A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal (Stars and Shadows #2)(68)

Gavril chuckled again, and the sound made my magic surge. “It’s sad how little you really know. How easily you were kept in the dark. Isn’t it, Evren?”

My chest tightened, and I looked over my shoulder at my mate.

“He didn’t tell you?” Gavril was still speaking, but I couldn’t pull my attention away from Evren. “He was the one who captured your father after he refused to give us you. Evren is the one who hand-delivered your father to our queen.”

Evren’s gaze searched mine, and even though he didn’t say a word, his eyes softened, begging for forgiveness. Gavril was telling the truth.

I jerked out of Evren’s hold and almost fell forward. Thalia moved to my side as Gavril laughed.

“Tell me that isn’t true.” I stared at my mate, and I wanted him to say it even though I could already feel the truth in my bones.

I wanted him to destroy the feeling that was clawing at my chest and prove to me that he was nothing like his brother.

“It’s not what you think.” Evren reached out for me, but I took another step back. “I had no idea your father was alive.”

“But you’re the one who took him?” The words slipped past my lips like an accusation, and I didn’t want it to be true.

My chest ached as I stared at him and willed him to tell me anything other than what I feared.

“I did.” Evren swallowed hard. “But I had no idea what it would lead to.” He motioned to my father. “I did it because Queen Kaida had ordered it so. The same way she had ordered me to deliver you to her kingdom.”

“And you did so dutifully.” My words were laced with anger, but I couldn’t stop them. It didn’t matter that Evren hadn’t known me then. He had taken my father from me. He had delivered him to my enemy, and I couldn’t stop the pain that sliced through my chest at the thought.

“Princess,” Evren whispered my name, but my gaze snapped to Gavril as he cleared his throat.

“I offer a life for a life, Adara.” He crossed his arms and the smug look on his face ate at me. “If you want your father to live, then you will come with me.”

“That’s not fucking happening.” Evren’s growl boomed through the throne room, and he stepped forward to block me from Gavril. “Adara will go nowhere with you.”

“Then would you like the honor of killing her father?” Gavril pulled his sword from his scabbard and held it toward Evren.

Everyone reacted, weapons drawn and emotions tense. Sorin and Jorah moved to my side ready to defend me and Thalia with any means necessary.

“You are the one who took him from her the first time. Maybe you should be the one to take him from her for eternity.”

I let my gaze slide to the man at Gavril’s side, and I stared at this man who I should have recognized immediately. I had dreamed of him constantly. Prayed for a day when I would remember his face, but it was nothing like I imagined.

His lips held the same curve as mine, and his eyes were the same shade of ice blue that everyone told me my own had reminded them of. The eye that matched my father.

This man that stood before me was a stranger, but when I looked into his eyes, something felt familiar. It felt like a home that I never had, a home that I had always been searching for.

A home I had thought I found in Evren.

“I’ll do it.” I didn’t let my gaze fall from his even as he shook his head.

“Please, no.” His voice was gruff and full of age, years that I never got to experience with him.

“I won’t let them take you from me again.” I spoke only to my father, and I didn’t care who heard me.

“You’re not taking her.” Evren’s magic swirled around his hands, and I could feel his fury without looking at him. “I will destroy your entire kingdom before I allow you to take her again.”

“And you believe she will still choose you?” Gavril stared at his brother even as he pulled my father closer to him. “You’re going to let her father die, and you think she’ll still choose you?”

“Don’t touch him.” I stepped forward and my magic shot out of my fingers. It was moments away from slamming into Gavril before he blocked it with his own.

“Be careful, Starblessed.” The smile fell from his lips, and his hand tightened around my father. “Don’t do something you will regret for the rest of your life.”

He lifted his hand with his sword and brought it close to my father’s chest.

“I’m sorry, Adara.” My father’s words were a plea on his lips. “I’m sorry for everything.”

“No.” I held out my hands and tears welled in my eyes. “You want a trade, and I said I’ll do it.”

I took another step closer to him, and Evren’s magic wrapped tighter around me. I looked over to my mate, and all I could see was his anger and pain.

“I won’t let you do this, Adara.”

“You don’t have a choice.” I shook my head and guilt slammed into me as I watched the way his face crumpled. I was so angry at him for the things he had done, but I was angrier about the fact that he hadn’t told me.

He was my mate, and I had chosen him, but he had left me in the dark.

Evren quickly moved in front of me and moved down the dais toward his brother. Gavril stiffened and his hand tightened around his sword.