CHAPTER SIX
Astrid
“I’m not going to lie, it’s nice to have some female company,” I tell Pandora when we get back to the castle, both of us a little tipsy. We’re sitting in my room with August and Bane, facing each other around the circular table where I sometimes eat. “Not that you two aren’t fun.”
August smirks and pours a drink from the bottle Bane brought with him. “You’ve never really had female friends, have you?”
“I had your mom,” I remind him, my shoulder slouching. “But then I only had you.”
“Well, now you have me,” Pandora adds, tipping her head back as she swallows the shot. “I should drop by here more often. This is the most fun I’ve had in ages.”
“I’m assuming Rave wanted you to come here and convince the princess to return? Or did he want you to try and zip her out of here against her will?” Bane asks, studying her a little too closely. “Because you know if you did that, we’d go back and get her. With our whole fucking army .”
Pandora pours another shot. “I’m well aware of what could happen if I tried to steal the princess. But Rave is her mate, Bane. And nothing is going to change that.”
She slides him the shot, and he downs it. “That may be, but it’s up to Astrid if she wants to return to the Fae Kingdom. Maybe she’ll be happier here.”
“They’d love it if I stayed here, had a few children, and potentially break the curse so they could start having daughters again,” I blurt out, eying Bane. “Isn’t that right?”
Maybe I could have one child, and then Rave and I could call it even.
Tit for fucking tat.
My hand stretches out to reach for the bottle, but Bane slides it away from me. “I think you’ve had enough.”
August mutters something about him being either brave or stupid.
My eyes narrow to slits, and I tap my fingernails on the table. “I think I will be the judge of that.”
“I think you stopped being the judge five drinks ago,” he responds, sliding the bottle closer toward him. “And you’re going to regret it tomorrow.”
“Okay, Daddy ,” I reply, scowling. His eyes suddenly heat, flickering amber as his nostrils flair. Is he scenting me? “I didn’t know your name was Zython. You can’t tell me what to do.”
Hell, even he can’t tell me what to do. He only just met me.
I stand and swipe the bottle from Bane but then stumble and land in his lap.
On his cock.
Which is hard as a fucking rock.
And big.
Very, very big.
Oh, shit .
“Fuck, Princess,” he groans in my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.
I quickly stand up, only to stumble again, and Bane’s arms come around me, stabilizing me. I quickly look at Pandora, whose violet eyes are wide.
“Okay, maybe you’re right,” I admit, clearing my throat, my vision getting a little hazy. “No more drinking for me.”
August stands, scowling in my direction. “Sort your shit out, Star.” He storms out, and he’s pissed.
Because I’m sitting in a man’s lap, who isn’t my mate?
Or because it’s not his?
Damn! I’m such a bitch.
Pandora follows August out. “I’ll go check on him. Bane, get her in bed and then get the fuck out of her room.”
She leaves the door wide open.
I turn to face Bane, who is staring down at me with an unreadable expression. Up close, his eyes aren’t just black—there are speckles of dark amber in them.
“Well, are you going to tuck me into bed?” I ask, shifting a little.
His jaw tenses, and he easily stands with me in his arms. “I knew you were going to be trouble when I first laid my eyes on you.”
Pulling my silk sheets back, he lays me down and then settles them back over me. There’s tension between us that shouldn’t be there.
That can’t be there.
Watching me, his lips part, and his fangs peek out. “I thought you might be half vampire, but you said you’re half demon.”
“Some demons have fangs, too,” he explains, his gaze dropping to my lips.
I’d never betray Rave that way, no matter what he kept from me. My heart wouldn’t allow me to do that. The bond wouldn’t physically allow me anyway.
When he gently kisses my forehead and leaves, I wonder if being here is a safe place after all.
***
“I’m sorry for last night,” I say to August over breakfast. He’s dressed like a prince in fancy-ass clothes I’ve never seen him wear before. They are really looking after him here. He looks good, and I think being here will work out perfectly for him.
“What did you do last night?” Axe asks as he sits down, eyes darting between us.
“I drank too much,” I admit, wincing as I pick up a slice of watermelon, take a bite, and bring my gaze back to August. It’s only then I realize he has a mark on his neck—a hickey. Did he fuck Pandora last night?
My eyes trail up to his to find him already staring at me.
I have to admit, it’s a weird feeling, but at the end of the day, August and I are just friends—family, even. I was never in love with him, and I want nothing more than for him to be happy.
He clears his throat, looking back down at his food. “It’s fine… you’re going through a hard time. I get it.”
“And what did you do exactly?” Axe presses, eyebrows raising in amusement.
My lips purse as I have a flashback of me sitting on Bane’s lap. “I was just a little messy. Now I’m going back to bed to feel sorry for myself.”
Axe smirks, tapping a long finger against his cheek. “I think I will need a little more information than that, baby sister.”
“How old are you anyway?” I ask, purposely changing the subject.
“Over a hundred. Why?”
“No wonder you call me baby sister,” I mutter, and he laughs.
“I’m going to be training with the guards today,” August announces, staring up at me as I stand. “Axe said they might have a position for me there.”
“That’s great, August,” I say, smiling at him. I reach out and touch his shoulder. “Come and find me when you’re free. We should go exploring in the city.”
“Sounds good,” he replies, and I know he’s watching me as I walk away.
Still needing to hand out more apologies, I search for Pandora and Bane but stop before I reach the hallway, hearing their voices.
“You need to tell her to go back, Bane. You know Rave will be here with his army if you don’t. You can stop innocent people dying over this!” she whisper-yells at him.
“I’m not telling her shit. She will go back when she wants to. Perhaps he should have been honest and told her he already has a family she didn’t know about?” he replies, sounding bored.
“He knows he fucked up, okay? Trust me. And he’s paying for it now,” she says with a heavy sigh. “You know how bonded men are. He’s going to go crazy without her.”
“That’s not the princess’s problem. Or my problem. These are the consequences of his actions.”
“And when she wants to go back to him? He’s her mate. It’s inevitable.”
“Then I’ll wish her the best and send her on her merry way,” he snaps. “Why don’t you speak to Axe or Kai about this? They’re her brothers. I’ve just been training her—”
“And spending time with her.”
“She’s my princess and the only fucking one we have. I’d lay my life down for her,” he replies, lowering his tone. “I’m not the problem here, witch. The king has said this is her safe haven for as long as she sees fit.”
“Rave will kill you if you touch her,” she warns.
“He can try,” Bane seethes, and I hear the rumble of deep, angry thunder. “Does he expect her to go back and join his family? What does he want from her? She deserves better than that.”
“The fates chose Rave for her. When you find your own mate, you will understand.”
Not wanting to hear anymore or run into them, I head outside to the gardens instead—back to where Bane trained me yesterday.
What a fucking pickle I’ve gotten myself into.
Both have valid points, and I don’t know how to feel right now.
But the bottom line is, I’m not going to let anyone die over me. I can’t let the two kingdoms fight each other, not when they already have the vampires to worry about.
Suddenly, a vision hits me.
Rave is sitting on his bed, his head in his hands.
He’s hurting without me.
I feel the pain he’s in, and it makes me gasp.
He’s coming for me. And he has no idea what to do with me when he gets me, but he will do whatever it takes. He’s overwhelmed and regrets not telling me the truth, but losing me isn’t an option for him.
I’ve never seen Rave regret anything, and if I didn’t feel it for myself, I don’t think I would have believed it. The messed-up thing is, even after everything, I don’t like seeing him like this. I knew it would only take time before he came to take me back to Aravelle, even if it was against my will. And not only do I not want to start a war, but there’s only so much time I can be away from him, no matter how angry I am at him.
I’m about to head back inside and talk to Bane and Pandora when, out of nowhere, Rave is standing in front of me, more darkness than male. Dressed in black from head to toe, his icy eyes are pinned on me, devouring my face like he’s been starved without me. Impenetrable smoke frames him, his wings out in their full force.
“I’m here for what’s mine ,” he growls.
Before I can say anything back, he zips behind me, his big hands encircling my waist.
And then I’m gone.