Page 64 of Masked Fate

“Are you sure we should be here right now?” I ask Astrid, glancing around the busy crowd at Rita’s Stomping Ground, our local watering hole in Aravelle. We both left Chaos together, telling Soren and Rave we’d be heading back to the castle, but instead, Astrid suggested we go out and have a drink.

“Yeah, it’s fine. It’s neutral ground here… no one can touch us,” she replies, grinning with a beer in her hand. “And no one will recognize me. I need a drink and some girl time after all that torturing.”

Unless Rave shows up.

With his reputation for killing first and asking questions later, people still speak his name in fearful whispers, even in his own kingdom.

“Same, and I wasn’t even there,” I reply, lifting my glass and clinking it against hers.

Rita, the owner and Sinda’s mother, comes over and hugs us both warmly. “How special do I feel having two queens in here tonight.” She beams, placing some food down on the table. “Please, eat and drink as much as you like. And Astrid, please tell my son he needs to come and see me more.”

“I’ll tell him,” she promises, her lips curving up at their corners. Rita smiles and rushes off to the next table. “So, how’s Soren in bed?”

I almost choke on the grape I just popped into my mouth. Tilting my head to the side, I consider how to answer her. “Generous and well experienced. So good, I momentarily stopped caring just how he got to be that talented in bed.”

She laughs. “At least there’s some pros to that.”

“He’s obsessed with eating my pussy…” I pause. “And feeding me food.”

“Well, you know what I think? If he doesn’t check to see if you’ve eaten or need to be eaten, he isn’t the one,” she replies with a straight face.

Laughter bursts out of me, and I’m suddenly glad she dragged me here. This is exactly what I need right now. I’m about to ask her if we should order some shots when the doors to the inn open, and three shifters step inside.

“Shit,” Astrid murmurs, her hazel eyes narrowing. Magic pulses around her, getting ready to defend us if needed.

Everyone pauses as they take in the sight of the triplets. They tower over everyone they pass, their wide shoulders touching as they walk toward the bar. The violent energy that surrounds them is unmissable. Salem is in the middle, slightly bigger than his brothers, and the only one with his hair worn short. He looks over the crowd, staring at anyone who dares to make any eye contact until they lower their gaze—a predatory display of dominance. He oozes arrogance, even more than his brothers, and I mutter a curse as his light green eyes land on me. His lips curve, a devilish look entering his gaze as he turns on his heel, changing direction to approach me.

“Motherfucker,” I mutter.

Salem dips his head, looking down at me. “Well, if it isn’t the last pussy I dreamed I tasted.”

“Oh my fates!” I groan, scrubbing my hand down my face in embarrassment. Astrid, on the other hand, starts laughing. As of right now, she is no longer my best friend. “Has anyone ever told you that you are a complete asshole?”

“No one that is still breathing,” he replies with a shrug, taking the seat next to me. He moves closer, and I scoot away. We do this another two times before his brothers stand over us, both of them frowning.

“Salem, we spoke to you about this,” Silver growls, crossing his arms over his chest. “We don’t need Rave and Soren coming after us. Let’s go.”

Salem ignores them, his light green eyes pinned on my profile. “I’m not here to start any trouble. I’m sorry I shifted last time and nearly ate something other than your sweet cunt, Pandora.”

Sage chuckles while Silver’s brows hit his hairline.

I can’t help but look over at Astrid, whose face is now turning red as she tries to contain herself, but her eyes are dancing with humor. I’ve never wanted to smack the Fae Queen more in my life than I do right now.Would Rave kill me if I did?

“Thank you for your apology, Salem,” I reply.

He grins and pats my head like a dog.

“Good queen,” he rumbles, nuzzling the side of my face. Isn’t this the shifter known for hating physical touch? Is he drunk? It’s either that, or he’s finally lost the plot. “I know you have a mate now, and I respect that. But you were mine first, and I won’t forget that. So if you ever want someone to kill him, you come to me first, okay? I’ll finish the job, cut off his head, and then fuck you in a pile of his blood.”

Fucking hell.

I nod, clearing my throat. “I’ll remember that, thank you.”

He sighs, sounding put out. “It’s such a shame, you know. I think you would have taken my knot like a pro.”

Astrid throws her head back now, losing any remaining self-control. “You probably would have, you know. It just sounds like something you’d be good at, Pandora.”

Sorry, Rave. I’m going to murder your soulmate.

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