CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Bane
When I finish sparring, I go to have a shower to find our room empty. Throwing on some clothes, I go in search of my mate and find her sitting at the dining table, laughing at something Zython said.
The Incubus King looks relaxed, and I know Saylor has that effect on everyone. She is funny, engaging, and down to earth. She’s like the sun, a bright light that draws people in.
My sunshine.
I don’t know how I got so lucky.
Her honey-brown eyes find mine, and she smiles widely. “I thought I’d let you finish your training and start breakfast without you.”
This would be an incredibly sweet scenario, except for one thing.
She’s fucking naked. What the hell?
“Saylor?” I’m about to rip off my tunic and cover her up when she smirks.
“King Zython, what am I wearing right now?” she asks quickly.
He looks down at her, and I’m about to murder a king when he replies, “Leather pants and a pink blouse. Why?”
Oh fuck.
She’s wearing an illusion, and only I can see through it.
“You can’t expect me to sit here and look at you around other males like that,” I growl, gripping the back of my tunic with one hand and lifting it off me, holding it out to her.
“What is going on here?” Zython asks, frowning.
“Nothing,” she replies with an eye roll, sliding the way-too- big-for-her tunic over her bare body. “Happy?”
“Hardly,” I mutter, taking a deep, calming breath before kissing the top of her head and taking the seat next to her. I pull her chair closer to me with my foot, then say good morning to the king.
“Good morning, indeed. The sun was out,” Zython comments with a smirk. “But now it’s looking like a storm is rolling in.”
I’m about to reply when August, Axe, and Kai join us.
“Saylor, this is Kai and August. You already met Axe,” I say, narrowing my eyes.
“Fuck, she’s hot.” Kai grins, offering her his hand. “Nice to finally meet you, Saylor. And thank you for this beautiful weather. We’re going to go and swim in the lake.”
Saylor laughs and shakes his hand. “Don’t come for me if it changes.”
“You’re a lucky bastard,” August mutters, shaking her hand next. When she lets go, he runs his hand through his curly brown hair. “Saylor, maybe you can talk to my mate and tell her it’s not so bad.”
Saylor clears her throat. “It’s only been one night, so I might need a little more time before I make declarations like that.”
Axe steps forward, looking at her from the other side of the table. “I’m sorry for the inquisition when we met. It probably didn’t give you the best first impression of me, but I’m so happy for you both.”
“Thank you, Axe,” she replies, offering him a smile. “And no hard feelings. I know you’re just protective over Bane. And I’m glad he has that.”
Kai lifts his face to the roof. “Fates, I’m putting in an order. One of her, please.”
I’m going to kill him.
“All right, everyone sit down and eat before it turns into a thunderstorm,” Zython orders, smirking. His eyes return to Saylor. “If there’s anything you want to eat, tell our chef. He will make you whatever you want. Bree, one of our maids, can assist you with clothing or anything else. You are an Incubus Princess now, and you will want for nothing.”
Staring at her outfit, I realize it must be an illusion unless she zipped back home to get some fresh clothes. She is incredible. I’ve never met anyone with magic like hers.
Saylor smiles warmly. “That is very kind of you, King Zython. Thank you for welcoming me into your home.”
He waves his hand in the air. “Call me Zython, please.”
“Zython,” she corrects, taking a bite of the pineapple on her plate. She looks over at me and smiles, and all I can think about is last night and all the things I did to her.
And now… I’m hard.
“What are you both up to today?” Zython asks, glancing between us with an amused expression.
Damn incubi being able to pick up on my lust. They better get used to it when my mate is around.
Axe chuckles, staring at me with wide green eyes over his glass of juice. “Yes, Bane. What are you up to?”
And this is our future king.
Taking me by surprise, Saylor’s hand rests on my thigh under the table, then slowly lifts it toward my crotch.
“I was going to take Saylor to the Fae Kingdom, actually,” I reply, clearing my throat when she starts to gently stroke me. “We need to speak to Soren.”
They all share a look, one I hope Saylor doesn’t pick up on. Maybe they don’t think it’s a good idea bringing Saylor to meet Astrid? It’s not like it’s something I can avoid, and nothing actually happened between Astrid and me. She is extremely happily mated with Rave, and I’m incredibly happy with Saylor.
Saylor didn’t come to me a virgin, so she has her own past, too, and we’re both going to have to navigate that. She’s mine now, and that’s all that matters to me, but it doesn’t change the fact that, yes, I’d like to kill any male who has ever been lucky enough to have their hands on her.
Maybe it’s best I don’t know her history.
“Soren tried to kill me the last time I went there.” August smirks, putting his fork down and sitting back in his chair.
“Well, you did fuck his mate,” Axe says in a dry tone, causing Saylor to choke on her mouthful of mango.
I throw an annoying look in Axe’s direction, but his smirk just deepens. “What? She has a shitload of brothers. She’s used to this.”
“My brothers pretend they’re virgins around me,” she says in a dry tone, making everyone at the table laugh.
She keeps stroking me to the point where I can’t fucking take anymore. I’m about to excuse us when August stands and mutters something about going to see Milana and make sure she ate something.
Saylor’s hand stills, and she turns to me and flashes me an apologetic look.
What is she sorry about?
Is she going to make me come right here in front of everyone? Because I’m zipping us the fuck out of here before that happens.
August leaves the room, and Saylor glances around the table. “I just want to say thank you all for making me feel so welcome in your kingdom. But I do hope that love is unconditional because I might have done something that you all aren’t going to like.”
All eyes leave her to go to me. “What did you do?” I ask, brow furrowing. “You’ve literally only been without me for two hours this morning.”
A bad feeling settles in my gut. Is she okay? Did someone hurt her when I was outside training?
She shrugs, wrinkling her nose. “Bad things happen when I’m left alone.”
“Sunshine—”
August zips in front of us, his face ashen. “Milana is gone! How the fuck did she get out?”
We all slowly turn our heads to my mate.
She crosses her arms over her chest and lifts her head with a stubborn tilt.
She might as well have given us all the finger.
Yeah, she did it.
And she’s not fucking sorry about it, either.
Two hours.
My mate is a fucking menace.