34. Intimidation Tactics
A s Rose healed the long gash on Prince Adrian’s chest with a gentle caress of her fingers, she felt the deeper pull of him. Moving to his face, her eyes following her hand, she welcomed him inside. Their hearts slowed, beating in time, and it was as if their spirits were mingling, always meant to come together.
Cupping her Prince’s face with slightly shaking hands as sweat rolled down her neck and between her breasts, she stared deeply into his eyes. Holding him there, focused fully on her, she set her thumbs along the break in his nose and pinched with her power to fuse it back together. He remained relaxed even as her breath caught at the stab of pain in the center of her face.
But it was easily ignored, the twining of their souls a balm, and her hands flowed on.
“Amazing,” someone distant said.
“Lady Rose, you should be careful. Don’t hurt yourself. ”
The faraway words were easily ignored. Her magic, the deep store of it, was not yet empty.
So, she continued, taking the bite on Adrian’s leg, and then deep scratches on his back. Sluggish and slow, nearing depletion, she searched for more.
There was none. Her Prince was sound and strong.
Relief and pride made her head light.
It was extremely difficult not to snap back to herself, cutting their connection abruptly so she could rest. But pulling back too fast would shock him, so she eased out as she’d eased in, delicately.
Her fading glow extinguished when the last of her left him.
“There you are.” Lovingly caressing his somewhat blurry but unmarred face, she smiled.
Adrian blinked, warm tingles buzzing along his skin, as he surfaced. Rose stood before him with a dopey smile on her face. How odd.
With clarity returning, he noticed the dark bruises under her eyes and the sickly pallor of her skin. Combined with her shallow breathing, it was quite alarming.
What had happened?
Before he had a chance to ask, her eyes rolled, and she went limp.
“Rose! ”
Luckily, Lord Aldric, standing too close behind her, reacted quickly, catching and sweeping her up. Adrian hissed and bared his fangs, the last of the fog clearing as his extreme dislike of the wolf burned it off.
“Get your paws—”
“Don’t be daft. She’s used too much energy healing your sorry arse and needs rest. While I care for her, I suggest you think about your situation. I’ll be back on the morrow.” Aldric walked out, his wolves following him, his guards going back to their stations at either end of the building.
Grinding his teeth, Adrian gripped the bars of his cell so tightly his hands hurt. He hated Rose being with that guy, hated feeling powerless, not being the one to care for her. He hated how Aldric had control, and they had no way out of this shit hole other than through him.
He’d hoped Larkin would come to his aid, but the beast still hadn’t shown his traitorous face. Whether or not he was still protecting Rose, the desertion stung.
Always before he’d returned to Adrian, even if only for a moment.
The guards at the end of the hall discussed Rose, guessing about magic none of them understood. It grated on his nerves because they had no right. Rose was his. Her name shouldn’t be in their fucking mouths.
The tingle of the lingering magic intensified as if it knew she was on his mind. Sliding into the feeling, using it to distract from the disrespectful mutts at the doors, Adrian closed his eyes to savor it.
Their connection, the bond that linked them, was much stronger than it had been. It filled what had previously been a void inside him, one he hadn’t even realized was there.
Opening his eyes, he examined what Rose had done. There was faint pink on his arm where an injury had been, but as the magic faded more with every second, so too did the discoloration.
Perfectly healthy, he also felt refreshed, as if he’d awakened from a long nap.
Moon Goddess, she was amazing.
And he was beginning to realize, powerful.
Now he needed to be strong for her. Rose had drained herself to help him; he would not let it be in vain.
The truth was, the alpha he loathed held all authority here, in this situation. The only option was to bend to the infuriating wolf’s will. As Rose had said, compromise was in order, as much as it would rankle.
He’d fucked up. And now he needed to change tact to get out.
On a deep breath, he turned to his guards. “I apologize for getting us in this mess.”
Shock met him. “Sir—”
Adrian lifted a hand to Timothy. “This is fully my fault for losing my head.”
“That guy was touching Miss Rose.”
Adrian clenched and unclenched his jaw, thinking of him still doing so.
But he had to let it go, at least for now.
“Until we get out of here, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Timothy eyed him. “So, what’s the plan?”
“Aldric will gladly leave us in here without a second thought, you’ve all seen that. My pride isn’t worth death.” He ran a hand through his messy hair. “As Rose said, I cannot start a civil war. We came here to set things right, not make them worse.”
“Enough time passes, the King’ll notice,” Evan said. “He’ll send—”
“Not for at least another week. And then it will take another week for whoever he sends to arrive.” Adrian shook his head. “No, it’s too long to wait. We must act.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Timothy repeated .
Adrian stood against the far wall, where he had a clear view of the building’s entry and the two wolves stationed there. Nothing would change, he knew, until the guards switched off.
At least they were no longer talking about his female.
“You should all rest. It is past daybreak, and everyone is tired. I will stand watch.”
“You haven’t slept either, sir. You should rest more than us.”
“I’ve just been thoroughly healed by magic I’ve never seen. I am fine.”
“How’d she do that anyway?” Evan asked.
“I’ve got no damn clue,” Adrian answered honestly.
No one made another comment, all stretching out to rest. The humans took the mattresses, the vampires took the floor.
Trying to hold on to what was left of the slight tingle in him, Adrian recalled his favorite times with Rose—the embrace they’d shared at the slave traders when he’d freed her, the first morning he’d touched her during their picnic in the woods, the night of the ball when she’d submitted so beautifully to him. That night lingered—how she’d looked, how she’d felt, how she’d tasted.
He wanted so much more with her. He wanted everything.
It seemed impossible that they could have it. Everything was against them—his crown and the duty that came with it, the complication of her lineage and discovery of her magic, the damn werewolves, and even Rose herself who refused to give in fully to their bond.
Though they were fated, their relationship was fragile. Rose could still turn from it, and she had many reasons to. Even if she did choose to complete their bond, she could never wear a crown beside him. The kingdom would always see her as a filthy former slave. The only position she would ever be allowed was mistress.
It was far from ideal .
And he needed a plan to keep everything from unraveling.
Despite Adrian telling the wolves he was ready to deal, Lord Aldric remained true to his word and did not deign to visit the cells again until the next morning. Adrian grudgingly respected the power play, though it further hurt his already damaged pride.
When the doors finally opened and the alpha aura pressed upon him, Adrian rose from where he sat against the wall. The others in his cell rose behind him. Together, they faced Aldric and his three closest as they squared off in the hallway, arms folded as they stared Adrian down.
“There is no need for intimidation tactics. Put your aura away. I am ready to deal.”
Aldric cocked an eyebrow. “So I’ve heard. But there is something I need before I let you out. You arrived here slinging insults. What is your true purpose? Why should I not leave you to rot behind these bars?”
Adrian let the question hang and then said, “Genocide. My father would unleash the full weight of the crown upon your people and wipe every one of you from this kingdom. But I think you know that. Let’s stop the games and negotiate.”
“A few months ago, you went to Lea Valley to negotiate . They got more rules and regulations forced down their throats. I will not tolerate the same. ”
“We both know you are not ready to take on my father, Aldric. So, cut your wolf shit and talk. You have my word I’ll take what we say back to the Council.”
Aldric stared, enjoying the power, Adrian was sure, before the cells were opened without a word—proof of the telepathic link these wolves shared. Silvershade was known for it. Theirs was one of the most powerful packs and was said to be blessed by the Moon Goddess herself. Adrian wasn’t sure he believed that, but he’d seen proof of the pack link in the unspoken communication they did little to hide.
It grated because that link gave them a distinct advantage.
“About fucking time.” Shoving out and down the aisle, he led the way into the bright burn of day.