Page 57 of Their Witch Bride

“We need to get her to one of our healers and get her patched up and clean,” Prince Rinan insists, smoothing my blood-stained hair out of my face and checking me for more injuries.

“What we fucking need are answers.” Prince Drogo says, sneering at me. “We need to know exactly what happened.”

It’s not complicated, I want to say, but the way he’s looking at me renders me paralyzed. There’s such unbelievable hatred in his gaze that it makes me feel like what just happened was my fault. I feel that uncomfortable feeling, like my body wants to cry, but I won’t let it. I won’t. Not in front of any of these men. No matter how scary what just happened was.

Prince Drogo steps closer to me. “Do your people ever interact with the bears?”

My people? What’s he talking about? I shrink away from him. His anger is too much. Too fast. I’ve barely processed that Prince Rinan almost died and we were attacked, and now I’m being peppered with questions I don’t understand.

“Speak,” he commands me like a damn dog.

Annoyance rises to the top of my emotions, and I stare him down, even though my body is shaking.

He crosses his arms over his chest. “Is it common for witches like you to associate with bear shifters? It’s a fucking easy question.”

My mouth moves, but no words come out. I hadn’t even known bear shifters existed until this moment. What am I supposed to say to his stupid questions? I have a feeling no matter how I explain myself, he’ll just get angrier.

As expected, he doesn’t let up. “Why would a bear shifter target you? And how are you barely injured while Rinan got torn up?” His words drip with accusation

Everything snaps into place. He thinks I had something to do with this.

He takes a step closer, crowding my space. “Did your people also make a deal with the bear shifters?”

Okay, things are just going to get worse unless I open my damn mouth, so I take several deep breaths, which do nothing to stop my body from shaking. Then I curl my hands into fists, willing myself to feel stronger. To face Prince Drogo like the opponent he has become.

“P-Prince Drogo,” I stammer, “exactly what are you saying?”

He closes the space between us until there’s only a hair separating us. “Are you involved with the bear shifters in a plot against our pack?”

A plot against them? I get that they’re my enemies, but does he really think I’m capable of that? My eyes sting. We’re married, and there’s still no trust between us. If I’m honest, not from my side, or theirs. It’s sad.

I want to say that, but the words don’t come out right. “I–no–what?”

Suddenly, Prince Rinan is there, shoving Drogo out of my face. “Back the fuck off, and shut the hell up!” His eyes gleam yellow, and my breath catches in my throat.

“No, we need answers from this–”

“It wasn’t her plan to be attacked! She didn’t know this was coming! Leave her the fuck alone”

A growl slips from Prince Drogo’s throat. He advances on Prince Rinan.

Prince Arlys is between them in an instant. “Stop. We’re not the enemy.”

“Yeah, she is!” Prince Drogo shouts.

Prince Rinan dives around Prince Arlys, shoving Prince Drogo back.

The other man’s eyes are wild, and every muscle in his body tenses. Those two are going to beat the shit out of each other, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

Suddenly, Prince Arlys punches Prince Drogo right in the face, knocking him to the floor. He stands over the other man with fists clenched. “We good?”

I can’t breathe. I don’t know what to do. I’m picturing an all-out battle between the three wolves and all I want to do is get as far away from them as possible.

To my shock, Prince Drogo reaches a hand up. “We’re good.”

Prince Arlys helps him off the ground, while the other man rubs at his jaw. Then Prince Arlys turns to Prince Rinan. “You good?”

“If he can shut the hell up,” Prince Rinan says.

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