Page 32 of Shrine of Fire

“As you said, I’ve planned your trip well.” Father gestured at the table, one of his elaborately embroidered sleeves brushing against the table. “I summoned you here to remind you not to fail me. Your princess doesn’t understand how things work. If you don’t keep her in hand, it will only be yourself who is to blame if she gets hurt in the process.”

I took a step forward. “No one is going to hurt her.”

“Of course not, not directly.” Father gave me a steely look. “But I have chosen those beta men with care, Stefan. They will bring much needed money and resources to the Crown. If your omega fails to attract these powerful men, I cannot be blamed for the fallout. After the devastation wrought from that omega from the Sanctuary, our Islands need aid.”

I sucked in a breath. Of course, he would fight dirty. Father wouldn’t even have to lift a hand to turn public opinion against Nova. As quickly as they accepted her, they would turn on her if Father made it known she’d refused suitors that could have helped the surrounding islands.

Of course, Father could easily resolve that issue by increasing the amount to be spent on aid, but this way suited his machinations better.

Because, for as long as I’d played these games of strategy within the court, Father had been playing them longer and better. There was little he was unwilling to do. People were afraid of him, with the raw, desperate fear that drove good men to do anything in the hopes of staying on his good side.

If I made it a war between me and my father, I would lose. Every time.

“We will not fail you,” I said, my tone filled with contempt. As if the thought was unthinkable. As if I wasn’t already lying with every breath I took. As if my very life wasn’t a careful show of smoke and mirrors.

“Good. Lord Baylin will assist in the royal negotiations so there is no issue securing the resources we need.”

Part of me was relieved I wouldn’t have to agonize over whether I should keep Lord Snake in the Grass with me or as far away as possible. “If you’re sure you can spare him?”

“Of course,” Father said, his voice dripping with scorn. “The future of the kingdom is at stake.”

Right. Nothing too big.

Father looked back down at his paperwork.

I didn’t wait to be dismissed. I gave a short bow. “I shall see you in a few months, Father, and bring glory back with me.”

“See that you do,” Father said, his voice suddenly cold. “You are a man now, and the Crown Prince. You will be expected to obey me, not like when you were a teenager and were allowed to do as you pleased.”

I left the room and wondered how I was going to get myself out of this mess. The longer…everything…went on, the deeper into the hole I climbed.

It was already deep enough to bury me.

Somewhere far away, my body rolled over in bed. But my mind was in the high mountains, the wind cutting across my cheek.

I was back with my pack. The air was thin, high up in the Catjera Mountains where Geshon was stationed. I turned my face away and went back inside the stone fortress.

Halina, the neighboring country, was amassing forces along the border, and Geshon had received word to be on high alert at his post.

Nothing would come from it. Halina was always moving troops along the mountain passes, making feints to make it look like they were going to attempt to invade Mitharis. But they were too weak to make such attempts and survive.

The kitchen in our private suite was small, but big enough for my pack. Barrett cooked oats over the stove, adding a pinch of spices, and Geshon had bacon sizzling.

Darrin grinned at me as I came inside. “There you are. How is our omega this morning?”

I rubbed the bondmark on my thumb. We’d spent the night making love until I lost myself in a tangle of limbs and sensations. “Tired. But in a good way.”

Barrett winked. “There’s heavy snow on the way. We’re going to be stuck in the fortress soon. If you want to take a walk, we better get one in today.”

I wound around my alphas and stole a piece of bacon. Geshon nudged me with his heavy frame, careful not to bump into me too hard. “Thief.”

“Taught her well.” Darrin blew me a kiss. “Good omega.”

Love welled up inside me, a perfect bubble of joy. I had it all. A beautiful home, the perfect pack, control over my magic. I looked at the three of them, my smile stretching across my face so hard my cheeks felt stiff.

“I love you.” I held out a hand to my three alphas. After breakfast we would walk through the woods. Barrett would name every plant we passed, while Geshon silently scanned the trees for threats and Darrin teased him about menacing squirrels planning an attack.

Barrett reached his hand toward me, then gasped and his body jolted. His dark skin turned ashen, as a hole appeared in his chest. Blood ran down from it in waves.

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