Page 34 of Bonds of Hate

Thirteen thrones have been arranged in a circle around the room, one for Logan himself and another for each of his brothers that have reached their age of majority. The king is likely making a point with the seating arrangement, that all of them are in equal standing for the contest to become his heir.

King Leopold sits on a raised dais on the side of the room opposite the door. Fat and jolly, he is the perfect image of a benevolent ruler. But he hides the soul of a conqueror under the affable smile of a doting grandfather. Thirty-five years ago, Leopold led his army in a bloody conquest campaign against every other existing city-state on the continent to unite the country under his banner, but you would never know it to look at him.

Thirteen Omegas for the thirteen princes. An unlucky number made worse by the circumstances that necessitate it. The death of Prince Ander hasn’t been officially declared a murder, but the investigation could still go either way.

Most of the chosen Omegas have already arrived at the palace. Plus a handful more who accepted an invitation to become part of the harem, likely hoping they might unseat one of the chosen few for a position as royal mate.

But we’re still waiting for at least one more.

I stand just behind Logan, body stiff at attention despite the bruises covering most of my abdomen and a fresh stab wound to match the one that Maya gave me yesterday.

Logan had been…unhappy when I gave him my report after I found her at the rooming house.

He was already questioning me before I even walked all the way into our living quarters.

“Did she accept the money?”

I’d been forced to acknowledge that Maya had barely glanced at the bagfull of credits equal to a banker’s yearly salary. “She didn’t insist I take it back, though.”

Logan started pacing, practically wearing a path in the carpet as he traced the same pattern back and forth. “Why isshe here? What the fuck does she want? Did you find out anything actually helpful?”

“Short of torture, I doubt we’ll get much out of her by asking questions.”

Glass exploded against the marble as Logan hurls his drink to the floor.

Ares had placidly handed Logan another snifter of bourbon. “You were gone for a while. Must have gotten something out of her.”

Logan stared at me, seconds from imploding. “What else?”

In hindsight, I made them work too hard to extract the information from me. It was probably obvious there was something I’d been hesitating to say.

“I know she wasn’t lying about being a virgin.”

Winged eyebrows flared high. Combined with his golden eyes, the expression made Logan look eerily like some bird of prey.

“How?” he asked, voice dangerous.

Ares had grabbed my hand before I could yank it away. He inhaled deeply enough to inflate his chest then released his breath in a low growl.

“Why do you smell like Omega pussy?” he demanded.

I’d showered twice, but slick is biologically designed to last. Maya almost certainly hated every second my fingers spent buried in her cunt, but that didn’t stop her body from responding.

She is pure Omega. A blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective.

I didn’t bother trying to lie. Logan earned my loyalty.It’s unwavering. Plus, he would have discovered the truth eventually.

Doesn’t mean I looked forward to what I knew was coming next.

I told them what happened, what I did, in as few words as I could manage. With each syllable, the scent of Alpha rage rose to fill the room until it was at choking intensity.

When I finished, Ares laughed before taking a large step back. “You dumb bastard.”

A splash of liquor hit my eyes first, temporarily blinding me. I wouldn’t have fought back regardless, but Logan always has to go overboard.

The beating was methodical, but fairly quick. Logan concentrated most of his hits on my chest and back, not hitting below the belt or bruising my face, which we might have had to explain later. For the most part, I got off lightly. He couldn’t have known Maya already stabbed me when he picked up a piece of the broken glass from his drink and stuck it in my belly.

Less than I probably deserved.

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