their love had been obvious at all times.
Dad sighed. “I didn’t expect you to flee that night.” He looked to Captain Turaya. “You did the right thing, protecting her. She surprised us all, leaving the planet. It took me a month to track her transport and I went to Earth. There was nothing on Alera for me anymore without you here, Celene. You were my life.”
That was romantic.
Pawl dropped back down on the couch, probably glad the attention was off of him.
“I found you and wanted to keep you all for myself. The attraction was instant, wasn’t it, love?” Dad’s voice had gone soft in the way he always spoke to Mom.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked. “We could have gone back to Alera.”
He shook his head. “I admit, I was selfish. On Earth, I had you all to myself. Mates together. No throne, no enemies. I knew Mykel was working with others. At least Radella. Most likely her father.”
“Lord Wyse,” Thor said.
Dad looked to him, nodded.
“You were safe on Earth and that was all that mattered. For twenty-seven years, we were safe.”
“You didn’t know I was pregnant,” she replied.
This time, when he stepped toward her, she let him. He took her hands, held them both. “No. I hated the baby you carried, a living sign of Mykel, of the man who’d played you falsely, who’d wanted you dead.”
Trinity turned into Leo, who wrapped his arm around her. The queen tried to tug her hands away.