Free Reign Check by Michelle Rowen Page A

father looked at me, his eyes, so similar to mine, holding a shadow of the pain he felt inside. That he’d felt for nearly seventeen years since he’d been forced to leave my mother without a word of explanation. “I’ll send Michael to you when I have more news from the Underworld.”
    I nodded. “Okay.”
    “And please, Nikki, remember what I said.”
    “I will.”
    “Try not to worry about the prophecy. I don’t believe you’re capable of anything like that. There has to be another explanation, and I assure you I’ll find it.”
    He said it with such conviction, such belief, I couldn’t feel anything but grateful to him. He was in a difficult position as king of the desolate and disrespected Shadowlands, someone who’d had to make tough decisions and sacrifices all his life. I wished I’d known him longer, instead of thinking my real father was some kind of jerk who’d simply abandoned my mother and never looked back. He’d quickly become one of the most important people in my life.
    With a last glance at him standing in the meeting room all alone, I left with Michael and descended the massive staircase. My brain was working overtime and it ached—not because my horns were about to appear but from all the information I’d had to take in.
    Rhys had been right. There was a prophecy about me. I felt bad about accusing him of being a big fat liar.
    My father thought it wasn’t true, but he had doubts. Could it be true? Was I capable of destroying everyone? What did that even mean?
    I could barely crush a soda can when I was done with it, let alone anything bigger.
    Then again, I hadn’t tried to crush any cans since I came into my Darkling powers. I was willing to bet I could crush a lot more than that now.
    I nervously twisted my bracelet as Michael led me outside. He’d been giving me concerned looks ever since we’d left my father.
    “It’s going to be okay,” he said.
    I laughed suddenly at that, and it came out a bit hysterical. “You think?”
    He nodded. “Yes. Don’t give the prophecy another thought.”
    “I’ll try my hardest.”
    He took a step closer to me when we reached the swirling gateway. “Although, if you need to destroy anything, I think you should start with Kieran.”
    “Are you kidding?”
    “Half kidding.” He smiled, but it faded when I didn’t return it. He reached down to take my hand. His skin felt warm against mine.
    “You’re really worried about this,” he said.
    “It’s not just the prophecy.” I looked at him. “It’s the servant thing, too. My father made you a promise, and now he’s backing out of it.”
    He sighed. “Don’t worry about me, Princess. I’m used to how things are here. Your father actually does treat me very well. Your attitude, your ability to see things as they could be, is so amazing to me. It’s made me think, just maybe, things could be different some day.”
    I looked at the ground but felt his hand come under my chin, tilting my head back so I could look into his green eyes. Then he leaned toward me and brushed his lips against mine. When he moved back, he looked a bit confused. I hadn’t kissed him back. I guessed there was a first time for everything.
    I tried to find the words, but they escaped me. How could I tell him that I couldn’t be his girlfriend? Not that I didn’t want to be, not that it was because I cared what his social status was. No, because I didn’t want him to get hurt because of me.
    “Michael,” I began, and my voice cracked.
    And just like that, he knew . I could see it in his eyes.
    He blinked hard. “I think I understand why your father wanted me to go get drinks. Did he talk some sense into you? Remind you of what I am?”
    “He reminded me of the rules.”
    “The rules that you didn’t care about only an hour ago? The rules that you thought were stupid?”
    “They are stupid. This whole place is stupid. But …” My throat felt thick. “But that doesn’t mean we can break them. Not