Page 44 of Exiled Prince

His responding smile steals my breath away.

I have my mate.

And I’m about to have my brother back.

Life is good.

Famous last words.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Bane

Two nights later, we’re all gathered outside the Incubus Castle’s gates, dressed in our battle leathers and armed from head to toe. Saylor is dressed in tight leather pants and a vest-looking top that has had me hard for the last hour.

Salem stands in front of me, cracking his knuckles. “I’m ready.”

I nod. “If anything goes wrong, get out of there. I’m not telling my mate she’s lost another brother.”

Salem simply smirks, his thumb running along the scar on his cheek. “The castle will crumble before I do.”

Saylor walks over and hugs him tightly. “Tonight is the night. We’ve got this.”

He kisses the top of her hair. “You stay safe, baby sister. Without you, we all fall apart.”

And then he’s gone. Saylor takes a deep breath in and out and then looks up at the almost full moon. “I don’t want anything that happens tonight to come between us.”

“It won’t. You are my priority, Sunshine. However it plays out, nothing will change that,” I promise her.

Pandora comes over, offering Saylor a small smile. “You doing okay?”

Saylor nods. “Yeah, I just want all of us to be safe and Shadow to be back home where he belongs. Thank you for coming to help.”

“What are friends for, hey?” She grins, tucking her short black hair back behind her ear.

Astrid leaves Rave’s side to come and stand with us. “I’ve never been to the Demon Kingdom before.”

“I don’t think any of us have,” Saylor replies, glancing up at me. “Wonder what else they are hiding there aside from my brother.”

I’ve been wondering the same. It’s been a long time since my father was king, since I was the heir, and I haven’t stepped foot in The Circle since then. I don’t know what we are walking into, but Saylor and I are doing it together. I won’t let any harm come to her.

“How long are we giving Salem?” Astrid asks, her ruby-hilted dagger on her hip. She touches Saylor’s shoulder to gain her attention, and then stills, her brow furrowing.

“What is it?” I ask her.

She shakes her head, letting her hand fall. “Nothing.”

“Astrid, what did you see?” I demand quietly.

“Nothing to worry about now,” she repeats, gasping at something in front of her. Following her line of direction, I’m as surprised as she is to see Laurel step out of the shadows.

“What are you doing here?” Saylor asks, hugging her. Laurel is much shorter than her, so she has to bend down.

“I’m coming to save my mate,” she declares.

You could hear a pin drop.

“Shadow is your mate?” Saylor asks, frowning as she processes that. “Why didn’t either of you say anything?”

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