Malicious Prince: A Reverse Harem Romance (Territorial Mates Book 3) Read online

“My arm,” he says as he lightly squeezes my bicep. “I can feel my right arm again. It’s not perfectly functional, but I can move it.”

  Everything in me feels relief just being near him. To know his arm isn’t permanently damaged? My body, sore as it is, feels like it’s flying. “That’s good, Des. How is the rest of you?”

  Ronin and Healer Wesley step toward the other side of the room to talk quietly. I want to ask them what they’re discussing, but I truly can’t handle one more thing.

  Des burrows his nose in my cheek as a solitary tear trickles down the side of my face. He kisses the spot, like my pain is a secret only we can share. “Agony. It’s been so many hours of torment. I can finally think, now that the pain is gone. You’re here. You’re here.” Des repeats it like a mantra over and over. “I need you. Just a little taste. I need blood, but I can’t bring myself to leave your side. Just the stuff you’ve already shed. I won’t bite you.”

  My fingers lift to lay lifelessly against his cheek. “Whatever you need. I’m just glad you’re going to be okay.”

  He turns my chin up so he can get a good gander at my headwound. I don’t particularly like the feeling of his tongue lapping at my temple, but I suppose I have to get cleaned up somehow. He holds me tenderly with his weakened arms, his body engulfing mine in a sensual hug while he licks the side of my face from jaw to forehead. How bloody am I?

  When a moan of pleasure leaks from his lips, Ronin shouts out a warning and runs to us, gently pulling me away from Des toward the far edge of the bed.

  Des reaches for me with desperate arms. “You don’t understand! I need more blood!”

  “You’ll get sick if you drink directly from a fae! She’s on Green Lightning, Destino. How delirious are you?” Ronin holds my torso to his chest and kisses my forehead so sweetly, I nearly burst into tears. “He’s confused, darling. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  What a promise that is. I can barely process the grand nature of his pledge, so I tuck it in my heart and savor the sweetness I didn’t know I desperately needed to hear.

  My fingers find Ronin’s shirt, the loose ends of his tie fluttering against my cheek. “Des doesn’t hurt me. He needs me.” My hand migrates to his bicep, grateful Ronin lets me hold onto him whenever I wish. “I’m not on Green Lightning. It’s okay. We’ve done this before.”

  “You, what?” Ronin shouts, looking down on me with horror. “Oh, children, what have you done?” Ronin lays me back down so he can untuck his shirt. He looks a bit comical when he’s disheveled. He feels around on the small of his back and produces a small disc like the one Des occasionally carries. “Here, take this. It’ll tide you over so you can stop drinking from her. No wonder you were in such pain. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a vampire daft enough to drink directly from a fae; I didn’t recognize the symptoms. Of course. Healer Welsey, I need a dose of Green Lightning for my princess.” He places the disc on Des’ tongue and then steps back, his head resting in his hand. “Oh, the mess you two have made for each other. Do you understand what you’ve done?”

  I don’t care about any of it. “Des was starving to death, Ronin. I couldn’t care less what society thinks. And I missed my Green Lightning dose because I was trapped in the Stone Graveyard by General Klein, and then had to leave fae territory before I could get a booster.”

  “You didn’t have to leave Faveda!” Prince Alexavier shouts from somewhere behind me. I can’t see him, and I don’t want to. It’s too painful.

  “Go away,” I tell my fae husband. “I’ll take care of Des. And when someone tells me where Salem’s gone, I’ll look after him, too. Where is he?” I ask Ronin.

  Healer Wesley dabs at my forehead with a wet rag again, no doubt determined to remove all traces of blood so Des has nothing to treat himself to. “Salem, Justice and Vera are recovering downstairs. They’re still passed out. As soon as you’re settled, I’ll go check on them. Salem and Justice are bloody, though not as bad off as you are. Vera will recover just fine. Looks like the flowers you conjured up made her pass out. Whoever attacked you all must’ve put the flowers there so they could escape. But we’ll find them, your majesty.”

  Ice zips through my veins. “No! No, you can’t leave her with them! She’s the one!”

  “Who?”

  “I made the purple petals!” I confess, muscling through my horror of admitting that I hurt people with my magic. “I made them all pass out so she didn’t escape. So she didn’t kill us.”

  “Who?”

  “Vera! She took a shovel to my head. She wanted to kill me. I’m pretty sure she was planning on killing Justice and Salem; she attacked them because they saw her go after me. You have to get her away from them! She’s dangerous!”

  “I’ll go,” Prince Alexavier offers, running out of the room without need for further explanation.

  Ronin puts two fingers to the bridge of his nose. “Darling, what are you on about? That makes no sense. You can’t do magic. You told me as much. You hit your head very hard, and the details are getting scrambled.” Ronin sits on my bedside, holding my hand like the very best kind of friend. “You saw Vera down there and must’ve gotten confused. Now think hard; who else was there who could’ve produced those flowers? Is there another fae in Jacoba?”

  “No! I know what happened, and it’ll happen all over again if you don’t lock Vera up right now. Come on, Des. We have to help Salem and Justice.”

  Des is already on his feet, but he sways as his eyes roll back, too lightheaded to take a step. He plops back down on the mattress with a groan, his head in his hands. “Too soon. Ronin, send guards to help Alex. If Lily’s wrong, so bloody what. We’ll get to the bottom of it. But until then, keep them separate. Don’t let Vera go until we know the truth.”

  Ronin tugs a wrinkle out of my pillowcase. “I highly doubt the woman who’s looked after the princes of Jacoba throughout their entire lives would attack them. It makes no sense.”

  I grip Ronin’s hand but I’m so weak, I’m not sure it has the desired effect. “It’s her. When Salem and Justice come to, they’ll tell you the same. She’s not to be alone with them.” The regal command sounds odd on my tongue, but I own the words all the same. “Vera’s not to leave this house. A guard, Ronin. Lots of them. Promise me.”

  The hesitation in his eyes worries me, but eventually, Ronin nods, touching Des’ forehead with what can only be described as paternal concern. “Alright. I suppose keeping her in a separate room does no one any harm.”

  A wave of exhaustion sweeps through me. “Promise me.”

  Ronin sighs. “I just did, darling. Ho, no. You’re not to close your eyes.” He lightly slaps my cheek, and I fight to keep from slugging him. “You’ve got a concussion.”

  “Screw you,” I murmur, which draws a gasp from Healer Welsey. I’m sure he’s shocked that anyone would dare talk so disrespectfully to a monarch.

  Ronin chuckles, pulling my upper half into his arms. “Get good and uncomfortable. I’m going to hold you sitting upright until this healer of yours deems the worst to be behind you. We can have lots of long chats while we pass the time. How about we start with how you managed to access fae magic you told me you didn’t have?”

  I can’t hide my grimace. “I think I prefer the coma.”

  “Tricky fae, indeed. Tell me.” The serious note comes out like a command.

  “No.” At his raised eyebrows, I add, “You’ll leave. When Prince Alexavier heard the whole story, he left me. I love you too much. I can’t risk it.” And I know that I truly can’t. I need a parent not to hate me, to stay with me while the world shifts and breaks on its journey to rebuilding. I need a parent not to try and murder me, and I’ve seen Ronin kill his own flesh and blood over a lot less.

  “Prince Alexavier left you? Alexavier ended your marriage?”

  It’s too many details and my brain still feels fuzzy, so Des takes the reins as he gathers his bearings, sitting on the other side of the bed with his back against the oak he
adboard. “Alex is still married to her, but in name only. The plan is moving forward, but Alex is stepping back.”

  Ronin’s jaw ticks. “I see. This must be quite the secret. Very well, hold onto it as tight as you wish. But I will pry it from your hands sooner or later.”

  My fingers reach up to trace the skin under his eyes. “You fainted. I heard you say that when you were rescuing me. Did the petals make you pass out?”

  Ronin’s neck shrinks. “Just for a moment. The room wasn’t properly ventilated, but Alexavier pulled me to safety before I fell completely to ruin.”

  I chew on my lower lip. “I did that to you. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Did you bump anything?”

  “Only my pride,” he assures me, offering a gracious smile that’s meant to cover over my sins.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

  He kisses my forehead, and I love him. I hurt a man I truly care for. I wasn’t sure I could feel worse than I already do, but that seals it.

  Prince Alexavier’s voice reaches us before he enters the room. My heart soars at the sound and then sinks further into the muck. “Vera’s gone! Salem’s waking up, and his story matches my wife’s. Vera attacked them.”

  I fight the urge to yell “I told you so!” Of course this happened. Of course Vera escaped. I didn’t plan for this. I can’t protect my family if she’s roaming about in the shadows.

  “Benny,” Ronin says to Prince Alexavier once he comes through the doorway. “Healer Welsey, tell Benny to secure the mansion. The shifter guards protect the Jacoba throne, sure, but not the Drexdenberg crown. Benny is downstairs. He needs to know all of this.”

  “Aye, your majesty.”

  No sooner does Healer Wesley disappear into the hallway than Des moves to his feet, bracing himself on the wall. “Salem needs to tell the guards to lock the mansion down. No one comes in or out.”

  Prince Alexavier holds up his hands. “Salem’s already sent for his captains. They’ve been instructed to find Vera and bring her in.” Prince Alexavier’s eyes rest on me for the briefest of moments. I’m warm for a second, and then infinitely colder. “They’ll find her, Lily-girl.”

  “Lilya,” I correct him. And then I turn to bury my cheek in Ronin’s chest. I can deal with Vera. I can deal with Salem having a secret girlfriend. But Prince Alexavier? I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready to be near him.

  Ronin doesn’t know everything, but he knows enough for his arms to tighten around me, shielding me through my devastation at seeing the fae prince again. Ronin cradles my head against his chest and kisses my filthy hair. “Very good, Son. Make sure the mansion is locked down, and then go sit with Prince Justice. Makes sure he’s safe until he wakes.”

  Prince Alexavier hesitates, but then leaves as fate takes him away from me once more.

  18

  Too Little, Too Late

  Destino

  It’s been an hour, and still no word from the soldiers that Vera’s been found. “There’s nothing we can do right now,” I assure Lily.

  She’s lucid finally, but still weak and stumbly. Each time she tries to get out of the bed, Ronin and I back her down. She’s stubborn, determined that she’ll get down the stairs to check on Justice and Salem. “The guards can’t protect them like I can!” she argues. It’s not pride that sharpens her tone but desperation.

  “Salem is on his feet,” I assure her. “He doesn’t need shielding right now. He’s doing what he can to protect you. And Healer Wesley is seeing to Justice. They’ve got guards posted outside his room. He’ll be alright, blue eyes.”

  “Don’t call me that when I’m about to fight you!”

  My eyes widen at her moxie. I don’t know why I always underestimate the power it holds. “Is that so? You’re going to fight me because I want to keep my family safe just as much as you do? You cannot help anyone until you can walk in a straight line!”

  She grumbles at me so sharply that, for a second, it sounds like a feral growl. I contemplate flicking her nose just to really set her off, but I tuck away my childish behavior and do my best to think like a husband. Like a friend. Like a king. “Vera will be caught and punished. Justice, Salem and you will heal, thank the clouds.” I watch her shoulders lower, and I hope I’m getting through to her. “Everything is in motion. Best we stay here while the soldiers do what they’ve been trained to.”

  Of course, that’s the precise moment when Alex enters the room, tightening her up all over again. “Ronin, my mother is hoping to have a word with you in the study.”

  Ronin sighs. “I cannot be bothered with anything until my children are on their feet.”

  Now I’m his child? It’s a stark difference, going from the great-grandson he didn’t loathe, but always made clear I didn’t have what it took, to now I’m his child, the one he’ll be handing his crown to. Part of me is grateful he finally sees me, and the other part is indignant that for so many years, he didn’t see me at all.

  Alex shoves his hands in his pockets. “Mother doesn’t travel to Jacoba very often, so all of this drama is a little much for her. I posted extra guards outside the study where she’s sequestered herself, but she’s anxious to get the plans for peace in place so she can go back home.”

  Alex is wearing the standard white pants and matching shirt. The fae prefer pure garments, spotless and devoid of all the colorful things in the world. I would think the blood stain on his breast would bother him enough to change his shirt, but Alex is more ours than he is theirs. That’s always been true, but it hasn’t felt like it since our rift. He used to go home from our adventures covered in dust, mud and grass stains. Now he’s clean, all but for the blood streak over his heart. It’s like he’s wearing Lily’s blood as a statement that she belongs close to him, even though he’s pushed her away. I highly doubt Alex understands himself why he does the things he does, so I don’t get terribly bent out of shape when I don’t understand him at all.

  Ronin rolls his eyes and huffs. “This whole journey here was supposed to be the three current heads of the territories talking about the years to come with the future rulers so we can all get on the same page. We can’t exactly do that if one of the heads is still out of commission, and you’ve got a concussion.”

  Lily holds her head as if it’s too heavy for her neck to support. She should be lying down, but the most I can accomplish is getting her to sit on the bed, which is growing increasingly difficult the more determined she is to get to Salem.

  I fluff her pillow, but not even that tempts her to lie down. “Queen Kloe is here? I thought Daddy Fairbucks did most of the actual rulemaking.”

  Alex takes a step toward her, but I hold out my hand in warning. Normally I wouldn’t keep Alex from a woman he desires, but he’s mucked up too much to be near her when she’s this injured and turned around. He didn’t want her when she was healthy, so he cannot have her when she’s taken ill.

  Alex respects my boundary and shoves his hands back into his pockets. “Father does because that’s who he is, but Mother has just as much power; she just never believes in herself enough to access a drop of it. When the letter arrived from Lily, requesting the rulers to meet to discuss how to end the wars between our territories, she hid your letter from Father and came here in secret. Whatever treaty you want signed, she can sign on behalf of Faveda, and it will hold.”

  Lily bites down on her lower lip, no doubt processing the same shock I am. I gape at Alex. “Your mum stood up to old Fairbucks, did she? Never thought I’d see the day.”

  Alex’s head bobs. “She stood up to me, too. Made me see what a selfish baby I’ve been. Lily, I…”

  “Lilya,” she corrects him, as she has every right to do.

  Alex takes her reproach in stride, his mouth snapping shut as he bows his head. “Yes, my queen.”

  Good. Don’t go trying to undo everything malicious you’ve done with a simple apology. She deserves a good grovel, and she should be well enough to appreciate it.

  “I’ll go down and t
alk with her,” Lily offers. “This whole thing was my idea. She did a brave thing by coming and standing against King Fairbucks. I don’t want her courage to crack by making her wait too long in a place she’s clearly scared to be.”

  Ronin crouches down to kneel in Lily’s eyeline before I can do more than shake my head. “No, you won’t go anywhere. If this Vera person is bent on coming after you, I want you somewhere safe while your concussion passes. Would you like me to go talk with Queen Kloe?”

  Lily reaches out and grips his collar, and then winds her hand behind his neck. “The room keeps tilting,” she whispers. I hate that she tells Ronin her secrets. I’m standing right here. I know she’s got a fair amount of pride in her, but eventually she’ll need to lean on me. I promise myself I’ll be patient while we both learn this very important lesson.

  “Deep breaths,” he instructs her, thumbing her cheek before he kisses it. “You’ll stay in this room with Alexavier and Destino. You’ll stay in this bed until I tell you otherwise. You’ll let Salem protect his household, yes?” He kisses her other cheek, and the urge to slug him tightens my fist. “And you’ll let me tend to the smaller duties, which is what a good ruler would do. You’re delegating this task to me, which is very wise of you.”

  Her lower lip puckers. “I hate when you do that—compliment me while doing something I don’t like.”

  The corner of Ronin’s mouth lifts. Only Lily can make him smile when things are this tense. “Then I shall do it twice as much.”

  My chest puffs when Ronin passes by me and claps my shoulder twice. He trusts me, which is something I never would’ve thought possible a year ago. “Whatever you talk about with Queen Kloe, nothing happens without Lily and us involved,” I warn him.

  “Good man,” he says, granting me a sliver of a smile that’s laced with a glint of respect I feel I’ve finally earned.

  19

  Secrets and Grudges