The Unworthy King by Maggie McCallum

Author:Maggie McCallum [McCallum, Maggie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-24T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

“What?” I looked back up at the mansion standing in front of us. “You can’t be serious.”

“Welcome to my home, sweetheart,” he crooned, looping my arm through his as we began walking up the root-stairs. My chest tightened as we approached the entrance to his estate.

“I will warn you,” Rian whispered, as we drew closer, “this is going to be terribly awkward.”

“I figured,” I muttered, trying to control my breathing. Rian squeezed my arm reassuringly. The door before us was a work of true craftsmanship, with detailed carvings on the face of the wood. From the middle of the door upward, the branches thinned, revealing windows that matched the colors of the gem walls that surrounded this city.

“Breathe, Nora,” he reminded me, and I tried my best to regulate my heartbeat.

The door opened before we even knocked, and the air stilled. There in the doorway stood a handsome older Fae, with gray hair that was speckled with brown. He stood straight, with shoulders back, as he looked down at the three of us perched on his doorstep. He wore a similar uniform to those Fae we saw before, but it was more ornate. The brown pants showed off his muscular legs, and his white top was embroidered with golden thread around the collar as well as down the sleeves. His arms were wrapped in dark brown leather bracers. He looked like a true warrior, all strength, with a stern unwelcoming face to boot.

“Hello, father,” Rian said, dipping his head in a small nod. Father? Rian motioned to me. “This is Nora. And you already know Finn,” Rian flashed his hand behind us, and Finn gave a small wave.

His father’s eyes moved from Rian, to me, and back again. His nostrils flared, nothing but distaste in his expression. “You brought a human back to our realm? After everything that they’ve done—” his voice grew aggressive, and Rian interrupted.

“She’s different, father.” The man in the doorway sneered at me as Rian continued. “And we need to talk to you. It’s about the safety of the Fae world.”

“The safety of the Fae world. Listen to you,” Rian’s father spat. “If you cared about our safety, you never would have left. If you cared at all about the Fae people, you would still have ten fingers!” Rian’s father was shouting now, and my whole body tensed.

“I know what I did, believe me.” I could feel the anger shaking Rian’s body. He took a deep breath in, and continued, “But I’m here now. And I’m ready to do whatever it takes to keep the Fae world intact.”

Rian’s dad sized up his wayward son, giving him the head to toe. “You’re not ready,” he hissed viciously.

Rian dropped my arm and stepped toward his father. “Want to try me?”

I waited with bated breath as Rian and his father stared at each other, fists clenched.

“You may have been Chosen,” his father started, glancing down at Rian’s hand, “but you’re no longer Worthy.” I watched as Rian’s shoulders tensed, and how his eyes flicked down.

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