Page 120 of Mercy & Her Devils

“Worth every year that I waited,” he replies.

Lark stands up, dripping water from his hands. “You’re a prince amongst Alphas.”

“Interesting that you should put it like that, lad.” Kai appears to be debating something, biting at his lip.

He walks agitatedly to the sink and leans back on it, resting on his hands.

His knuckles are white.

Anxiety begins to coil through me.

What the hell is he going to tell us?

“Secrets eat away at your Soul,” Lark says. “Especially when they’re between bond mates. Even if you don’t trust me yet, then you should trust Mercy.”

Kai winces. “I trust you both. I’ve been trying to protect you or at least, I told myself that. I was probably trying to protect myself. I can feel your emotions and needs through the bond now, however, and I know that you’ll understand. I didn’t want you to reject me because I’m a bad Alpha.”

My heart breaks.

Lark bares his teeth. “You’re the opposite of that. Who would fucking dare call you that?”

“Most of the Scottish Court.” Kai crosses his strong arms. “Living here is confusing for me. Your culture is different to my own. It’s like I’ve landed on an alien planet, and I’m trying to work out new rules and social customs. In my country, I was an outcast. I was too dominant for an Alpha. Smart and book learned, which I wasn’t meant to be. I debated with my brother, an Omega. Both of us were often punished for that. I refused the matches that my Omega Da tried to arrange for me. I spent more time reading, than training to act as a warrior guard for Omegas.”

I stare at him.

I wanted to know about the Scottish Omegacracy. It’s fascinating but at the same time, it doesn’t sound better than what we have in the rest of the world.

“Scottish Court?” Lark says, whip sharp. “Just how much of an elite are you? Are you a runaway lord?”

Kai lets go of the sink to fiddle with his stag cuff links. “Do you remember that I courted you with my most precious belonging from my pack? Artio?”

I grin, remembering the cute teddy bear, which was dressed up like Prince Charming, complete with blood red cape and sword.

“Of course, the cute bear prince,” I reply.

“It was my younger brother’s,” Kai says. “He’s sassy, fiendishly smart, and renowned as the most beautiful Omega in Scotland. He’s the only person who I truly miss. He never treated me with anything but respect, even if the lad is…admittedly…nicknamed the Omega Viper by his enemies. You don’t cross an Omega prince.”

“Prince…?” I whisper.

“Then you’re…an Alpha prince?” Lark’s eyes are wide with shock.

And I haven’t even been kneeling for him.

My breathing picks up, and for the first time, I wish that I wasn’t sprawled naked in this bath.

It’s not like I can curtsy like this.

Could I at least bob my soapy head somehow? Or would that be even more disrespectful?

Shit, shit, shit.

As if his strings have been cut, Lark drops to his knees on the marble floor with a crack that must have hurt his kneecaps.

I wince at the same time as Kai does.

Lark’s hair hangs over his face, as he ducks his head. “I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“None of that, lad.” Kai grips Lark by the elbows and effortlessly lifts him back to his feet. “Remember I told you that you’ll never have to kneel for me.”

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