Page 121 of Mercy & Her Devils

“But that was before I knew you were royalty,” Lark snarls and then catches himself, freezing in alarm.

Kai opens his mouth and then shuts it, before he bellows with laughter, clapping Lark on the back so heartily that it almost knocks him over. “At least you’re not calling me Your Highness anymore. Look, I’m just me. Antonio is helping me to hide here from Da…”

“The King,” I breathe.

“I felt caged in his claustrophobic court.” A cloud chases across Kai’s expression. “What happens in Scotland is little known to the rest of the world, and in many ways, an Alpha prince there is even less known. Luckily for me. I wanted to be a journalist and right some of the wrongs happening to Omegas. I had private funds that I could use to help me do it. I wasn’t going to tell anyone who I was in my new life, but then, you happened.”

“That’s a good thing, right?” I ask.

“The best but most unexpected thing in my life,” Kai reassures. “I couldn’t stay in my Scottish pack. I didn’t want to be married off to some older, wealthy Omega widow, who’d use me in my ruts like I was her Alpha stallion. And that’s what was going to happen.”

I grimace at the image. “I’m glad that Gabriel and you found each other.”

“We saved each other,” Kai says with a hint of pride. “We could be brave for each other.”

“Let me get this straight.” Lark cocks his head. “You’re a royal prince…”

“An Alpha prince,” Kai corrects. “I can’t inherit and have no power or authority. It’s merely a title, making me a pawn to be moved in a matching alliance. In fact, that alliance would have happened earlier, but my brother was always vocal about wanting me by his side. He protected me from an unhappy matching for as long as he could.”

“Still, a prince, and you gave it up to become a hunted rebel for Omega rights.”

Kai’s lips curl up. “Aye, laddy. It sounds a fair exchange.”

Lark grabs Kai’s tie with a sudden fierceness, before throwing himself against Kai’s chest.

Lark’s eyes are blazing with desire. “You’re truly a good Alpha. It’s not an act.”

His voice is suffused with wonder.

Then he yanks Kai’s head down with all his strength to kiss him with a clash of teeth and sharp, nipping bites.

Kai raises his hands to Lark’s shoulders, holding him in place. He kisses back with equal passion.

Fuck, it’s hot.

I understand.

Lark believes in this Alpha now.

He finally believes that there’s such a thing in the world as a good Alpha, and that’s life altering.

At last, panting, Lark pulls back. His eyes are glassy.

He’s resting his hand over Kai’s heart, and I don’t know whether he realizes that he’s doing it.

Then a thought strikes me, hard and powerful in my chest.

I grip the side of the bath, pulling myself up in a cascade of water.

Concerned, both of the men turn to me.

“I’m a princess,” I gasp. “I’m a Brok princess. Has that ever happened before? I must be the only one in the world.”

Emotions rush through me, intense enough to make my hands shake.

A Brok is meant to be broken, abandoned, and rejected.

But I’m claimed and wanted.

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