Destin POV
I wander through the halls of the palace with a bottle of fae wine. It is still corked. I don't have the balls to drink it because I know if I do, I will end up in the forest looking for her.
I told Macy my mate was dead. It isn't exactly a lie. Everything about her is dead; she doesn't exist in her current form. She is nothing but death and destruction now- a Gray Creature.
Even in my sober state, I head for the front door of the palace. The sting of Macy's rejection is still fresh in my mind, and I would do anything to numb that pain, including killing the night creatures of the Realm. Maybe if I am lucky, they will kill me this time.
One more corner, and I will be free to leave the palace, but the sound of singing stops me. It is coming from Roland's office. I groan loudly, wondering what woman has fallen to his charms this time. As I approach the door, I slap my hand against my forehead.
"Macy," I hiss through my teeth.
The terrible singing gets louder as I push the door open. Roland is behind his desk, and Macy is on the couch. Both are singing at the top of their lungs, different songs, and off-key. It is truly awful, but I don't stop them.
Leaning against the wall, I watch Macy. She is still wearing my shirt. I didn't appreciate how good she looked in it earlier. Now that I take her in, I don't want to see her in anything else. Her cheeks are flushed from the wine, and her lips are stained red. She looks positively sinful. This dark princess is the only creature that has crossed my path who makes me forget about the plight of my mate.
Roland stops singing and looks at the bottle in my hands. He moves across his office quickly and snatches the bottle from me.
"You weren't planning on hunting again?" He asks.
"Something like that," I admit.
He throws the bottle across the room, and it shatters against the wall. Macy stops singing and looks at us both. "Why did you waste good wine?"
Roland ignores her. "You can't save her," he snaps at me. "She chose her path and must succumb to her fate."
"I know what she has done," I grind out.
"Do you?" Roland shouts. He points to Macy. "I thought we were past this?"
"Her mates came through the portal," I groan. "She chose them."
"Then why is she getting drunk with me," he replies.
"Destin," she whimpers my name.
She is staggering toward me, and her massive wings throw her off balance. Stumbling forward, she falls into my arms.
"Princess," I grind my teeth. "I thought we agreed no more drinking fae wine with Roland."
"Mm Hmm," She hums.
Her eyes are rolling back in her head, and I toss her over my shoulder. She squeals and then bursts into a fit of giggles.
"Of all my grandchildren, she is my favorite," Roland smiles.
"You are a bad influence," I snap at him before leaving.
Macy won't stop wiggling. Her round ass and feathered wings keep hitting me in the face. I struggle to pin down her wings, but she only giggles more.
"Would you please put these things away?" I groan.
"How?" She slurs.
"With your glamour," I can't keep the annoyance from my voice.
"What's that?" She asks innocently.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," I fuss at her. "Has no one taught you anything?"
Setting her on her feet, I prop her against a wall. I make my wings fade from view behind me, and her mouth drops open. "Where did they go?"
She is too drunk for this lesson, so I pick her up and march toward her room. Her mates can deal with drunk Macy.
"You are mad," she whimpers.
"I am not mad," I assure her. "Just disappointed."
"That's the same thing," she wails.
"Lovely, you are a sad drunk," I grumble.
"I am sorry," she cries. "I don't want to be a burden. You can leave me here."
"Stop being dramatic," I tell her as I stomp loudly through the palace. "I am sure your mates will make you feel better."
"Don't take me to them," she continues to sob. "I'm mad at them. They are lying to me."
"I am not getting in the middle," I tell her.
Her body shakes as she cries against me. I have to take her back to her mates, even though it kills me to do so. They don't care for her. Well, maybe the silent one does, but the other is not worthy of her. I can only hope that one day she sees that.
As I march down the hall to her room, I see one of them standing outside the door. I am not sure which one it is, so I approach with caution. He doesn't immediately attack me, so I assume it is the silent one.
He looks me up and down, and I can see the pain in his eyes. I shift Macy on my shoulder, and she snores. "Where do you want her?"
He shakes his head and blocks the door. I don't understand what is going on. Why wouldn't he want to be with her?
"What do you need?" I ask. He pretends to be writing something. He has something to say. "Follow me."
My room is only a few doors down from Macy's. No one has been inside since my mate left, and I really don't want Macy's mate in my space. I let him in and lay Macy on my bed. Rustling through my desk, I pull out a pen and paper.
The silent mate scribbles something down and then leaves the room, shutting the door behind him. I look from Macy to the door and wonder what I am supposed to do with her. Why did he leave her here?
I look at the paper he left on my desk. "Edward promised the Moon Goddess our first child."
"Fuck," I run my fingers through my hair. I don't think I can live through another war, but I would do anything for Macy.
I pace the floor beside my bed, unsure of what to do. I shouldn't sleep beside her, but it is so tempting. She cuddles into my pillow, and my name is a whisper on her lips. I will hate myself in the morning, but I climb into bed with her anyway.