Page 16 of Their Witch Bride

I laugh and slap him on his back. Of course he did. Rinan marks everywhere, like a pup. He’s absolutely incorrigible.

“Any word on what our princess looks like?” Rinan asks, raising his eyebrows and grinning as he leans against our carriage

Privately, I’ve wondered the same thing. Even though it doesn’t technically matter. She could be a troll. A goblin. Or… well, a witch, and we’d still have to marry her.

Drogo makes a face, then speaks my words aloud. “It doesn’t matter.”

Rinan laughs. “Maybe to you. I want a pretty wife, no matter what.” He makes an hourglass figure with his hands, then slaps an imaginary ass.

“It. Doesn’t. Matter,” Drogo insists, crossing his huge arms over his chest.

“It sure as fuck does. She’ll be mine…ours. Look at us. She has to be hot to match us.” Rinan beats his chest with his fist.

I shake my head and muffle the chuckle building up.

Rinan’s laughing outright. “I bet she’s pretty in the face and has a fat ass. You know I love a fat ass.” He rubs his hands together.

He’s full of it. So far, I’d say none of us have a specific type. When a woman catches our eye, we simply have to have her. Fat ass or tiny ass, we don’t give a shit.

“We’re marrying her to fulfill the peace treaty. That’s it. No one says we have to mate her," Drogo says as he stares off into the shadows of the castle walls.

My chest aches a little as I stare at him. He’s hiding behind his anger, something he does best. But this is about more than hatred–this is about pain and loss to him. Drogo has lost both of his brothers to the witches and the war. Being forced to marry one makes his skin crawl. It’ll likely take Rinan and I both to ensure the man isn’t too cruel to the witch we’re being tied to. Even though chances are she’ll be crueler than he could ever be.

“Lighten up. It can still be fun. We don’t have to suck all the life out of this,” Rinan drawls.

I cast him a warning glance, but he doesn’t see me. He’s in a mood. We’ve been traveling for days, rarely shifting as we followed the witches through their lands. His wolf wants to be playful, even more than usual, and he doesn’t seem to be picking up on the cues around him.

Drogo’s jaw twitches. “This is exactly why your wolf is a puppy. You act like a child.”

Rinan wrinkles his nose. “A puppy is better than the rabid, prickly beast you are in your human form.” Then, he grins widely and humps the air.

Drogo lunges toward Rinan, but he stops when a witch comes our way from the cavern, emerging from the steps. “My lords, it’s time,” she says before turning to head back in.

She doesn’t seem to care if we follow her or not. Her back is rigid, and her steps are rushed.

We follow her, but as we approach the top of the stairs, I turn to face them. “This is part of the peace negotiations our fathers made. We have to marry her or else we break the treaty. I don’t want that on my hands.” I look both of them in the eye as our guards gather behind us.

Drogo releases a slow breath. “I’ll do this, but only because it’s going to be the shortest marriage in pack history.”

He’s right about that. I sigh as we follow the witch into the castle.

EIGHT

Tara

The ballroom practically pulses with energy at the news of my betrothal to the shifter…shifters? My mind starts working as the word shifters pops into my mind. Don’t they usually share their female? At least that’s what the rumors say.

No. Nope. I can’t handle that.

I bite my lip to keep the tears of betrayal at bay. My mom did this to me. She basically sold me to them for peace. Can she even trust them after a century of fighting? What if they decide to take me to their lands, then wage war again? I’d be the only witch with them. I’d be in enemy territory alone.

I feel empty inside and numb. This has to be a dream.

That’s it. I’m dreaming. It’s the night before the ceremony, and I’m just still asleep. I close my eyes and will myself to wake up, even pinching myself to make it happen. But when I open my eyes, I’m still standing on the ballroom stage while my whole coven teems with excitement about my pending nuptials.

But they wouldn’t be excited if it was anyone other than me. Shifters are cruel, heartless beasts. My shifter husband is just as likely to marry me, kill me outside the castle walls, and then pretend I’m still at his side to keep the peace agreement.

What will my life even be like with one of those beasts?

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