Page 59 of Wicked Prince of Carnage
The king released Sterling and held his hands up as if he were innocent of any wrongdoing. “Son, you’re back earlier than expected.”
“Is that all you have to say?” Winter demanded. His father strutted silently toward a small table with a carafe of wine while the prince’s new mate appeared frozen in place. “Sterling, get up.”
She stood, her breaths heavy, and turned to look at him with wide, frightened eyes. “Winter—”
“Go to my room and wait for me there,” he said in a low, warning voice.
Sterling’s lips parted as if she wanted to say more, but the sound of glass clinking made her flinch.
“Now,” Winter barked.
She bolted around Winter and out the door.
“The whore wanted to suck my cock,” Valco offered. “Practically begged me. I, of course, wasn’t going to allow it.” Hechuckled to himself. “All right, that was a lie. I was going to fuck her throat.”
Winter balled his hands into fists. His father had ruined any chance of the prince’s future with Talia, and now he was trying to do the same with Sterling. But, while he always believed Talia had willingly fucked his father, he knew Sterling never would. “If you touch my mate again, I’ll fucking kill you.”
“Such a serious threat over someone you seem to loathe,” Valco drawled. “How about this? I’ll promise to only use her mouth until she’s with child, so there’s no question about who the father is.”
Winter’s vision went red. “You will not—”
The king scoffed. “She wanted it, just like her grandmother did. Yourmatemight be useful to me right now, but she comes from a long line of whores.”
“Her grandmother?” Winter’s brows lowered in confusion. She’d been the hunter who killed his mother, had hated wolves, so why would she lust after their king?
Valco swirled his glass of wine and smirked. “Don’t act so surprised. She was experienced and beautiful—I didn’t care if she was a hunter. Over the years, we would meet,fuck, even after I married your mother.”
“So she killed my mother out of jealousy. Becauseyoudidn’t know how to stay faithful,” Winter growled.
“No, she killed your mother because I told her to.” He arched a brow and downed the wine, taunting Winter to make a move.
Winter’s nostrils flared as he pieced together what he was hearing. He’d been sent to murder Sterling’s grandmother in retaliation for his mother’s death, and he’d beengladto end the woman’s life. “Why would you have me hunt her down if you had her kill Mother?”
“Isn’t it quite obvious?” The king chuckled. “She no longer wanted to suck my cock because of her family, so she hid herself away. Very well, I might add. It took you years to find her.”
“You’re a traitor to our court, to mymother.” Winter had always known his father fucked any woman he could behind her back, but this was excessive.
The king’s shoulders stiffened, his face turning scarlet. “Careful what you say. I’m the king, and a king can kill his queen if he wants. Son or not, I’ll have you thrown in the dungeons. Who will save yourprecioushuman mate then, hmm?”
“Be careful what youdo, Father. Because I’d rather die in a cell with your blood beneath my claws than let you touch what isn’t yours.”
He chuckled darkly. “You’re too soft to take me on. Just like your human-loving mother was.”
Winter didn’t think—he simply moved. One moment he was near the bed with his hands balled into fists, the next, one of those fists cracked against his father’s cheekbone. The king released a wounded roar as he stumbled backward into the table with the wine. The carafe crashed to the floor at the same time the pain registered in the prince’s hand.
“Your Majesty!” Caston shouted as he burst through the door. “Should I call the guards?”
“Get out, you fucking weasel,” Winter snapped.
The king grabbed Winter by the tunic and hauled him close. “You getonepunch, boy. Touch me again and I’ll name another heir to dance on your grave.”
“Majesty?” Caston squeaked.
Winter shoved out of his father’s grip and lunged at the advisor. He snarled, then grabbed the wolf’s head between his hands and snapped his neck. The pitiful bastard fell to the floor at his feet, and Winter faced his father. “I’m done letting you fuck with my life,” he warned. “I’ll endyourlife.”
“Oh?” He chuckled. “Nowthatis traitorous. I would watch your tongue in case anyone besides the corpse at your feet hears. And do you forget, I know about your mate’s brother. Another precious pet of yours. I may decide to have him transferred here if you don’t behave. I don’t think he’s …secureenough to make Red Riding Hood cooperate.”
Winter bared his teeth. “I dare you to try it.”
