Page 66 of The Stolen Bride

“Are you sure that’s wise?” Bodi asked, and I pursed mylips. “Deco might go with a contingency plan and kill his prisoners before we can free them.”

“He won’t.” Confidence radiated from Viktor. “If I thought there was the slightest chance either female would be harmed, I wouldn’t risk doing this. Having served him for over a decade, I know how much he thrives on pomp and circumstance. How he loves gloating. He won’t be able to resist an opportunity to make a public spectacle over the Valkara’s capture. In fact, I’m certain he’s in the throne room, awaiting us. Once we’ve confirmed this, lock me in with him and his men. I won’t come out until I’ve done what needs doing.”

The flat statement drew forth a frown. And a memory. On the day we met, Viktor mentioned his love for Deco. That love hadn’t died. “Please don’t kill him if you don’t have to.” I didn’t want to be a source of eternal regret for him. “Maybe, once he’s in his right mind, he’ll remember who he used to be and become who he should be.”

Shockingly tender, Viktor grazed the pad of his thumb over my shoulder. “I will never forget the bloodstains I saw on your shirt when I came upon you in that clearing. I thought you had received the injury that caused it during battle. I hadn’t realized…” Viktor worked his jaw. “He dies today. Badly.”

“If we’re going to do this,” Bodi piped up, rolling his shoulders, “let’s do it.”

“Are you sure you can?” Viktor asked him.

Conflicting emotions crossed the prince’s face, one after another. Clearly he wasn’t keen on the idea of losing a brother today. He had probably hoped to return Deco to his berserker state too.

There was a chance Bodi possessed divided loyalties. The shifters had certainly tried to win him over. We couldbe rushing into a betrayal waiting to happen. But Viktor knew him best and trusted him, so I would do the same. Together, we stood the greatest opportunity for success.

“I can,” Bodi said with a nod.

“Very well.” Viktor slapped a dagger into my hand, bent his head, and pressed a swift kiss into my lips. “Stay alive, or face my displeasure.”

“Right back at you, darling.”

With a low growl rumbling in his chest, he started forward. Bodi and I kept pace. My heart thudded, but not with fear. Not excitement, either, but resolve. We must succeed.

The prince embraced the role of entertainer a fraction better than Viktor, which meant I had to work double time, smiling wide and giving an extra dose of enthusiastic, wish-granting-genie style magic waves to divert attention from our true aim. Several women blew kisses at my companions.

I made a growling sound, drawing the notice of multiple guards. Oops. “My bad, guys,” I muttered.

From their perches, the guards squawked and excitedly flapped their wings.

“I honestly expected to be spotted sooner,” Viktor said, a roundabout way of praising my efforts. “Keep going.”

We reached a cobblestone walkway that led to the entrance. Still no attacks, but the crowd heading into the fortress noticed the commotion and parted like the Red Sea, creating a path. Every eye glued to us. Whispers arose, blending together, evincing glee.

Evil all but coated the air, making my skin crawl. These peoplecravedour deaths. Well, except for her. She made acall mesign and winked at Viktor. I ground my teeth.

Two shifters stood sentry at the open double doors. They grinned at our approach.

“Told you they’d come,” one bragged to the other.

Viktor punched both in the throat, ripping things out as we passed. He dropped his bloody bounty and kept walking.That’s my man. And he was, wasn’t he? The king who’d cared for me my first night in a foreign land. Who’d held me. Fed me. Warmed and protected me. Aided me just because I asked. Saved me when I hadn’t. The warrior who calmed for me alone. The only one who calmed me.

One hundred percent, he was my firebrand. I didn’t just want him to choose me over Valkara; I needed him to. Mark me? Yes, please! My knees grew a little shaky, but I didn’t have time to do a full analysis of our relationship. First things first.

We would take care of Deco.

Save Juniper.

Deal with Valkara.

Either the guardian of the Starfire admitted she’d lied about me to win Viktor for herself or…something. I didn’t know, but it would be terrible!

The foyer felt cool and dark, a stark contrast to the humid jungle outside. Torches lit the narrow hallways, used to light the rooms despite access to electricity. Walkways led to various chambers and corridors, designed to confuse and funnel any invaders into easily defendable bottlenecks. Even I, a war amateur, realized that. Tapestries adorned the walls, the floors of polished quartz.

Finally, we approached an arched doorway etched with mythological creatures. The wide-open doors revealed a majestic space, with a high vaulted ceiling and stained-glass windows depicting turul-shifters attacking and killing.

The bejeweled crowd split just like they had in the courtyard, giving us a direct path to a dais made of polished stone. Atop it sat an elaborate throne, intricately carved and inlaid with gold. Gold draperies covered the walls, shimmering as if dipped in diamond powder. The room was meant to be both beautiful and impressive, but a terrible malevolence tainted the space. Shadows dimmed the brilliance of the golden hue, hinting at the shifter king’s evil.

Holding a glass of champagne, peering straight at us, Deco grinned. His smile—if you could call it that—set my nerves on edge.

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