Page 109 of Settle Down, Princess

Only to find Creed and the others standing in my way.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Creed told me. “I promised you that. You’ll be safe here. We’ll go with the king, sort this out of the packlands.”

“You make a lot of promises you are not likely to keep, beast man,” Magnus sneered.

“You are my mate. The fates themselves decreed that we are to be together. None can separate us. None.”

Creed pulled me close, and that’s when I felt the massive span of his chest, the power in his arms. The way he held me, with such tenderness yet strength is what broke me. The sobs I kept stuffed down rose up, stored since the moment I donned that wedding dress and remaining unshed until now. I was helpless all over again, other people deciding my fate.

No, that wasn’t right.

I could try to hide, allow Magnus to terrify each woman here, making her pay for the gifts I had given them of my own dresses. I could scream out in protest as they set fire to the dining hall’s roof, watch it catch alight and burn everyone in it. I could rage, cry, stamp my damn foot, or…

They said I was to be queen of Khean. I could act like that was true and do this.

I pulled away from Creed to climb on my chair, then strode across the table, my long skirts tugging cutlery and dishes along with me. The sounds of their crashes on the ground as I landed on the other side of the table was fitting. I’d never be able to stage a rebellion, fight in a battle, or raise a sword or an arrow against this king.

But I could inspire others to do just that.

Magnus’ grin was demonic, lighting his whole face up as I approached. Before I took his hand, I turned.

“I told you the conditions of the mating challenge,” I said to each one of my males. “You know what you have to do. If you succeed, I will be yours forever.”

And if they were unsuccessful in raising a rebellion that would result in the death of a despotic king and a new regime being installed, then I would die in a way that made what Ariel went through pale in comparison.

“Tell your men to extinguish every single one of those torches,” I said to Magnus. “You’ve made your point. You have me, the one thing Arik wants, and that’s what matters.”

“You are my wife.” I felt Magnus’ spittle on my face as he snapped out his response. “I rule here, not you.”

“Then as your wife, I advise you to douse the torches. You are reliant on the wolf shifters for their military prowess.” I shot the crowd a dismissive look. “If you burn them now, you risk soldier morale and will kill many prospective breeders of sons.”

He nodded slowly, letting a little flame of hope light in my breast, though he extinguished it as his hand gripped mine brutally tight.

Did my fingers break or my heart as he tugged me from the hall? I couldn’t tell which, only that everything hurt. I’d tried with all I had to avoid this fate, only to rush towards it. I was reckless, silly, and naive. Being a princess didn’t allow you to be anything else other than that.

But I was also determined.

As soon as we got clear of the dining hall, I jerked my hand out of his grip, forcing the king to wheel around to face me.

“I’m coming, Your Majesty,” I snapped, “so there’s no need to wrench my arm out of its socket.” My lips twisted into a mirthless smile. “Torturers have to give themselves somewhere to go, don’t they? If you break my fingers now, what will you have to do later?”

“You’ll find out, girl.”

It was only now I truly understood my training, because it was that which allowed me to stand perfectly still as this man snapped in my face like an angry dog. I smiled slightly, mostly because I’d managed to stop myself from recoiling in horror, but both of our attention was jerked sideways as Arik and my mates came running forward.

“Don’t take Jessalyn,” Arik shouted. “Take me. This was always about me!”

“And won’t it hurt him more if you give me some of your men to help retrieve my belongings?” I asked Magnus.

It had to. Turning my back on my men made my chest ache violently, so I had to assume they felt the same. But in my mind, I saw that silken bag and all of its contents. I needed Arik to bring the king down, but I was not a princess from a fable, waiting in a tower for her prince to come. I had a small fortune of assassin’s tools at my disposal, and it was past time I learned how to use them.

Maybe they’d rescue me, and maybe I’d rescue myself.

Magnus clicked his fingers.

“Assist the princess to gather her things,” he informed one of the knights. “We leave for the capital immediately.”

Chapter 63

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