Grayer
Tasting my duchess was probably not a good idea. Originally, I had intended just to visit her, to get to know her a bit better. But then she came out of that bathroom in a tiny towel, with wine-stained lips and desire in her eyes. She makes me a very weak man.
I understand my brothers’ demand that I stay away from her. Yet I see how much she pulls them to her just as much as she pulls me. Getting down from the stone wall, I stroll back into the north tower entrance.
While I was with my duchess, they had sent a question about my whereabouts through the bond. So, of course, I find them with their ears to the door right outside Arabella’s room.
“And you all call me the crazy stalker one?”
Three sets of eyes pierce me as I put my hands in my pockets and grin, leaning against the wall. The picture of an innocent man.
“We worried you got into the vixen’s room.
We heard her moan. Now why, Grayer, would she be doing that while you were missing?
” Sylas inquires. He looks nonchalant, ever the steady force in our group.
Yet I notice the way he is fraying. His hands form fists, basically turning white from his strength.
“Need to punch something, brother?”
“Where have you been, Grayer?”
“Can’t a man go for an evening stroll? And perhaps she is just getting herself off, thinking about me, naturally.” I shoot him a devious wink. Oh, how I want to gloat about how sinfully perfect Arabella is. They can go for those court ladies. I think I will stick to my little thief.
Koi stares longingly at the door, as if he suddenly has the magical ability to see through inanimate objects. Archer has his arms crossed, and I agree with my duchess. He truly has been an icy bastard lately.
Sylas shoulders past me, but he must smell the duchess’s arousal on my face because in the next second, he has me by the throat, pinning me to the wall.
“What. The Fuck. Grayer. This better be from one of your female rotations.” This has the other men coming towards me, looking just as furious.
Well, triple fuck.
I put my hands up in surrender, and he loosens the hold on my neck. Though not completely removing his hand.
“Look. I am just trying to get her out of my system. All I did was go down on her. She wanted me just as much, and I obliged. I won’t marry the thief. I have already sent for Adrianna to warm my bed next week.” It’s all a lie. I can’t stand that woman.
I don’t feel great about lying to my brothers. But I don’t think they seem to understand that she is simply mine. They are fighting their desires. Heck, maybe she could even be all ours?
For the past few hours, and even before I got a taste of her, I have been racking my brain, trying to figure out how to be with her without the stuffy council getting involved.
Even thinking of how I would give up my crown.
Maybe we can steal from people together?
We steal from people and then fuck on all the jewels we stole.
Wow, look at me turning into a romantic.
“Good.” Sylas says as he releases my neck.
Storming off. It’s getting late, so he must be off to the pleasure district to get in on a fight.
I feel bad for the fucker up against him tonight.
I look at Koi, and he nods his head. He follows Sylas, secretly to make sure he will be okay at the fight. Or at least not kill anyone.
Archer looks pensive, which is never a good sign.
“Tell me, brother, you have never given pleasure to a woman without the end goal being your own pleasure. You were always the taker. What gives? Why don’t you and I join Sylas and Koi at the pleasure district this evening?
If Arabella is of no matter to you, then you wouldn’t mind sharing someone with me tonight? ”
“Nah, I’m good. I am tired,” I say as I shoulder past him.
The devious bastard knows I am lying. Just as much as he is lying to himself. All my brothers haven’t taken up a new partner since meeting the Duchess. And it’s not because we are to choose a bride.
I just wish they would catch up. I don’t want us to lose her.
* * *
The next morning, the four of us head down to the breakfast service. The Baudelaire women have been impatient and unhappy that we haven’t met up with them since bringing them to the castle.
Margie ensured someone would drop off a breakfast plate to Arabella’s suite.
I also made sure to pay Margie a few extra gold coins to put together a little gift for my duchess.
One of the great things about living in a large-ass castle is the fact that it is stocked up with so much random shit. Like soaps, books, and candles.
My mood turns sour as I spot Arabella’s stepfamily, ordering the staff about as if they were already queens.
My vision goes red, remembering how they talked down to Arabella, and the way she would flinch, leaving me to assume it wasn’t just verbal abuse.
They should bow down to her, not the other way around.
I want to stab them every time they make my girl shrink down as if she is less than.
A little light stabbing over breakfast wouldn’t be so bad, right?
“Grayer, you look like you are about to murder the sisters. Check yourself. The council is watching,” Sylas admonishes through the bond. Like I care what the pretentious pricks on the council think.
“For Arabella,” Koi sends down just to me. Always my protector.
We sit down at the table; the servers swooping in to drop off our breakfasts.
“Good morning, Princes, we appreciate our gorgeous suites. I take it the other women will arrive today? With the urgency you displayed yesterday, I was surprised you left us unattended last night, though,” Bernice reprimands.
“Apologies, Mrs Baudelaire, my brothers and I had some important duties to attend to last night. Perhaps we can take a stroll through the gardens after breakfast,” Archer offers, though I would rather not ‘stroll the gardens.’
“Very well,” Bernice concedes. “I have also been looking into where Arabella is staying? I haven’t seen her in the servants’ quarters, or in the kitchen where you said she was to serve?”
“She is already looking for her? This can’t be good,” I send down the bond. Why is she always looking for my woman?
“Wallace said she was quite under the weather. Rest assured, she will be pushed to get back to work as soon as possible.” Sylas says, but through the bond, “We are going to have to make a deal with the vixen. Her stepmother seems to be quite insistent on seeing her. I don’t think she will relent on this, judging by the clear look of disapproval. ”
“Do you men always concern yourself with the health of your help? I imagine that is beneath all of you.”
I grip my butter knife harder than I should. Luckily, Archer steps in before I can do or say anything. A butter knife would make the perfect tool to stab this bitch. My brothers just ignore my thoughts.
“We are concerned about all our subjects, including staff. We would expect our future queens to feel the same.”
Bernice maintains a calculated stare between all of us, but luckily doesn’t push further.
“Jeeze, Belly is so lazy. Of course, as soon as she gets away from us, she fakes being sick,” one of her stepsisters spews.
“Prince Grayer, I look forward to our chat in the gardens.” I notice this sister always wears red and is always near me.
Like an incessant annoying wasp circling about, ready to sting at any moment.
I don’t reply, suppressing my growl. This is going to be a long day.