Page 55 of Foretold

Meanwhile, he’s fucking all his blondes and calling them hispets.

Males.

"Pandora is allowed to have fun with who she wants, just like you do,” I fire back, scowling. “She is a beautiful, single woman. She owes nothing to anyone.”

No one is going to slut-shame my friend. He can take his double standards and shove them up his ass.

“Astrid—” he trails off, his eyes flickering with rage as he looks closely at Pandora’s neck, his nostrils suddenly flaring. “Who the fuck did that to you?”

My brow furrows, and I step closer to see what he’s talking about, frowning when I notice the bruise marks on her. It looks like someone has tried to choke her.

Pandora’s eyes widen as she steps back, her fingers stroking the purple marks. “As if you care.”

“Who?” Soren grits out, his dark temper giving his voice a sharp, dominant edge. I remember he once told me he has some persuasion, and I hope he wasn’t trying to use his magic to get answers out of her. “Who dared to touch you like that?”

My easy-going friend is angrier than I’veeverseen him.

And he apparently hates witches.

Defiance flashes in Pandora’s violet gaze, and she steps forward with her hands on her hips, looking him dead in the eye. “Someone with my permission. You’re not the only one who likes it a little rough in the bedroom.”

I let out a low whistle.

Soren’s jaw tightens, his fists clenched by his sides, but he says nothing. His stormy gaze drops to her neck once more before he turns and walks away.

I don’t know what the hell that was, but I think they have some explaining to do.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Astrid

“When did Elios get so hot?” Pandora asks, arching a brow. “Little prince is all grown up.”

“I don’t know, I haven’t been able to take my eyes off Rave,” I admit, wondering if I was drooling.

After Pandora didn’t answer any of my questions about Soren, we spent the day together, debriefing everything going on in our lives right now.

There was a lot to unpack.

Now we’re both watching them circling each other in the fight ring, our mouths slightly open. Rave is shirtless, showing off his lithe, hard muscles and warrior build, and my eyes keep going to the eight hard ridges of his abdomen and then further down to his Adonis belt, the sexy V pointing down underneath his fighting leathers. The ring is a new addition to the gardens, and I feel like this might be my new favorite place to relax. Glancing around, I see many other women working around the castle have the same idea.

“Where else could you see a muscular, half-naked king fighting,” I mutter to myself, a dash of jealousy hitting me.

The king needs to put on some damn clothes.

Turning to Pandora, I eye the bruises around her neck. “Is that true what you told him?”

She gives her head a slight shake. “No. I was attacked.”

“By who?”

“Doesn’t matter,” she replies, shrugging like it’s nothing. “I have it under control. I don’t need Soren in my business. He’s been ignoring me for years, and he can continue to do so.”

“I’m here if you need me,” I say, my brow furrowing. “Youknow that, right?”

She nods and reaches over to touch my arm. “I know, Astrid.”

I spot Vale, and he runs over with a grin when he sees me. “Hello, my queens,” he says with a little bow.

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