Royally Enraged: A Reverse Harem Fantasy (Her Royal Harem Book 4)

by Catherine Banks

  Emrys snorted. “I escorted our daughter here. I couldn’t let her come unprotected.”

  “She was with me,” Rhys said.

  “More is better,” Emrys said, dismissing his son.

  “Have you picked names yet?” Dan asked and opened his eyes. Most of his stomach was closed with new skin now.

  I shook my head. “Not yet. We have a board with the options listed, but I haven’t been able to narrow it down yet.”

  “That was Milly’s favorite part of being pregnant,” Dan whispered. “She liked figuring out names, and then narrowing it down. She made a game of it.”

  Milly was Deryn’s mother.

  “How did she make a game of it?” I asked, rubbing the back of Dan’s hand as Kara continued to heal him.

  “She would pick five of the names, tell me them, and I would say pass or veto,” he explained. “The ones I vetoed, she got a chance to argue for. The ones that passed, she wrote down on a new list. We had over one hundred names picked for Deryn in the beginning. It took us almost the entire pregnancy to settle on Deryn,” Dan said. He turned his head to look at me and smiled. “She would have loved you, Jolie. You’re exactly the type of woman she wanted for Deryn.”

  I blushed. “I wish I could have met her.”

  Dan nodded and then cringed.

  “No moving,” Kara snapped at him.

  “Sorry, Kara,” he whispered. “I know she would have loved to meet you. She did know your mother, though.”

  “Apparently everyone knows her,” I mumbled.

  “She was such a fiery woman. She didn’t take crap from anyone, and that was what caught your dad’s eye. Back before I was alpha, there was a nasty alpha in charge. He shifted into warrior form to try to intimidate your mom.”

  “It didn’t work?” I asked.

  He shook his head, laughter in his eyes. “She walked right up to him, his seven-foot-tall form towering above her, kicked him in the shin, and then sang him asleep.”

  I wish I could have seen that.

  “Your father watched it happen, and within the next hour, he had asked her for a date,” Dan said.

  “She turned him down,” Kara said, smiling. “She said just because he was royalty didn’t mean she was going to bow to him and fawn over him.”

  “Oh, he told me about that,” Dan said. “He said that was the moment he knew it was true love.”

  I chuckled.

  “Sounds like someone else we know,” Rhys said.

  I stuck my tongue out at him and turned back to Dan. “So, Father, do you have any name suggestions?”

  “Hey! He gets to offer names, but I don’t?” Emrys demanded.

  “I’m dying, of course I get extra benefits,” Dan said.

  “You’re not dying,” Kara said, rolling her eyes. “But, you would have if I hadn’t shown up.”

  “Well?” I asked Dan.

  He was silent a long time, and I thought he had fallen asleep, except his eyes were open.

  “Sierra for a girl,” he said. “And, Dameon for a boy.”

  “What is it with you and D names for boys?” Deryn asked.

  Dan smirked, rolling his head to the side to look at his son. “Ladies love the d.”

  The sexual joke was so out of the blue that I burst into laughter, laughing so hard that I cried.

  Kara sighed. “Laughing like that only encourages them, Jolie.”

  “I’m sorry, but that was hilarious,” I said, wiping at the tears beneath my eyes.

  Kara sighed. “I understand a bit better how you fit in with those four.”

  “Hey,” Fox said. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  She smiled. “I love you, Son.”

  Fox grumbled something, and Nico smiled while patting him on the back.

  “So, what are we going to do now?” I asked.

  “We’re going to send more guards to your house, put up some major wards, and put you on lock down until our little bundle of joy is born,” Dan said.

  I wanted to argue. I would have argued, but I was okay with that.

  “Okay,” I said with a nod.

  The baby started kicking, and kicked my rib really hard, making me gasp.

  Dan reached up and set his hand on my stomach. “Easy, child. Your mom has had all the excitement she needs for one day.”

  The baby quieted, bumping Dan’s hand once before going silent.

  “You guys are like baby gurus,” I whispered appreciatively.

  Dan chuckled. “No, I could just smell the wolf on you.”

  “What?” I asked, looking at my mates.

  “Sometimes it’s strong enough we can smell it,” Deryn agreed.

  “Other times, once we touch you, we can sense what it is,” Fox said.

  “That’s so weird,” I whispered, looking down at my stomach.

  “Alright, everyone back to their houses!” Deryn ordered the still-gathered werewolves.

  They disbursed immediately, and Emrys walked over to help Katar assist Dan with standing up. He was healed, but they still wanted him to be careful.

  I stood and then immediately dropped back to my knees.

  “Jolie?” Dan asked, turning towards me.

  “Dizzy,” I whispered.

  “Today was rather eventful,” Kara said, setting her hand on my shoulder. She used her magic to check me. “She needs water and rest. Fox, carry your mate.”

  Fox jogged over and picked me up. “Yes, Mother.”

  “Nico, teleport back to the house,” Kara said. “I’ll be over shortly. Get her into bed, or at least on the couch, and give her a glass of water.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Nico said.

  “I’m going to stay here for a bit,” Deryn said, coming to kiss me on the cheek. “I’ll come home soon.”

  “Stay safe,” I whispered. My eyes widened and I gasped. “What about the others!”

  “What?” Deryn asked.

  “Andras, Silver, and—”

  “They’re safe,” Rhys said. “They called me.”

  I exhaled and felt terrible for a moment.

  “Don’t worry, we won’t mention that you forgot about them,” Fox whispered.

  “You better not!” I yelled.

  “Easy,” Rhys whispered, resting a hand on my arm. “Don’t get so worked up.”

  I muttered under my breath, but didn’t say anything else. Nico teleported us back to the house, into the living room.

  Andras, Silverowl, and Mawrth sat in the living room drinking beers and eating pizza.

  “Jolie!” Andras and Silver yelled as soon as they saw us.

  “She’s alright,” Fox assured them. “Just needs to lie down.”

  “Yes, I’m sure she’s had a rough day,” Mawrth said with a roll of his eyes.

  “Says the pampered prince who can’t even win a fight against a pathetic, spoiled girl,” I taunted.

  “Not today,” Rhys growled. “You’re not shifting or fighting today.”

  I glared at him.

  “I mean it,” Rhys said and turned to face Mawrth. “Stop acting like a brat. You realize that if you fight her, I get to whip your ass afterwards, right? Doesn’t matter if she wins or not. She’s my mate, and I can fight you afterwards.”

  Mawrth’s face paled a bit. “Whatever. I never said I was going to fight her.”

  “Pansy,” I mumbled.

  Fox set me on the couch with a sigh. “Stop.”

  “He is an ass,” I said, pointing at Mawrth.

  “And no one is denying that or contradicting you,” Andras said. “But, for today you need to calm down and ignore him.”

  “Why do you always defend her? Did you fall in love with her? Or did she use her siren’s ability to lure you in?” Mawrth asked.

  Andras snapped, his body becoming covered in scales as he slammed Mawrth to the ground. “She isn’t my mate, but she is my brother’s, which means she is family. She is also carrying my future niece or nephew. Even Mother has let go of her issues, and
has welcomed Jolie. Why can’t you?”

  Mawrth glared at Andras, but no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t free himself. Andras was stronger, and clearly more powerful, since I knew not many dragons could hold the form he was currently in.

  “I’m going to check on Deryn,” Nico said, kissed my cheek, and then teleported away.

  “Nico?” a somewhat familiar voice called from the front room.

  Andras, Rhys, and Silver disappeared from the room.

  Fox picked me back up, and held me against his chest. Mawrth stood, brushing off his clothes.

  The next second, Nico’s brother Klaus appeared beside me. “My, your mates are awfully rude. I just came to see my brother, and—”

  He stopped talking, and focused on my stomach, which was odd since I was in Fox’s arms and I wasn’t big enough to tell from just a look yet. How did he know?

  “Klaus, Nico isn’t here,” I said.

  “You know him?” Rhys asked as everyone reentered the room.

  “He is one of Nico’s half-brothers,” I explained.

  “You’re pregnant,” Klaus whispered.

  “What?” I asked.

  He reached out towards me, but Fox stepped away from him, curling his body around mine protectively.

  “You’ve got a little bundle of magic in your belly,” Klaus said. “I sense a bit of it being a mage, but there’s other magic, too.”

  “It’s a hybrid,” I answered. “And, don’t ask. The answer is strange and complicated.”

  “Nico’s?” Klaus asked.

  I nodded, since he was one of the fathers.

  Klaus’s eyes darkened, and he turned to face Rhys. “You’re the dragon mate, yes?”

  Rhys nodded.

  “You and I need to speak in a room away from her,” Klaus said. He turned and smiled at me. “No offense, sister, but your heartbeat is erratic and I don’t want to get you anymore stressed.”

  Sister?

  Rhys, Andras, and Klaus walked out of the room.

  “Stay on the couch,” Fox ordered me as he set me down.

  “Okay,” I agreed, laying down on the couch, and getting comfortable.

  “I’m getting her water,” Fox said. He looked at Silver. “Don’t let her get up.”

  Silver smiled and sat on the end of the couch where my feet were. He picked them up, set them in his lap, and started massaging them.

  I moaned, and stayed very still as he massaged them.

  “She’s not going anywhere,” Silver assured him.

  Fox nodded and then left the room.

  “Is Dan alright?” Thor asked as he rejoined us.

  Dear goddess! I’d completely forgotten about Leona, who had teleported with us, and Thor, who had been here!

  “Yes,” Leona answered. “Kara healed him in time.”

  I closed my eyes and looked away from them to hide my feelings. How had I ignored Leona? How had I forgotten she was there? She was my best friend.

  “Jojo, what’s wrong?” Leona asked as she knelt beside me.

  “Nothing,” I lied.

  “Jojo,” she said in reprimand.

  “Later,” I whispered. “When we’re alone.”

  “Okay,” she agreed, kissed my cheek, and then left with Thor.

  I exhaled, and rubbed a hand down my face.

  Silver found a particularly sore spot, and rubbed with his knuckle.

  I gasped, and wiggled my toes as he worked the knot loose.

  “Does no one rub your feet?” Silver asked.

  I opened my eyes and knew I was blushing. “Not often.”

  Fox had returned, and held out a water glass to me.

  “She never asks for it,” Fox said.

  “She’s pregnant. Pregnant women get a lot of swelling in their feet and ankles,” Silver said. “You should rub her feet, the tops of them, and her ankles and shins.”

  “Noted,” Fox said with a nod.

  “How do you know about that?” I asked Silver.

  “I’ve helped Mother with a lot of deliveries,” he said nonchalantly.

  “You’re going to make some woman very happy,” I said.

  He blushed and turned his face away from me.

  “Here,” Rhys said, handing me a plate of several types of cut up fruits.

  “Thanks,” I whispered, set the plate on my lap, and began eating pieces.

  “Can I go home now?” Mawrth asked.

  “Yeah,” Rhys said with a sigh. “Thanks for helping earlier.”

  Mawrth gave me a glare and then headed towards the stairs.

  “I’m going to fight him,” I told Rhys with a growl before shoving a piece of a pear into my mouth, glaring at the opening Mawrth had walked through.

  Rhys sighed. “It won’t fix anything. I don’t know what you’re going to do, but something will happen to change his mind, and it won’t be you defeating him.”

  “A few hits to the head wouldn’t hurt anything,” I grumbled.

  “She’s not wrong,” Andras muttered.

  “Don’t encourage her,” Rhys said with a sigh. “Just, drop it for now.”

  “What did my brother-in-law have to say to you?” I asked, looking at Rhys.

  “Nothing important,” Rhys lied.

  I snorted, shoved another piece of pear in my mouth, and then said, “You’re a terrible liar.”

  “Can we turn a show on?” Fox asked, heading to get the remote.

  “Yes!” I shouted, mouth still full of fruit.

  Fox started a drama we’d recently started watching and sat on the floor in front of me.

  Nico and Deryn returned shortly thereafter, but Rhys pulled them away before I could say anything to them.

  I wanted to go confront them, but I’d promised to stay on the couch. So, I stayed. I finished off the fruit, set the plate on the floor beside Fox, and lay on my side, curling my legs up a bit.

  Chapter 17

  Rhys

  “What are you doing here?” Nico demanded of Klaus.

  I’d grabbed Nico and Deryn as soon as they had returned to come talk to Klaus. I could have just given them the message, but I thought it better for Klaus to deliver it himself.

  “I came to warn you,” Klaus said. “I spoke to our brother and—”

  “Which one?” Nico asked. His face was drawn and he looked exhausted.

  “What did you call him? Trident Douche?” Klaus asked with a smirk.

  “Where is he?” Nico asked, his eyes glowing and sparks crackling around his hands.

  Oh, boy. He was close to losing control.

  “Nico,” I warned.

  He exhaled, and relaxed.

  “He is preparing for war,” Klaus said, the smirk gone. “He means to kill you, your mate, and as many of your kind as possible.” He looked at me. “Yours.” He looked at Deryn. “And yours, too.”

  “What do you know?” I asked. “What else can you tell us?”

  “He will wage war at each of your homes, but won’t contain it to those spots. He means to wreak havoc, and start a panic as far as possible,” Klaus said.

  “What type of army does he have that he thinks he can defeat us with?” Nico asked.

  “I’m not sure. He was just raving like a lunatic about killing you all and torturing your mate before killing her,” he said and shook his head sadly.

  “We won’t let that happen,” I growled, and Deryn growled as well.

  “Thank you, for telling me,” Nico said. “I appreciate the warning.”

  “I can’t help you,” Klaus said softly. Even I could see the war within his eyes. “I won’t come between siblings.”

  Nico nodded. “It’s alright, Klaus. I understand. If the tables were turned, I wouldn’t want to come between siblings, either.”

  Klaus smiled and glanced at the door. “Keep her safe. There’s something special about that girl.”

  “We know,” Nico said, smiling. “We’ll protect her at all costs.”

  Klaus nodded once more a
nd then teleported out.

  “How’s everything at the werewolf den?” I asked, looking at Deryn.

  “Good. Dad’s already walking around, preparing everyone for a possible next attack,” Deryn said. He sighed. “I still can’t believe they hurt him so badly.”

  “We need to up our training,” I said.

  The other two nodded.

  “We should get back out there, or she’s going to come looking for us,” I warned.

  “This war isn’t going to end well for Jinla,” Nico whispered. “If he uses his siren powers—”

  “We’ve got Leona and Jolie,” I reminded him. “Jolie can use her siren powers even from here.”

  “She’s not trained well enough yet,” Deryn argued.

  “I have faith that our mate can cause wide-spread panic from her bed with just the twitch of her finger,” I joked.

  “Your words are too possible for my liking,” Nico grumbled.

  “I’ll talk with Leona about focusing her training to be an asset against Trident Douche and his armies,” I promised.

  We returned to the living room, and all ignored Jolie’s glare. I just hoped this war wouldn’t start until after our child was born. Once our child was born, we would triple the guards, and kill anyone who entered our territory without permission. No one was going to hurt them. No one.

  Chapter 18

  Jolie

  “I thought I wasn’t supposed to be using my powers or stressing myself while pregnant?” I asked Leona.

  She stood across the grass from me, stretching her arms above her head.

  “I’ve been asked to up your training and get you in fighting shape. Well, siren fighting shape anyway,” she said, smiling wide.

  “What type of torture must I endure today?” I asked, sighing in resignation. I knew they wanted me to be strong so I could protect myself. And, I wanted that, too.

  “I’m going to teach you to cause anger,” she said.

  “What?”

  “I’m going to teach you how to make others angry. It’s something I’m sure you’ll be great at,” she said with a wide smile.

  “I don’t know if that’s a compliment or not, but I’ve been trying it and haven’t been able to. I hope you’ve got a trick up your sleeve,” I said, returning her smile.

  “Sit and close your eyes. This is going to be an emotional ride.”