Page 39 of Forever Touched

That wasn’t love. What we shared had been purely lust, nothing more.

Bitterness coated my next question. “Does your brother hate her?”

Loch flicked me another glance. “At first. He worried that McKenna would hurt me. He’s been overprotective ever since . . .”

“I know,” I said, not needing him to finish. “I’ve heard the stories about the Syphon witch who kept a vampire prince as her personal blood slave.”

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. Shockingly, I felt a pang of empathy for him. My own situation wasn’t much different, not that I could tell him that.

“And then your brother went on a killing spree, murdering hundreds of innocent witches and warlocks,” I added, needing toremind myself who thetruevictims were. If it wasn’t for Everett, my life would be very different. He’d ruined it even before I was born.

Remembering that I’dsleptwith him, even after knowing who he was, my stomach soured.

Surprisingly, Loch didn’t immediately come to his brother’s defense. I’d expected him to be angry at my accusing tone, but he only sighed and said, “What Everett did was wrong. We both made terrible mistakes after I was abducted, and we lost our younger brother in the process. Everett has changed since then, but he’s still haunted by the past. It doesn’t excuse his poor behavior, but maybe this will help you understand him a little better. If you two really are soulmates, I believe he’ll come around, just like he did with McKenna. He might be bullheaded, but he’s also fiercely protective of his family and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.”

I didn’t respond, struggling to process all that he’d said. He wasn’t supposed to soundremorseful. Wasn’t supposed to be a decent person who admitted his mistakes and had changed for the better. How was I supposed to hate the royal family now? How was I supposed to hateEverett?

And, more importantly, how was I supposed to follow through with my plan for revenge?

12

EVERETT

We were at a stalemate.

I paced the long length of the throne room, wishing I was anywhere but here. It didn’t matter what I said. My father was adamant that Star was my soulmate.

Impossible. I didn’t feel any different.

I was more agitated lately, and seeing Ben with his hands on her had filled me with blinding fury, but that didn’t mean we were fated for one another. If anything, Father’s first suspicion was correct.

I was under her enchantment.

“You’re in denial, son. You don’t feel any different because you haven’t accepted the bond. Neither has she, I’m guessing. Sex alone can’t complete the bond. You have towantit. To truly desire a soul connection with your mate.”

“She’s not my mate,” I replied through clenched teeth, losing the last of my patience. At the same time, the memory of her bleeding out flashed in my mind. Without a second thought, I’d offered her my blood. When she’d refused it, terror had gripped me. Breathing had been impossible until color slowly flushed her cheeks once more. Unwilling to let her out of my sight, I’d done the worst thing possible and brought her home with me.

Now, I was paying dearly for that mistake.

“Everett, you need to accept this,” my father pushed once more, making my anger spill over. “She’s a blood whore at a feeding den.You won’t be able to tolerate the thought of other males touching her. If you don’t sort this out soon, she could get hurt or worse.”

I whirled toward him with fire in my eyes. “Iknowwhat she is. That’s why I wasn’t going to tell you about her. I won’t deny that I desire her, but she doesn’t want to give up her job. So what am I supposed to do? Command her to stop having sex with other males because shemightbe my soulmate?”

He shrugged. “Yes. You’re the crown prince.”

I shook my head with a scoff. “You don’t know her the way I do, Father. She’s independent.Confident. There isn’t an ounce of fear in that fragile mortal body of hers. She won’t give up her job simply because the crown prince tells her to.”

He was silent for a long beat, slowly tapping the armrest of his throne. Then, “Sounds like she would make the perfect queen for you.”

I bared my teeth at him, completely done with this conversation.

He wasn’t done, though. Rising from his throne, he stepped toward me and said, “When I heard the rumors surrounding that nightclub, I had you check it out to give you a sense ofpurposeagain, son. Ever since the curse broke, I’ve watched you flounder. You’ve spent over a century hunting down witches to protect this family. Most of your life has been a race to save this kingdom from ruin, and along the way, you completely lost yourself.”

“I’m not lost.”

“Youare.” He approached me slowly, keeping me locked in his gaze. “You’ve lost sight of who you’re supposed to be. You’re the crown prince. Myheir. The future king of this kingdom. You don’t have to run anymore, son. This kingdom is safe now because of you. Accept who you are and embrace it. Find purpose in your role as our future king because youwillbe king and best be ready. I don’t thinkit was an accident that I sent you to that nightclub. I think it was your destiny to go there, and I think Star is your fate.”

When he paused before me, I could barely hold still. I wanted to lash out at him and anything else within distance. I felt trapped. Backed into a corner. Powerless as the Universe decided my future for me.

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