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

  Justice’s eyes tighten. “Population’s been declining for years. I think the vampires and fae would be happy to see us snuffed out.”

  He’s not wrong, from what I’ve witnessed. However, I address his first concern to start. “That sort of thing happens when resources are scarce and the people are worried. Besides, the worst that happens is you have too many wells.” I don’t know why I feel like it might be okay for me to reach across the space between us and pat the top of his hand. I’m shocked he doesn’t jerk away. “Not all of us want to see the shifters gone. I need someone to believe it’s not hopeless. Maybe hope should start at the top, with the leaders.” I swallow hard. “When Salem was beaten up for his peace walk through vampire territory, he wasn’t alone. There were a few shifters with him. They believe.”

  “Aye,” Justice allows. “But tha’s shifters. We’re going to lower our borders to people who want us gone.”

  My voice goes quiet, bouncing off the stone walls and coming back in whispers. “When Des did his peace walk through shifter territory, he wasn’t alone either. He went with a few vampires who all believe. And your people beat them badly. For walking. The day I married my husband, he had a black eye and a broken arm. Look the other way all you want, but I want more for them than that. You should, too. If their leader doesn’t believe there’s something better out there, then you’re leading them nowhere.”

  Justice goes still for several beats, and I know I’ve overstepped. When his thumb finally sweeps over my knuckles, I relax a little. “Is this what it’s like to have a sister? I admit, I’m not sure I like being told I’m imperfect. At least Salem has the sense to keep his gob shut and plan massive catastrophes behind my back.”

  I manage an airy snigger. “I’ve never had a brother before. I’ll make sure to keep you on your toes.”

  “Grand. Do ye know how to fence, wee bunneh?”

  I snigger at the way the word “bunny” sounds on his tongue. The shifter accent is completely adorable. “Fencing? That’s for like, fancy people. I do okay with my dagger.”

  He tsks me. “But you’re a princess now. Fencing is more dignified. I could teach ye, if ye like.”

  The note of a peace offering hangs in the air, so I take it. “That might be nice. Thanks.”

  He stands and pops open the window overlooking Queen Butcher’s bed. “It’s been ages since I’ve aired out this room. The sandalwood’s a bit much.”

  I shiver at the icy breeze, but I’m grateful for the scents of the outdoors. My heart aches every time nature is near, but not close enough to touch. How I wish I wasn’t a blight on the gift of the fae.

  Justice plops back down beside me but doesn’t make eye contact, instead studying a scuff on his knuckles. “Ye were up last night, walking the halls.”

  I keep my gaze on the book. “Is there a question layered in that, an accusation, or just an observation?”

  “I guess all three.” He holds his hand out and tilts it from side to side. “Maybe less of an accusation than there would’ve been a week ago. You’re growing on me, more than I would’ve guessed.”

  “Must be hard to be wrong. That’s gotta hurt. You want to lie down?”

  He elbows me through a snigger, which is progress, to say the least. “Aye, it is hard. My pride’s delicate, I’ll have ye know.”

  I feign shock. “No, you?” I feel my spine relaxing, my whole body forfeiting a portion of my unease, now that we’re getting along.

  “Hush your gob, wee pup. I’m trying to apologize.”

  “Are you working your way up to it?”

  “Jays, woman. I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t give ye a chance. I was shortsighted.”

  I pat him atop the head, earning a grin that makes him look boyish, like a brother should. “There, that wasn’t so difficult. I forgive you for being a tool.”

  He scoffs. “I’m not so sure how I feel about having a sister who calls me a tool.”

  “Lucky for me, you don’t get a choice in the matter.”

  Justice scoots closer, this time with only a foot of space between us. “Read to me? I can’t get out of my head.”

  “Too much on your plate, or too much on your mind?”

  He lets out a one-noted snort. “Maybe a little of both. This marriage thing is… I’m still sorting it out.”

  “Me too,” I admit. “It seemed a whole lot simpler before you told me about Salem’s girlfriend. I don’t mind pissing off the world so they move toward a better future, but stealing another woman’s man? That’s just plain mean. I don’t want to be that girl.”

  Justice doesn’t tell me what to do. He says nothing, which, as it turns out, is the exact right thing to say.

  So I read to him. My new brother. When I can’t figure out a word, he takes my finger and points it to the letters while he helps me sound it out. He doesn’t look at my face or make any sign that he’s exasperated with my limited education. Every now and then, he reaches behind him and touches his mother’s hand, a glassy look in his eyes while he listens to the annals of kings passed.

  The historical language soothes us, taking us to a time when things felt equally doomed as they do now, I’m sure, but somehow they got through it. It gives me hope that one day, we’ll be able to write down that we got through this harrowing journey as well.

  He’s not listening anymore, which is just as well. I’m making a mess of the text. I’m fairly certain King Paul III didn’t decaffeinate seven people who stood up against his rule. Justice closes his eyes, and I can’t tell if he’s overwhelmed or just plain exhausted by life. After a few more minutes, the steady rhythm of his breathing soothes me enough to put down the book.

  I haven’t been sleeping well. I made ugly cookies for Des so he could have good dreams at night, but I don’t want any part of them. Though, this is probably the one time in my life I truly need a rest from my nightmares. The shifter bear from my childhood greets me every time I close my eyes. Only in my nightmare, he’s clawing not just at my face, but at my arms, my chest, my back, my legs—all of me is shredded by the time I wake.

  Ugly cookies laced with the eevana leaves give a person happy dreams, but I don’t want the lie. I want to face my fears instead of bury my head in the sand. I want to fight back against that bear, but I’m paralyzed to defend myself. Still, each night I go back into the ring, ready to go another round with my demons.

  Salem’s not here. I don’t know how safe we are. I still haven’t convinced myself that bear cub won’t come for me in the daylight, ready to take a swipe at my other cheek. But listening to Justice’s calm in and out makes my eyelids feel heavy. I’m not part of their family, but I pretend for just a little bit that I am. That my mother, brother and I stayed up late reading, and then we fell asleep because all our bills are paid, all our cupboards are full, and all our worries are small.

  I don’t know why I trust Justice not to attack me in my sleep. Maybe because he’s been so open about his disdain for me joining his family. There’s something comforting about outright disapproval. I prefer it to false kindness. And it seems he’s too nice a guy to maintain his grudge against me, which suits us both just fine.

  I curl up a few feet from Justice and rest my head on the stone floor. I’m freezing, but the constant shivering has worn me out.

  When my eyes close, the room is quiet and peaceful. When they open however long later, it’s to the crack of something hard across the side of my head.

  14

  The Mate Bond

  Salem

  I felt it. Something. Something hit me, but it didn’t. I turn back to the structure tha’s not nearly as far along as it needs to be. It’s got four walls, sure, but not much else. I should’ve had some of the soldiers help me with it, but tha didn’t sit right. If they installed a beam incorrectly, it could fall on Lily and crush her. I can’t chance it.

  I’ve been away for too long. I can feel it. I didn’t want to leave in the first place, but I had to. Lily wanted a proper proposal, w
hich isn’t a ridiculous thing for her to ask. I’m the thick-headed idiot who didn’t think it through. I didn’t treat her like a treasure. I treated her like a convenience. I’ll get better at this, starting with this next support beam tha’s… This is going to take forever. On top of the fact tha I’ve had to spend my evenings at the barracks, checking in on my captains and making sure they didn’t let the place fall apart in my absence.

  A week without Lily feels like the worst kind of punishment, but I know I deserve it for not being the man she deserves. Des promised to look after her, so she should be fine.

  Another invisible bash to my temple hits me so hard, it makes me flinch. It takes me a few minutes of looking around and shaking it off to realize tha nothing hit me.

  I’m instantly sick to my stomach when I realize the phantom fight isn’t directed at me at all: it’s meant for Lily, and I’m feeling the pangs of it through our bond.

  Panic slices through me like lightning, and before I can put away my tools, my feet are carrying me toward the mansion. I don’t have to will my wolf to burst out of me; he knows how to move faster than my two-legged self. The plot of land I picked isn’t too far from the mansion, but right now it seems days away. She’s scared. She’s hurt.

  The trees are a blur, my paws swallowing the ground tha separates me from my mate. Another bash, this time against my side. I whine, not for my pain, but because if Lily’s hurt, I’m in agony. Where is Des? Is he down, too?

  It takes me far too long to get home, my erratic heart beating louder in my ears the closer I get to Lily. I don’t bother turning into a man and calling out for her. I sniff the air for the scent of lilies and run. The stairs take me to Des’ room, which irks me. My bedroom is bigger. She should be there so she can stretch out. I want my sheets smelling like her.

  I stick my nose to the ground and follow the scent of Lily down to my mammy’s room, where it’s harder to pick out, even though the sandalwood stench is wafting out the open window. I hate tha stink, but Vera insisted it promotes circulation or healing or something like tha. My mammy’s still in her coma, so the most the sandalwood’s ever done is stink up her room.

  Blood on the rug. There’s blood on the rug. My entire being howls when my nose confirms tha it’s my mate’s blood. My mate and my brother. Two drip patterns.

  In my haste to find my mate, I don’t notice Des until he’s nearly underfoot. I’m not sure if fury or fear hit me harder when I see Des is passed out, blood trickling from his nose. I turn back into my man form and slap my best friend’s cheek until his eyes open.

  “Help!” Des rasps, gripping my forearm with feeble fingers before his eyes roll back in his head.

  “Aye, Des. I’ve got ye.” I stand, hefting him up in my arms. He’s a fair bit heavier than Lily, and my arms are sore from lifting beams all day. Still, my best friend needs me, so my body figures out how to help him. “You’re too far from Lily. Which way?” I ask, taking a step further down the hall. He cries out like I’m actively driving a stake through his temple, so I head the other way. “I never thought I’d find a tracker more accurate than my nose, but your headaches are just the ticket today. Who has Lily? And where’s Justice?”

  I’m not sure Des can understand a word I’m saying. He looks delirious with pain as I run through the hallways with his head lolling over my forearm.

  “Shite, whoever it is took her outdoors so ye couldn’t follow. I’ll find her, Brother.” We’re still a few hours from sundown, so I set Des in the parlor and draw the shades. I bolt out the door, spotting a splash of blood on the stoop.

  I take a long drag of the air, my heart stuttering when I pick out notes of Lily straight ahead. When my eyes fall on another splash of blood in front of the storm cellar a few yards away, all fear melts into pure fury. Someone’s taken my mate underground. My mate and my brother.

  My boots are heavy when I stomp through the yard, flinging open the horizontal double doors and skipping the staircase with a leap downward that announces my presence. I hope they hear me. I hope whoever it is…

  I stop short. “Vera? Where’s Lily? Who’s taken her down here?”

  My round-faced housekeeper pales at the sight of me. She’s probably afraid I’ll get taken down by whoever abducted Lily, Justice and her. I can’t imagine who’s powerful enough to get the drop on Justice, and who’s stupid enough to kidnap my mate. Though, I haven’t even told my own brother about tha development yet, so word hasn’t exactly spread tha I’m mated.

  Vera’s too scared to answer, but I don’t need a name yet as much as I need to find Lily. Lily’s whimper hits my ears, and I’m pushing past Vera toward the sound of fear on my woman.

  She’s bleeding. Bleeding as she sits with her hands bound behind her back, tied to a beam with her sweet arse on the packed-mud floor. On the floor. Soft lavender hair matted on one side and stained with crimson. Her breathing is labored, and she’s not sitting fully upright, but leaning toward the left, as if her ribs can’t handle movement and need babying.

  I want to tear the throat out of whoever did this. I want them to regret ever laying eyes on the most perfect clouds-sent beauty. Someone with a death wish damaged her for reasons tha can only amount to utter madness.

  Her closed eyes flutter open the moment my hand finds its home and cradles her face. She gasps at the sight of me, and then panic rises in her eyes. “Settle, Lily. I’m here. I’ll…”

  She’s trying to warn me of something, maybe tell me who attacked her.

  Something hits me hard on the back of my head. The world explodes in bursts of stars tha frame the one face I’ve been missing. Lily’s got red ribbons streaking the side of her face, which scares me more than whatever it is tha’s attacked me.

  I whirl around to face my assailant, my mouth falling open at Vera’s wild eyes and tear-streaked cheeks. I’m too stunned to duck when she bashes me over the head once more with the business end of a shovel. My shovel. The one I use to dig trenches. I can’t make sense of what I’m seeing. Why is Vera holding my shovel and looking like she’s the one who hit me?

  One more crack and my knees go out. The last sound I hear is Lily screaming.

  15

  Vera’s Love and Madness

  Lilya

  It was Salem’s voice that roused me, and I’m still not sure where I am or what’s going on. All I know is that Vera knocked Salem out with the business end of a shovel, and now she’s bound his hands behind his back with thick ropes. I struggle against my own bindings, but my wrists are secured behind my back. I glance around to take in my surroundings. It’s freezing, and my teeth actually chatter in the light that’s cast by a single lantern on the hook in the corner. Are we in a stable? Somewhere underground? Are we in Jacoba still? I can see my breath, it’s so cold.

  Salem’s sprawled on the floor not far from where I’m sitting, barely upright. My big hero being furiously hogtied in the middle of the dirt-packed floor stirs something both feral and tragic throughout my insides. The sight breaks something precious in me, forcing me to acknowledge the very real fact that Salem is mortal, and capable of being bested. I’ve never felt more mated to him than I do now. Though the magic doesn’t touch me in the same way it’s awakened him, I feel connected to him in some unshakable way. My mate is knocked out, so part of me feels the pang of potential defeat.

  When Vera follows my eyeline, she does me the courtesy of explaining. “In case ye get grand dreams of either of them coming to and shifting themselves free, think again. There’s silver in these ropes. It won’t hurt them like it would a vampire, but it’ll stop them from shifting. Silver keeps a shifter’s magic weak, so the boys won’t be going nowhere. I just have to…” She swallows hard, and I can tell she hasn’t thought this part through.

  “What’s the plan?” I ask her, my head dizzy. “You can’t possibly want to kill them. You love the Butcher boys. You’ve been their mom while Queen Butcher’s been sleeping.”

  She narrows her eyes at me. “I nev
er wanted to kill them! It’s ye who came into the picture and messed the whole territory. Polluting the throne, they are. If I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes, I never would’ve believed it. No boy of mine would be caught dead with a fae.” Vera punctuates her hatred by spitting at me. Then her eyes fall to the left of where I’m tied on the floor, secured to a support beam. Her silver brows tent with sudden worry. “The plan wasn’t to hit Justice. But I saw the two of ye sleeping next to each other, and I lost it. Now I’ve got to think. Maybe Justice didn’t see me.”

  I can’t tell if she’s right or not, but that hardly matters. I turn my chin with great effort, angling my head to the side so I can see more of my surroundings. My head hurts so terribly that I nearly vomit with the slight movement.

  Justice is bleeding from his temple, his jaw slack and eyes closed. Terror slices through my resolve to stay in control of myself. “Did you kill him? Did you kill Justice? No! You killed a man because I slept in the same room as him? That’s who you are? Justice! Justice, wake up!”

  “Poisoning your food didn’t work!” she offers up like that’s a valid excuse for bludgeoning a prince.

  “What?” The room keeps tilting, giving me slices of clarity and then stealing it away as I fight to stay conscious.

  “For a week, I’ve been slipping arsenic into your meals, but ye kept waking up without so much as a stomachache! How did ye manage tha?”

  I don’t tell her that poison doesn’t work on me. I’m too dizzy to access my magic just yet. I’m a sitting duck, at the mercy of a madwoman who’d just as soon see the ruling family dead than let them wander anywhere near me. If I could work my hands free, I could stuff her mouth with so much poison, she’d never be able to draw breath again.