Page 53 of Death God

“He should never have brought her here,” Going-gray grunted. “Mark my words. I’m waiting for disaster to strike.”

“She’s a menace.” Shade nodded, ignoring my glare. “It’s not worth it to get into a pissing contest with her. Let’s not stoop to her level. Just give her what she demands if it’s within our power, so everyone’s life will be easier. Don’t you remember how she brought chaos to the Shifters Academy? Every male shifter was afraid of growing man boobs, and the women were terrified to have certain types of mustaches suddenly appearing on their delicate lips.”

Going-gray darted a wary glance at me, distrust on his face.

I’d used my prank magic to move the French princess’s pubic hair to stick around her lips, and she’d ended up wearing a mask. As part of my retaliation, Going-gray had suffered itchy nipples.

“Just behave, Pip girl,” Going-gray barked. “You’ve got a family here now. Prince Shade is gracious enough to spare a couple of his guards to protect the little boy.” He nodded at Jacob, and my nephew glared at him like he was a bad man.

The commander trained his hard gaze on Shade. “Two of your guards assigned to Pip girl’s family will be incorporated into my team’s security detail. We don’t want any unnecessary attention.”

Shade nodded in appreciation, and I realized that Going-gray didn’t want the Alpha King to know the deal.

With a grin, I saluted him. I no longer held a grudge against him.

“Stop, Pip girl,” he snapped, annoyed. “Your saluting is terrible. If any of my soldiers hunched over and saluted like that, his military career would be over.”

Shade shook his blond head and chuckled. He nodded at two of his guards, and they peeled off from the rest. My heart rammed into my ribcage when I saw Freckles, my light mage ally, stroll toward us with the other guard.

I kept my expression neutral even though gratitude, relief, and joy brimmed in my chest. Shade had reached out to Marlowe before he’d headed here. Now that Shade and Freckles knew the exact location of the horseman’s castle, they could lead Marlowe here.

And when Shade left the base, he could take my family with him. Everything would work out.

New hope beat in me like wings lifting in the wind.

A black van shot forward in our direction. I recognized it as the Alpha King’s ride right away. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. Damn him, he’d gotten wind of Shade’s arrival.

The hybrid being was notorious for ruining everything for me. He wouldn’t spare a few more moments for Shade and me. Spartoi and Jared were a thorn in my side that I needed to pluck out as soon as possible.

The Alpha King stepped out of the van and stalked toward us, menacing light glinting in his dark blue eyes. He’d changed into his king’s uniform. He scanned me, then his brother, then Going-gray.

Everyone looked uneasy.

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as a sense of danger blared in my head. Yet I held my ground, not dropping my eyes at his alpha stare like everyone else. I stared back at him. Even Shade lowered his gaze.

My family was basically shivering as they huddled together. They had no understanding of the power of the alpha stare but felt its weight nevertheless. They were humans, so they were even more vulnerable. And in front of them was the most powerful, corrupted being on Earth.

I shifted my position and put myself between the Alpha King and my family, my hands on my hips, my eyes defiant.

The guards had pulled back to give a wide berth to their king as he approached Shade, Going-gray, and me.

“Shade, I didn’t know you were coming,” the Alpha King said. “Why didn’t you stay in the Shifter City and guard the walls? That’s your duty now as the prince of the shifters!”

Shade flashed a half smile. “I heard that there was going to be a wedding in the castle, so don’t blame me for not wanting to miss your celebration. As your brother, I had to hear it from others. Will I even be on the guest list?”

“We’re dealing with a difficult situation,” the Alpha King said in a tight, annoyed voice. It was Spartoi talking now. The former Alpha Heir would never be angry at his brother coming to his wedding. He gave me a possessive look, which chilled me to the bones. “I need to wed Pip as soon as possible to protect her. I’ve just received the news that the entire Earth is hunting her.”

He was just making up an excuse. The fucker no longer bothered asking me if I wanted to marry him.

“But—” Going-gray opened his mouth, then flinched when the Alpha King sent him a sharp look.

“What I was about to say is that I brought in Prince Shade since he’s good at smoothing things over,” said Going-gray. “He can help plan the wedding, and Lady Pip listens to him.”

The Alpha King pondered.

“If I’m not welcome, I can leave at any time,” Shade said.

“Of course you’re welcome,” the Alpha King said. “You’re my brother. And Cousin Jay was right about your purpose here. You can help plan the wedding.” He smiled at me, yet it didn’t reach his eyes. “Pip will need more support, even though her family is already here.” The fucker had just threatened me, and there was nothing I could do while he was using my family to blackmail me. “Issue the order, Commander Jay. From now on, the castle is sealed. No one goes in or out until after my honeymoon with Pip.”

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