Chapter Eight
Rise of Harem Member Number Six
Moonlight streamed into the dining chamber through a tall window near the hearth.
The curtains had been pulled back, revealing a forest of trees and a backdrop of night sky.
Nearly every chair around the dining table was filled, but silence hung heavily in the air as we ate, with only the scrape of silverware against plates.
A silence my sweet wolf broke as the excitement for his favorite meal took over.
“This lamb is delicious.” Lake’s tail wagged through the gap in the back of his chair. “So tender.”
Lord Onyx softly smiled at him. “Fane will be pleased to know it’s to your liking. He remembered how much you enjoyed it last time.”
The demon lord sat at the head of the table, with Varys to his right and Lake to his left.
The knights filled the seats across from me on the other side of Varys, with Callum at the far end.
It put him in direct sight of the door, which he kept glancing toward—an intentional placement so he could keep watch.
“I saw Fane in the market today,” I said, sitting between Lake and Maddox. “He bought coffee beans.”
“He told me.” Onyx lifted his goblet to his lips, eyes on me as he took a drink. “How fortunate that your coffee withdrawal can come to an end. And behold. You neither died nor started a riot either.”
Warmth swirled in my belly at the reference to our conversation in the kitchen earlier that day. “I’m still cheeky though.”
“Oh, I have no doubts.” His gaze lingered on me, paired with a subtle curve to his lips.
I cleared my throat and looked away, pulse spiking. Even with the space between us, I felt the electric current in the air, the loose tether that begged for connection. Only once we succumbed to our fated mate bond would that restlessness finally ease.
Problem was, I wasn’t sure if I should be tethered to Lord Onyx.
If I could barely hold eye contact with the guy without getting flustered, how in the hell would I do anything more intimate?
There was also the possibility of him being the fated mate who might kill me someday.
That, in and of itself, should’ve been enough to make me throw up yellow caution tape and avoid him like the plague.
With a sigh, I stuffed more veggies into my mouth. Brussel sprouts and carrots. My hand inched toward the basket of rolls. When stressed, only carbs would suffice. I was a total bread slut.
And I wasn’t the only one. Rowan grabbed his fourth bread roll and slathered it in butter before devouring it in three bites.
“The clothes look to be a perfect fit,” Varys said, his gaze roaming between all of us. “Good. Mae will be pleased.”
Mae had left new tunics in our room for each of us. We’d found them once returning from afternoon tea. I recalled the female demon. Mae had been soft-spoken and shy. Dainty too. I hoped she hadn’t overexerted herself on our behalf.
“It’s super comfy too.” I smoothed a hand over my tunic. It was a sage green color with brown strings. “She’s really skilled.”
The knights all had dark tunics, ranging from dark blue to black. Lake’s was purple, probably reminded Mae of his eyes, and Rowan’s was a russet brown. She’d made a cream colored one for Briar that complimented his smooth, pale skin.
“Wonder how she knew my size.” Quincy glanced down at his.
“She probably used that fat bull we saw in the field earlier as reference,” Duke responded. “I keep tellin’ ya to lay off the extra helpings at meals.”
“I’ve yet to shed my winter fluff,” Quincy said, not in the least offended. “Bears are the same, you know.”
I laughed around a huge bite of bread. And nearly choked.
“Don’t die on me, little treasure,” Rowan said with his mouth full. “You’ll make the pup cry.”
Lake had torn into another lamb chop and paused, his wolf ears perking up.
“Rowan, you’ll make me cry if you don’t learn some table manners.” Briar pinched his brow between two fingers. “We’re dining with the lord of the castle. Please swallow your food before speaking.”
Onyx watched them, his expression somewhere between amused and curious.
Maddox released a breath and pushed back from his plate.
“Finished eating already?” Lord Onyx asked him. “Is the meal not to your liking?”
“The food is fine,” Maddox said, gaze narrowed. “It’s the company that’s soured my appetite.”
I kicked his foot under the table. Easy since he was sitting beside me. He shot me a look, which I returned with even more heat. My captain was all growl and snarl. Unwarranted too, the stubborn butthole.
“If my presence is so offensive, perhaps you should retire to your room for the evening,” Onyx said, in a calm and collected tone. It contradicted the hard gleam in his red eyes. “I’m sure Evan and I will enjoy ourselves well enough without you here.”
Oh no.
Maddox gritted his teeth. “I suggest keeping my male’s name out of your mouth.”
“Ah. Would you prefer I call him by another name?” Onyx tilted his head and smoothed a finger along the rim of his goblet. “Little bird, perhaps?”
“You’ve caged him like a bird,” Maddox responded. “Forbidding him from leaving this place.”
“He’d be on a ship sailing for Haran, if not for my insistence he remain in my realm. Or worse. If you recall, he has a bounty on his head. It’s possible your former knights could have found him before the mercenaries and slit his throat.”
I touched my neck on impulse. “Wouldn’t put it past that psycho Cedric to slit my throat. He once threw someone over a cliff into the sea. The guy was found days later half-eaten by sharks. All because Cedric worried the guy would try to take the throne from him.”
Briar frowned. “Rowan told us what transpired in Cedric’s study the night you were apprehended. The prince confessed to killing many of the king’s illegitimate children.”
“Yep.” The food soured in my gut. I shouldn’t have gorged on so much bread. “That’s why he included me in his scheme. Making the deal with Nocturne to poison King Eidolon and frame me for it. He thought I was the king’s son. Getting rid of me was like killing two birds with one stone.”
“Prince Cedric was vile, even as a child,” Varys said before taking a drink of wine. “It’s no surprise he grew into an even more vile man. I warned Eidolon of this once, after witnessing Cedric torment one of the maids, but he didn’t heed that warning.”
“You knew the king?” Briar asked him.
“Aye.” Sadness shone in Varys’ eyes. “I knew him better than most. We were children together, and in our later years once he took the throne, I served him like my father served his, as his closest advisor.”
Duke’s eyes widened. “That’s the reason your name sounded familiar. You’re the one who started the demi-human uprising all those years ago.”
Maddox’s features hardened. “So the stories are true. You betrayed the king to ally with the demon lord. You’re the reason why Lake and others like him are unable to walk freely in Bremloc.”
My heart wobbled. His anger stemmed from his love for our wolf.
“You know that I betrayed him but not why,” Varys responded. “If you knew the full truth, I feel that your anger would not be aimed at me, but rather, at the king you swore as a knight to defend.”
“Explain to me then.” Maddox rested his hand on my thigh. “Why did you betray the king you swore your devotion to?”
“Because he killed the man I loved,” Varys answered, setting his goblet on the table with an unsteady grip. “Not with his own two hands, mind you, but the damage was done all the same.”
“Who did he kill?” Callum asked.
“Prince Elias.” Varys looked at me. His eyes reminded me of sun-warmed sand. “Evan’s father.”
“What?” Briar nearly spilled his wine. “Are you implying that King Eidolon aided the kingdom of Haran? That he betrayed his own people? His own brother?”
“I imply nothing,” Varys said. “I speak only the truth. He helped Nocturne find Prince Elias. I overheard him confess to it.”
“Why would he help them?” Briar asked.
“The reason mattered not to me.” Varys shook his head. “Nothing justifies his actions. As soon as I learned the truth, I rebelled. I only wish my blade would’ve pierced his heart. Then perhaps he’d understand the pain he’d caused in mine when he helped take Elias from this world.”
An ache spread through me, fanning between my ribs.
Maddox gently squeezed my thigh. “If you loved Prince Elias, does that mean you care what happens to Evan?”
“Aye,” Varys said. “He’s the son of the man I loved. I have no wish to see the lad hurt and will do all I can to ensure it stays that way. I give you my word.”
For the first time in what felt like ages, Maddox relaxed. He was still too rigid for my liking, but the tension around his eyes smoothed. Trusting the demon lord would take more time, but he seemed to believe in Varys.
Briar looked at Onyx. “You were fond of Prince Elias as well, were you not?”
“Yes,” Onyx answered. “He was a dear friend, but I didn’t love him as Varys did.” A short pause and a remorseful glance in the demi-wolf’s direction. “Does.”
Varys cleared his throat and reached for his goblet. “I say this calls for more wine.”
Callum’s gaze met mine from the end of the table. Others soon found me too; my loveable knights and the rest of the men who owned a piece of my heart.
Hushed voices came from the corridor before a familiar face and vibrant blue hair showed in the doorway.
“Pardon the interruption, milord,” Cyan said with a curtsey. She held a tray in one hand. “I brought more wine and nibbles.”
Nibbles? She was adorable.
Lord Onyx motioned for her to approach. “You may enter.”
The demon came rushing into the dining room, her bubbly personality adding a much-needed burst of positive energy into the air.
A thin, black and blue tail swished behind her, the design at the tip of it reminding me of a spade.
She set a basket on the table filled with more rolls fresh from the oven.
After refilling Onyx’s goblet, she topped off mine and patted the top of my head.