Page 8 of Hateful Prince

Well, let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we?

“So why keep Tor and I separated?”

She sat back in her chair. “That was never my intention, you know. I actually was planning on helping the two of you move into new accommodations that would allow you to foster your new bond, but then...” The doctor paled, her focus going a bit distant before she blinked and refocused. “Anyway, by the time I was in any position to do anything about it, the damage was done. And I can’t fault Nate for doing what he believed was safest for our residents. Perhaps he did not go about it in the right way, and we could argue endlessly about what he should have done differently, but the facts are the facts. Because of you, Tor has learned how to control his beast, at least enough to be reintroduced to the others.”

“Is that your version of ‘the ends justify the means’ speech?”

“Don’t they?”

“Touché.”

That smug grin twisted her lips again.

“So how do we do this, then? Are we all moving into some new house? Is there a love nest on the grounds? A sex shack?”

“Not one big enough for you and four mates.”

“Technically there’s only two.”

Or was it three now? Did what happened with Cain—shit, Hades—last night mean we were officially mated? Ugh, there was still so much about my new life I didn’t understand.

Masterson gave me the drollest stare. “For now. It’s only a matter of time.”

“I wish I had your certainty.”

“You do, Dahlia. You just refuse to believe what your heart has been shouting at you since the beginning. But if you can’t trust your heart, trust this: it’s going to happen whether you believe it or not. That’s what fate means.”

“I’ve never been very good at trusting my instincts.”

She reached out and took my hand. “Then trust mine. It’s not something you can resist. The writing is on the wall, and those men will claim you. They’ve already started, and you’re just prolonging the strain between you by not listening to the call of fate.”

“The Fates,” I corrected. “Cain said there are three of them.”

“Interesting.”

I couldn’t help but blink at her. “That’s the thing out of all of this that you find interesting?”

“Not exclusively.”

I shook my head. “This place is such a mind fuck. A month ago, I didn’t even know supernatural creatures were real—or that I’m one of them—and then wham, here I am. Right in the fucking middle of Disneyland for the supernaturally insane.”

“Keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times,” she murmured.

“Did you just make a joke?”

“Aye. Speaking of you being a creature, let’s move away from the topic of your mates and on to your new identity, shall we? How are you feeling about your gift?”

How was I feeling? I hadn’t given it much thought lately, what with the mating and the Cain fucking and massive orgy that broke out yesterday.

“Um . . . fine?”

Masterson laughed.

“I don’t know, doc. If I’m being honest, it’s all starting to feel like some kind of cosmic joke. I can see and talk to ghosts, but like... why? For what purpose? Am I supposed to help them? Because if so, why is one tormenting me?”

“You’re being tormented?”

“Haunted. Yeah. And I don’t know how to make it stop. Cain banished her once, but I don’t think she’s gone for good.”

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