Page 164 of Settle Down, Princess

“I’ll deliver the news to the king,” I said. “I’d much rather risk his wrath on my own than with the lot of you in tow. Stay here.”

Silas went to argue, but Roan nodded.

“Stay safe, brother. We need you to come back here and tell us what we’re doing wrong before the night’s through.”

I smiled then despite myself.

“No more knife play for starters.” I said this in a gently chiding tone.

“But—” Jessalyn started to bristle against Silas.

“None that draws blood then.” I stood tall, moving into the stance the military worked hard to make automatic. “I can go into the lion’s den if I know the lot of you are in one piece.”

“You too, brother,” Silas replied.

Each one of them stared at me then, which forced me to turn on my heel and walk away. It was either that or lose myself in the lot of them. My errant vision, it reminded me of something I knew all too well, and that’s what had me walking down the corridors of the temple and out to the stables.

“Leaving without my brother?” Selene appeared out of the shadows, smiling slightly.

“If I had my way, he’d be putting on one of your robes and staying here until this is done,” I replied, stroking my horse’s nose.

“Silas was placed by your side by my father, but that’s not what keeps him there,” she replied. “It’s because he feels like it’s exactly where he’s supposed to be. Whatever you go to do, he would want to be there with you.”

“But he can’t.” I looked down at my hands, seeing only grime and skin, not blood. “And if you love your brother, you’ll keep him here. The blood is on my hands, not his and…” I hauled myself up into the saddle. “The only one way to wash them clean is to bathe them in my brother’s lifeblood. Make sure that he and Roan remain here until morning, and if your father can bring me word of Creed, well…” I sighed, mindful of what my words would mean. “I’d be very grateful for news.”

“I’ll forward that message on, Prince Arik.”

I didn’t feel like a prince when I rode towards the palace, nor one as I scaled the stairs. The muffled sounds from the throne room pricked at my skin, the cries and the moans completely different to those in Jessalyn’s bedroom at the temple. These sounds were brutal, animalistic, savage, making the idea of putting my hand on the doorknob utterly repellent, but I did just that.

“Arik?”

I almost jerked my hand away at the sound of my name, the distraction welcome, right up until I saw the general rushing forward.

“Sir.”

I went to perform a salute, but he shook his head sharply.

“Is the king in there? I must speak to him immediately.” I wanted news of Creed, but not like this. “The wolf shifters have deserted the army en masse, leaving our borders with both Lanzene and Matteau undefended.”

I’d seen the man standing in front of a sea of cadets, me among them, and I’d seen him in briefings, delivering our orders for the battle ahead, but in each instance, he was a picture of calm, confident control. There was none of that now. His eyes searched my face, looking for an appropriately fearful response, but I had none to give him. Creed had done exactly as we agreed, reminding the human citizens just how much the bond with the wolf shifters mattered.

“I too have news for him, sir,” I said, pushing the door open.

Chapter 94

Arik

I never liked walking in when the king and his loathsome courtiers were at ‘play.’ The vast majority of the Kheanian aristocracy rarely visited court for just this reason. I walked into a sea of bodies writhing on the beautiful couches, the chaise lounge, and even the floor, expertly sidestepping hands that reached for me because I’d had to do this all too often. The general however… All of the urgency left the man along with the blood in his face as he went deathly pale. I almost snorted in amusement, right up until I saw why.

His focus narrowed in on Giselle, or more specifically, her throat. The king’s fingers were wrapped around it, squeezing until her face turned an alarming shade of red. The general lurched forward, no doubt moved by the sight of a woman in distress, but I slapped a hand down on his chest. This was unforgivable due to his rank and mine within the army hierarchy, but I shot him a warning look.

“My king!” My voice rang out across the room, forcing people’s lips away from their partner’s or other parts of their bodies. “I bring news.”

That fucking madness in his eyes when Magnus’ gaze snapped up–it left me cold each time, but the numbness that protected me quickly seeped in to protect me from it. His face was almost as red as Giselle’s, his eyes bulging in his skull as his lips pulled back in a silent snarl. The bastard didn’t even stop his pathetic pumping between his mistress’ legs before he caught sight of me. His whole body stiffened, and the general was treated to the sight of his king reaching his climax, his fingers reluctantly pried from around Giselle’s throat by the woman herself. He collapsed down beside her as she sucked in breaths, the rasping sound all too familiar.

I knew what she was experiencing, that desperate, desperate need for oxygen. Her body worked too hard to draw it in, closing down her windpipe, but Giselle knew what she was doing. She pursed her lips, drawing in oxygen through a narrow hole, reducing the pressure and allowing her to breathe more easily. The woman celebrated this with an arch, shaky laugh.

“Oh my king…” How the hell she managed to wrap her arms around the prick after that I didn’t know. “You are inspired tonight. I was driven half out of my mind with pleasure.”

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