“Who would do this?”
“Our wolf shifter queen.”
“But why?” I shake my head in confusion. “I’ve never done anything to her, let alone know who she is. Before all this, I didn’t even know that shifters existed.”
“According to the Elder, you are not just chosen to unite the two kingdoms. You are destined to become the queen of all shifters.”
I shake my head. “Why me?”
“Because your ability to understand our mind speech is the bridge that can unite our two kingdoms. But your power to heal the land—in the form of conjuring rain—can bring prosperity to both shifters and humans as well.”
“Does the Elder know what happened to the true prince?”
“Our queen has him under her spell and locked away somewhere in hiding.”
“Why not just kill him and be done with it?” I ask. “Why did she keep him alive?”
“I do not know,” Kai replies. “But I have a theory.”
“What is it?”
“I believe she wants to use him as a pawn to take power. But first, she must ensure you are dead. His people search for you because his parents believe that you killed him. Once you are dead, she will produce the real prince and ask for the throne in return for giving him back to his family.”
My mouth drifts open in shock.
Kai continues. “She wants you dead so that none may challenge her right to rule.”
“And what about the prince?” I ask, trying to find a loophole in this prophecy. “The prophecy says I’m supposed to marry him. Does the Elder still believe this too?”
Kai lowers his head, nodding grimly.
I curl my hands into fists at my side as I struggle to push down my anger and frustration. “I won’t do it,” I grind out. “No one is going to force me to do it either.”
Kai’s eyes snap up to meet mine. “That is what the Elders sent us to you for. We are supposed to see the prophecy fulfilled. We must rescue the prince and—”
I cut him off abruptly as I glare at him. “I don’t care what the prophecy says. It’s my decision, and I won’t let you deliver me into someone else’s hands. Especially after what happened the first time.”
“We did not know that it was not the prince, Ella. I am sorry,” he says, his gaze filled with regret. “If we had known—”
“I don’t care if it’s the prince or not. I won’t marry someone only to fulfill a prophecy. I trusted you, Kai, and I nearly paid for it with my life.”
He visibly flinches at my words as if struck.
Nyx steps forward. “It was not just Kai,” he says. “We all share the blame, Ella.”
Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them back.
Kai opens his mouth to speak, but I turn away. “I don’t care what you say. I won’t do it. I won’t marry the prince if he’s still alive. I don’t care what the prophecy says. I won’t be used ever again.”
I run up the stairs to the bedroom, leaving him and everyone else down below. How could he even think to ask me to marry the prince after everything that has happened? After I’ve already mated Cash, Finn, and Nyx? No. I shake my head firmly. I won’t give them up just to fulfill some stupid prophecy.
When my father died, I lost everyone I ever loved. And now that I have Cash, Finn, and Nyx, I refuse to lose anyone else.
Chapter 26
Kai
“You are a fool,” Nyx shakes his head at me. “How could you think to ask her to consider marrying the prince? Especially after what happened?”
“I—”
“Besides”—Cash steps forward, and levels a dark gaze at me—”She has already chosen us. Or do you not remember this?”
Finn’s eyes burn with anger. “I will not give up Ella. Not now. Not ever.”
“Neither will I,” I swear. “I do not care about the prophecy.” I give them a pleading look. “You think I want to lose her as well?”
“You never had her,” Nyx snaps. “Not like we do.” He looks to Cash and Finn to send the message, and the message is clear. They have bonded to Ella; she has taken them as her mates. We may be bond brothers, but now they have crossed the line into being bonded mates, something Devon and I are not a part of.
Jealousy burns through me like fire. “It is true. She has not chosen me. But that does not mean I want her to choose the prince.” I look down at my hands. “The Elder said that if she did not marry the prince, she could die.”
Devon blinks at me in shock. “What? How?”
“I... do not know. She said she could not see beyond Ella’s decision to take the prince as her mate or not. And so, she believes it means Ella will die is she does not marry him.”
Nyx clenches his jaw. “Even so. It should be Ella’s decision. We cannot force her or push her to do something she does not wish.”
I run my hand roughly through my hair. “I only want for her safety, above all else. If not for the risk of her dying, I never would have even suggested she still marry the prince. I no longer care about the prophecy. All I care about is her.”
Nyx puts a hand on my shoulder and meets my eyes evenly. “Then, tell her this. Because right now, she believes you want to give her up because you care more for the prophecy than for her feelings.”
I grit my teeth in frustration. He is right. I lift my gaze to the staircase. I have to find a way to fix this between us. I cannot bear for her to hate me.
Chapter 27
Kai
As soon as I enter the bedroom, I find her lying on the bed, her shoulders shaking as she sobs into her pillow.
I move to her side and
