Page 60 of Wicked Prince of Carnage
“This isn’t a game you want to play with me,” Valco replied, his eyes narrowed. “Now, first thing tomorrow before the sun rises, your mate will travel north to begin discussing her union with the human village. You will follow suit to meet with her two days after, then together you will proceed to a wolf settlement next, and so on. If you refuse to submit to the rules, I do believe I can snap a child’s neck by using just a few fingers.”
He had to obey for now—that was his only choice. “Yes, Father,” Winter said between gritted teeth. “But you will not cast your eyes upon Sterling before she leaves.”
“Not until she returns.” The king smirked once more. “Perhaps she’ll suck my cock next time.”
Tightening his fists, the prince stepped over Caston’s limp body and left the room with no intent to play his father’s game. This washislife, and he was done letting anyone destroy it. His mind churned with the betrayals he’d learned about Sterling’s grandmother and the truth of his mother’s death. But, most of all, the memory of Sterling on her knees before his father.
When he entered his room, Sterling leapt off the edge of his bed with a gasp. “Winter?”
“Don’t say a word,” he rasped. “I need a minute.”
The Prince of Carnage paced back and forth, his jaw clenched, rage vibrating through every bone in his body. What would his defiance mean? For him? For her? Cyan needed to be moved somewhere safe before the king decided to bring him here.
“I would never fuck your father,” Sterling breathed, her voice shaky.
“I know,” he said. His gaze met hers and softened.
“However, my grandmother fucked your father,” she stammered.
“I know that too.” He paused. “My father just informed me. Did he say anything else?”
“That she begged for it. I think … I think maybe that’s why she killed your mother. I’m so sorry, Winter.” Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks.
Winter crossed the room and pulled her against him in a tight embrace. “It’s not your fault.” He sighed. There was more to the story, but he couldn’t tell her now and make her hate his father more when he needed to make certain she was safe. “You will never be alone with my father again. In the future, I’ll do a better job of protecting you.”
“You can’t be with me every moment,” she said matter-of-factly and wound her fingers into his tunic.
“I have things to take care of. Get some rest. In the morning, you’ll travel north to the human village.” He placed a kiss on top of her head in what he hoped was comforting and reassuring. “You need to be as far away from my father as possible.”
“I don’t think you can defy the king for me. Ahuman.”
“For you, I’ll defy the moon.” He pulled her closer and pressed a lingering kiss to her mouth. “And you’re not just a human. You’re my human. My mate.”
This time when he thought about his father’s death, he would follow through with it, and he meant it down to his marrow. Valco had taken everything from him. He’d unintentionally given Winter back his smile through Sterling, and he’d be damned if it was stolen from him again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
STERLING
Sterling was meant to travel without Winter to a northern village and begin flaunting the union of her and the prince in hopes that the humans would fawn over the royals. After that, they would journey to a town of wolves not far from there so Winter could convince the shifters that allying with the humans was the only way to make the court thrive.
As Sterling waited on the bed to leave the castle, she couldn’t get the feel of King Valco’s harsh grip on her flesh out of her mind. Although Micah had scarred her, held her down against her will so she could watch her grandmother suffer before he killed her, she’d never feared someone like she had with the king. He would’ve scarred her in a ghastlier manner. The bastard shouldn’t be king, shouldn’t be alive—that was quite clear. Winter could’ve believed she was just like Talia, willing to give into the king’s heinous offerings.
Fuck Valco.
How could her grandmother have pleasured such an evil bastard? Weren’t they sworn enemies? Something had been off about Winter when he’d discussed her grandmother, and though he hadn’t admitted to discovering anything else, fury had shone in his gaze.
A knock came at the door just before it opened to Winter, who wore the same clothing as the day before. She sighed in relief—he hadn’t returned after leaving to fulfill unknown duties. The guard outside her door was instructed not to let Sterling see the king if he called on her. If the order was disobeyed, the prince had vowed to tear the wolf’s spine out through his throat.
Winter didn’t embrace Sterling—he didn’t evenlookat her. He’d told her that he would defy the moon for her, and now hedidn’t seem to want to be near her. Had Valco told him another lie? Did Winter believe it?
“Follow me, and don’t utter a word,” he said and lifted her luggage.
The castle was quiet with only two female servants steadily sweeping the floor downstairs. Outside, in the brisk autumn breeze, the carriage awaited with Lijah hovering near the horses. Except for flames from the torches, darkness still cloaked the castle. It would be at least another hour before the sun rose.
“I told my father if you were going north without me, you’d have to be protected by a guard I trusted. Lijah will drive the carriage and keep you safe, but I’ll ride along to my manor. We’ll part ways there.”
Before Sterling could get out a word, Winter placed the luggage in the back of the carriage while Lijah opened the door for her. Sterling stepped inside and sank down on the velvet cushion just before Winter sat across from her. Tense silence filled the space as the horses pulled the carriage forward, their hooves pummeling the earth, mirroring the fast beat of Sterling’s heart.
