by Lia Davis
“The five of us have been putting things into place to carry out our plan. It’s taken a little longer than we wanted. That’s why it took me so long to hunt you down.” Kieran fell silent and stroked my hair, running his fingers through the dark blonde strands.
I lifted my head and stared into his green eyes. There was more to the story. I waited, raising my brows. When Kieran didn’t speak, I did. “There is more to the story. What is this plan? How is it supposed to make me feel better?”
“The king is preoccupied with other things.”
Ha! “What other things?”
Kieran sighed and cupped my cheek. “I told them you were too smart. Conell has stepped up his training and with Jonah’s help, constantly reminds the king that the people loved your mother. So much so that if word got out the queen was poisoned and the king did nothing to find the one responsible, the people would turn on him.”
A smile lifted my lips as tears blurred my vision. My mother was responsible for setting a voting system in place. The people of the Kregon Kingdom had a voice when it came to new laws. Plus, the king had already said my mother fell ill and passed in her sleep from a fever.
“If the people found out the king lied to them, they could demand an investigation.” I frowned. “And if he knew I was alive to tell them the truth, he’d have me killed.”
He bopped my nose. “That’s why we will make sure you stay dead.”
We. “Does this secret plan mean the other four will show up?”
“Eventually and not all at once. Not until everything is in place.”
Hmm. “Everything like what?”
He shrugged. “Conell has all the details. Once he fixed the books to show my father’s debt was paid and the king had no choice but to let me go, I came searching for you.” He leaned in and kissed my nose.
When I lived at the palace, I hadn’t asked Kieran a lot of personal questions. Our stolen moments of time together were always brief. There had never been a lot of time for small talk. “What kind of debt would a vampire have with the king?”
Kieran frowned, then his gaze darkened. “My father wasn’t a strong man. He suffered from bloodlust. I was a child when the king stumbled upon us. My father had slaughtered a small village. The king lured my father out into the sun. When the sun started burning my father’s flesh, the king promised to make it so he’d never have to hide from the sun again.”
A low growl rumbled from Kieran. The king kept all his vampires well-fed with blood, food, and a potion that allowed them immunity from the sun’s rays. A promise to be free from burning up in the sun would be one way to get a rogue vampire’s attention.
“What about the bloodlust?”
“The king promised him all the humans he wanted if my father would join his army. If he refused, the king said he’d tie him out in the center of town while the sun slowly burned him to death. Punishment for slaughtering a village.” A mask of sadness and anger fell over Kieran’s features. “Like I said, my father was a weak man. When he died in battle, the king demanded I take my father’s place in his army.”
I fisted my hand in his shirt. “That’s blackmail.”
Kieran uncurled my hand and kissed my fingers. “The king has ways of keeping the soldiers and guards in line. The ban on technology and magic doesn’t apply to him. He truly is a sick bastard.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “Why did you stay?”
“I hoped to get close enough to kill him.” Kieran watched me as if his words would scare me off. When I snuggled into him, not replying, he changed the subject. “By the way, it wasn’t easy for me to find you. You did an amazing job covering your tracks and your scent. It took me three days too long to find you.”
Pride bloomed within. If he had a difficult time then the Hounds would take even longer. “Tell me about the blood thing. What did you mean by a connection?”
He averted his gaze briefly and I thought he wouldn’t answer me. After a few moments, he said, “Vampires can track people they’ve fed on. But the connection weakens over time, especially if they don’t feed on the person again. You are different because you are my mate.”
My mouth fell open. “What? You knew then?”
He nodded. “I had to wait until you were of age and ready to understand what it meant to be the mate of a vampire. However, things have changed. With this plan and everything going on…things have come to light that makes it…complicated.”
I pursed my lips. I hated when he kept things from me. He did it the whole year after I saved his life with my blood. Even though we became friends, I always knew he kept me at a distance. Was this why? Because I was his mate?
“Don’t pout. There are still too many uncertainties right now.” He gathered me in his arms and pulled me close. His spicy scent enveloped me, warming me to the core. “You trust me, right?”
I nodded and snuggled against him. “I do.”
When my step-brothers got there, I would be demanding some answers. Especially if I was to stay dead to stay alive.
Chapter Three
A beam of sunlight streamed in my bedroom window. Birds chirped happily outside. Getting out of bed, I drifted to the open window. The late-summer breeze blew in, kissing my skin. There was a hint of chill mixed with the warmth.
Only a month left until fall, then the harvest began a few weeks after.
I glanced to my small garden and smiled at seeing Kieran studying each vegetable and herb. His brows were drawn and he looked so lost.
Spinning around, I gathered my change of clothes and rushed to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I dressed and then exited the back door to the garden. Kieran lifted his head and rewarded me with his brilliant, knee-weakening smile.
He stood from where he crouched in front of the tomatoes and advanced to me. “Morning. I was going to surprise you with breakfast.” He frowned and looked back at the garden. “I’m not sure what everything is. I mean I know what tomatoes are.”
I took the basket he carried and patted his cheek. “Go wash up, I’ll make breakfast.”
A low growl sounded, making me narrow my gaze at him. He shook his head. “That defeats the purpose of me making you breakfast.”
“And very sweet of you. In this case it is the thought that counts. When was the last time you cooked?”
He averted his gaze. “Never. But I’ve watched others do it.”
He was too cute. My heart grew and for the first time in what seemed forever, I felt at ease. Protected. “Go, I’ll gather what we need and I’ll teach you. That way you can do it without burning down my home.”
After he hesitated for a few moments, he went inside. The smile that formed on my lips since waking up to see he was still there widened. My heart filled. Yet, there was a dread that my new-found joy wouldn’t last.
I pushed it away and gathered the veggies and herbs I needed, then crossed the yard to the chicken pen, which was a fenced in section of the yard with a small shed where the chickens laid their eggs.
I stuck my head inside the shed. A few eggs lay in one of the nests. After I entered and bent to collect the eggs, the door slammed shut behind me. I jumped up and whirled around, letting out a squeal at the same time. My heart pounded in my ears.
From behind, strong arms wound around me and I was pulled against someone. When he spoke, I sagged in relief. “Is that really you, Ash?”
Elion.
“Yes.” I turned in his arms, tears of joy streaming down my face. As the youngest prince, he was only a year older than me.
His smiled wide. “Jonah can live for a little while longer.” He hugged me tighter. “We were supposed to run away together. You left me.”
A laugh rushed out on a breath. “I couldn’t stay any longer. Besides, I never knew if you were just telling me those things to make me feel better.”
He drew back and studied my face. His brows dipped. “Of course, I meant every word I ever spoke to you. Do you know how it is to be the youngest son to an insane king?”
“Better than being the servant step-child.”
I meant my words to be light. Instead they came out bitter and cold. Elion pursed his lips and angry lines formed on his forehead. “I’m not without my scars.” In a blink, his mood lightened and he cupped my chin and moved it side to side, as if checking for something. “Making sure that vampire hadn’t bit you.”
I laughed and shoved at him. “Kieran wouldn’t.” I paused, then added, “Unless I asked him to.”
Elion smirked before his gaze flicked to the door. I glanced over my shoulder to see Kieran standing there. Suddenly I felt awkward, like I’d been caught cheating or something.
That was crazy. Elion and I were friends. Of course, he flirted and I played along. It didn’t mean anything. At least I wasn’t sure if he returned the feelings I held for him.
Then why did I feel guilty?
Elion touched my cheek, drawing my attention back to him. “Let’s go to the house. I want to see the vamp cook.”
He waggled his brows and I laughed. From the doorway, Kieran snorted. “You’re going to learn to cook, too. She’s no one’s servant.”
Elion rolled his eyes. “No shit. Once Daddy Dearest is dead, she’ll never have to run again.” He looped an arm around my waist and hugged me tight, again. “We’ll keep you safe, Ash.”
Frowning, I glanced to Kieran, who watched us carefully. There was desire in his green depths. There was also a sense of joy and pride surrounding him. He said I was his mate, yet the sight of me in Elion’s arms didn’t bother him.
I focused back on Elion, then his words sank in. Once Daddy Dearest was dead…
“You plan to kill the king?”
The guys didn’t answer me until we were secure inside my cottage, with the windows closed and locked and drapes drawn.
My suspicions grew. They were being too careful, like they weren’t taking the chance of being followed. My hands shook and I fisted them at my sides. Now wasn’t the time to fall apart.
Elion stood next to the living room window, arms fold over his broad chest. His blond hair covered his ears. He looked more like their mother, from the pictures I’d seen, than his brothers. Yet they all had different shades of blue eyes. I let my gaze travel over him, drinking him in. When had he gotten so…buff? He noticed me staring and winked at me before saying, “That’s the plan, or at least Conell’s plan.”
Huh? Oh, killing the king. I was all for the plan, except that fact that the guys could die in the process. “I hope it is a well thought out plan and not a charge in and get yourselves killed kind of plan.”
“Conell is a strategist. He doesn’t do anything without extensive planning,” Kieran said and held out a hand. “Come here.”
I sighed and drifted to him. “Is that the whole plan?”
“There are minor things that will fall into place as a result. There may be some resistance.” Kieran kissed my forehead.
Elion added, “We started gathering information a few months before you left. At first, we didn’t think we’d needed to bring you into it, just get you out and come to you when it was over. Then I remembered something you told me the last night I slept in your room.”
A pained expression crossed over his features. I vaguely recalled that night. It was the worst beating I’d ever received. Elion stole pain meds from the healer and gave them to me. I hated taking pills, but the pain was too much. “I told you how my mom died.”
Elion gave a short nod. “You told me my father kept a journal, that you read it and it detailed how he poisoned not only your mom, but mine as well.”
He fell silent and Kieran finished. “When Eli told Conell and the rest of us about it, Con was more determined than ever to find the journal and have the king removed from the throne.”
I glanced from Kieran to Elion. “Do you have the journal?” The diary was enough evidence to not only remove the king from power, but to sentence him to death.
“No,” Elion said. “It wasn’t where you said you found it.”
“He must have moved it.” Gods, I hoped he didn’t destroy it.
“He either moved it or destroyed it.” Kieran spoke my thoughts. When I looked up into his eyes, he frowned. “There is another way to expose him, but I hate that plan.”
“Me, too.” Elion crossed the room to stand behind me. He ran his hand through my blonde hair, then let his finger travel down my spine. “We will keep you safe at all costs.”
I held Kieran’s gaze. Confusion and curiosity swirled in my mind. “Kieran says I’m his mate.”
“Yep.” Elion stepped closer. I felt his heat at my back. Desire pooled in my core. Then he pressed his lips to my ear and whispered, “So am I.”
“What?” The one word question came out as a breathy whisper.
“I’m also Kie’s mate. So that makes me yours as well.” He brushed my hair from my neck and kissed the curve that connected it to my shoulders. A groan escaped from me.
Was that why they risked everything to friend me and protect me?
Kieran lifted my chin with his fingers. “I need to go hunt. The others will be here soon, then we train and prepare for a fight.”
Then he left.
I sagged into Elion. “What’s going to happen?”
He turned me to face him. His sensual mouth lifted in a one-sided smirk. “There will be some spying, a kick-ass battle where the king is killed, and a ball. But not necessarily in that order.”
Even though his tone was light and playful, I sensed a darkness within him. One that had always been there. I understood it. It was the same I carried. A result of years of abuse from a man that was supposed to protect and love us.
“What happens after the king is dead?”
Elion’s smirk turned into a full, beautifully wicked smile. “Conell becomes King and the six of us live happily ever after.”
“The six of us?”
“I see the vampire has withheld information. The five of us have agreed to share you.”
Chapter Four
“What do you mean, ‘share me’?” I stepped back and crossed my arms. “And who is included in this five?”
“I should have waited until the others arrived,” he mumbled before saying louder, “Conell, Ayen, Kieran, Jonah, and me. Your five husbands-to-be. Although in the eyes of the kingdom, you will be Conell’s Queen.” Elion reached for me and I dodged his hand.
Was that even legal? Of course, it would be once Conell became King and made it a new law to allow it. “Wait. Jonah tried to kill me—almost killed me. Why would he agree to this?”
Elion pressed his lips into a thin line before answering. “I asked him that, too. He said his wolf wants to mate with you.”
Hmm. What about the man? “I’m not so sure. But that is between him and I.”
The wolf had some groveling to do to win my heart. A frown tugged at my lips and creased my forehead. “So each of you…what, want to date me?”
Elion’s expression softened and he glided closer. My heart fluttered at the playful, sensual gleam in his blue depths. He wrapped me in his arms. "Date you, marry you, whatever you want to call it."
Just like that? Again, uncertainty filled my thoughts. Besides, I was sure it was illegal to marry more than one person.
Deciding it was better to wait until the others arrived, I changed the subject. "Are you hungry?"
He waggled his brows. "For you, always."
Rolling my eyes, I pivoted around to head to the kitchen. The freely admitted feelings and show of attention stirred desires I’d never felt before. Sure, I’d secretly been attracted to my step-brothers since I met them. I couldn’t ever act on those feelings. The king made sure of that by keeping me as far away from his sons as he could.
Still, they found ways to see me. Had I been blind to their feelings for me all along?
If the evil bastard king knew Elion would sneak down to the dungeons to visit with me. And comfort me after the beatings. And the other two would send me not
es and all the secret meetings we had.
Elion glided up beside me, brushed my mousy blond hair from my neck and placed a kiss on the sensitive skin where it connected to my shoulder. A sigh slipped from me lips.
A chuckle came from Elion as if he knew he stirred the millions of butterflies in my belly. “You shouldn’t have to cook your own meals.”
“And whom should I have do it?” I turned to face him, which put us nose-to-nose.
A brilliant, sexy smile lifted his sensual lips. His blue eyes lit up. “We can train the wolf to do it.”
My mood soared. Each mention of Jonah sent a wildfire of dread and nervousness through me. “No thanks. I’ll cook my own food.”
Escaping his embrace, I moved to the refrigerator and opened it. There was something about Jonah that bothered me. A nagging of awareness tugged at my subconscious while wryness said to stay away. Maybe that was the dark aura surrounding him.
Not wanting to think about the wolf shifter anymore, I asked Elion, “What is the king up to? Or should I ask what evil ways he’s been terrorizing the kingdom?”
Elion fell silent and I glanced at him over my shoulder. He lowered his head, making his blond hair fall over his face, hiding his expression. Turning to face him fully, I advanced to him, reaching out. “Is it that bad?”
With a swift motion, he curled his arms around my waist and hugged me tight. He buried his head into my neck. “It’s worse than when you left.”
An ache formed in my chest, growing with each breath. “Is that why you come looking for me?”
He nodded. “Especially after Kieran confirmed you were alive. We set things in motion to get you.”
“I don’t see what I can do.” I pulled back and studied his blue depths. “Why not just poison the king like he did my mom? Then tell everyone he fell ill.”
A laugh burst from him. “You evil little minx.” He kissed my nose. “Con has you beat, though. He’s going for blood and public humiliation.”
