Page 186 of Settle Down, Princess

“A king too busy fucking to pay attention to what’s coming for him,” a lord said with a smug smile. “A general that’s hamstrung by the chain of command. Seems like a perfect opportunity to attack. If the army is forced to sit on its hands, it won’t interfere when we appear at the gates of the capital.” His eyes found Arik. “The true born son will dethrone this usurper that has sat on Prince Arik’s throne for far too long.”

He jerked his sword out, the blade shining even in the lamplight.

“King Arik.”

“King Arik!” cried another, then another, until the tent was filled with the sound of it.

“You wore the crown of antlers,” the wolf shifter representative said. “The stag chose you.”

So why did I see the golden doe right then. My brows jerked down as I saw those two beautiful fawns, all eyes and legs, still growing into their full strength, only to be hunted down by another contender to the throne. I frowned then, just as the crowd grew more boisterous. Wine was found from somewhere, as was beer, but while everyone else seemed intent on drinking themselves stupid, I slipped out of the tent.

I was never likely to get far without at least one of the four of my mates following me, and when I heard footsteps behind me, echoing in the quiet of night, I turned, expecting to see Creed there. Imagine my surprise when I saw Arik.

“You’ve no head for beer, princess?” he asked me.

“It’s terrible stuff,” I admitted with a shake of my head. “Why on earth would anyone drink anything as bitter as that. I understand the roseblood now, because it at least softened the aftertaste.”

“I have roseblood, if that’s what you need.”

He pulled a small leather pouch from his belt and then held it out to me.

“That’s how we got in this trouble in the first place.” I tried to smile and failed. “Perhaps we shouldn’t compound our sins with more.”

His eyes studied me, seeming to take all of me in with just one glance.

“You’re scared.” His words made it sound like he was mocking me and my whole body stiffened, air sucked in, ready to be expelled in an angry retort. “Jessalyn…” How did he manage to say my name like it was a caress against my skin? “I thought this is what you wanted. You set us a challenge to prove ourselves to you and—”

“I’m a silly girl, aren’t I?” I stared him in the eyes as I marched forward. “Just a pampered, coddled little princess. My uses are largely decorative and procreative.” I slid my hand down to my stomach. “And perhaps I’ve fulfilled one of those purposes already.”

But that was the problem. I saw Geneva and Benny then, Desiree’s rambunctious kids, as well as those that lived on the packlands. The children of the women at the pump in Cheapside. For some reason I hadn’t thought of them when I issued my challenge. What had transpired to bring us to this point, to have lords and soldiers, wolf shifters and low born men all banding together against a common enemy.

It could mean the death and destruction of so many, and as if to confirm my fears, I heard the ragged cry of a baby far off in the camp.

“I wanted to survive,” I said hurriedly, the words forced out, otherwise they wouldn’t come at all. “Everything I’ve done was to that aim. Slipping away from the inn with those men.” I watched Arik’s jaw tighten at the mention. “Trying to find a place on the packlands, then issuing you that challenge. Every single thing came from a selfish desire to live, but not just for myself.”

My fingers sank into the folds of my dress, worrying the thick brocade.

“I wanted Fern and the other female wolf shifters to be free of the king’s guards’ attentions. I wanted Elder Wren to continue to oversee the packlands, keeping the peace. I want Desiree to live without fear, earning good money from the palace kitchens for honest work. I want Geneva to be able to find her own passion, free of the fear of sexual or physical abuse. I want Selene…” I saw her and Rose then. “I want her to be free to follow her heart.” I nodded slowly, the haze in my mind seeming to fade away. “I want all of us to be able to do that and I couldn’t find a way without making you king. While Magnus rules, no one is safe. No one.”

“I want that too…”

Arik’s admission seemed to cause him real pain, because he rushed forward, taking my hands in his and holding them tight. “I’d given up thinking about it because the rest of the world seemed so fucking complacent about my brother.” His forehead landed against mine. “At first I was angry at the entire world for not seeing through the fine clothes, past the golden crown he wore, and at the monster that lay beneath. I burned with a need to force everyone to see it. Deprived of fuel, a fire will only burn for so long.”

He moved slowly, so slowly, as if he needed to give me all the time in the world to pull away, but I wouldn’t. I’d claimed him as mine, the taste of his blood still in my teeth.

“But you had to light me back up, didn’t you? I watched you do all of these stupid things, just trying to survive and I remembered what it was like. To thrust your middle finger up in the air when faced with your fate, refusing to go easily. You burned through years of resignation, of defeat, using every single moment I gave in as fuel to set me on fire.”

His mouth brushed against mine, not a kiss, not yet.

“You forced me to burn for you.” His hands slapped down on my arms, holding me tight, but I felt no fear. No, instead something else curled down low in my stomach. “Leaving me gasping and naked, more vulnerable than I’ve been in years.”

“You say that like you’re the only one,” I replied in a hoarse whisper. “You gave me roseblood the first night we were together, setting every nerve ending on fire, but those flames never went out, not the next day or any other day after that. Don’t you understand?”

“Pretty sure we’ve all been burning with it.” Both of us jerked apart to find Silas strolling over with a sly smile, Creed and Roan in tow. “But we’re going to have to tamp that shit down. We’ve been given our orders. The entire force marches on the capital at first light, Your Majesty.”

He started to bow formally to Arik who shook his head sharply.

“Do not start calling me that, brother. The last time I wore a crown, someone I loved dearly was killed for it, so let’s not tempt the gods anymore. Bed.” Arik’s eyes glittered as he looked back at me. “That’s what we need. We’re a day out of the capital, but it’ll be a long, hard ride.”

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