Lykan
“I expected this,” comes the smooth, amused voice through my phone.
“Hello to you too, Khal,” I say, keeping my voice low because of my sleeping wife.
Scarlette is curled against me, her dark hair spilling across my lap like silk.
I can’t stop myself from threading my fingers through it.
She’s been asleep for the past hour. Exhausted from what I did to her in the limousine.
The memory of her coming apart under my mouth still has my blood burning.
“Please extend my felicitations to your spymaster, Sheikh Rahim,” I continue in Sharasan, switching languages so she won’t understand even if she wakes. “His intelligence network is impressively thorough.”
“I am obligated to claim ignorance of such matters, but I will pass along your words.”
A non-admission admission...
How perfectly tyical of the Crown Prince of Kivr, whose quietly ruthless cunning has enabled him to emerge not only unscathed but heroic and victorious when he married his rebellious American stepsister.
“I look forward to the day when Rahim finds his match.”
“He’s only doing his job, as your spymaster does,” Khal returns dryly. Don’t pretend you didn’t know about Zahir falling in love in his previous trip to America.”
I’m about to claim ignorance of such matters, just for the fun of throwing my friend’s words back at him, when Scarlette stirs against me, and my hand still in her hair as her lashes flutter.
“Where are we?” she whispers.
“Almost to the airport.” I brush a strand of hair from her face. “Go back to sleep, habibti .”
She nods drowsily as she nestles against my chest, and the trusting gesture makes something twist in my chest.
She’s too trusting, dammit.
Doesn’t she know how easy this makes it for anyone to break her?
“You sound surprisingly...gentle.”
I can’t help bristling at Khal’s observation. “I have never lifted a hand against any woman—”
“There is more than one way to break a woman, Lykan.”
There’s that word again.
Break.
I have never been the type to believe in superstitions and coincidences, but why does that word suddenly sound ominous to my ears?
“Let’s not waste time with small talk,” I say brusquely. “I assume you have another reason for calling other than letting me know about your chief spymaster’s accomplishments?”
Our conversation comes to a timely end just as a private airfield comes into view, the royal jet already with its engine running and ready for takeoff. Khal and I confirm the details of our deal, which just like our many other deals in the past, will only be shared on a need-to-know basis.
Scarlette is still half asleep as I carry her up the steps, and her eyes remain closed even as I place her on the king-sized bed in the master suite. The room, just like the rest of the aircraft, is all black leather and pristine white walls, with charcoal accents gleaming under soft lighting.
It’s beautiful and quietly luxurious, but I might as well be blind to my surroundings. All I see is her, and I can’t seem to stop staring.
Mine.
Scarlette is mine.
Right?
I have to forcibly wrench my gaze away from her just so I can leave and do some actual work rather than continue spending every moment of the day watching Scarlette like stalking is my new profession.
On my way to the office at the rear of the plane, I’m informed by the staff that we’re only waiting for Arav. It’s unusual for the other man to be late, but I see no reason to be worried over it. Arav always has a reason for doing things, even when appearances may suggest otherwise.
Or so I used to think...until our chief steward knocks on my door twenty minutes later and proceeds to turn my world upside down.
“May I have a moment of your time, Your Highness?”
I gesture for him to come in. “Have a seat.”
The seatbelt sign flashes as Arav sits down opposite me. The pilot makes his usual announcement as we take off, and I’m given ample time to study the older man’s expression.
Something’s up, and it’s likely not good news.
“Just give it to me straight,” I say abruptly as soon as the seatbelt sign stops blinking.
“Your father had another reason for sending me to America.”
Something cold and sharp slides through my chest. “Go on.”
“Thirty-two years ago, His Majesty fathered a child with Lydia Fuller. Your mother’s best friend.”
What the hell?
“He did so while already in a relationship with your mother.”
Was this for real?
“Your mother discovered the affair when she was pregnant with you. She threatened to abort you if your father didn’t swear to cut all ties with Lydia and their son.”
I have a brother, I realize in shock.
An older brother.
I have a brother all this time.
“Your father complied. He tried to make amends with your mother, but she was consumed by bitterness and jealousy.”
Was he saying my mother had good reason to act the way she did?
“She spent years trying to shame him publicly, and he allowed it because he knew he had hurt her first—”
“What are you really saying here, Arav?” I can no longer hold my silence, can no longer control the inner chaos that makes my chest feel like it’s about to explode at any moment.
“Shortly after your parents’ return to Sharasa following their wedding, your mother arranged for certain threats to be issued to Lydia and her son. They agreed to have their deaths faked so that your father would see no reason to contact them.”
“So they’re still alive?”
“Lydia passed away fifteen years ago. Cancer.”
“And my older brother?” The words taste strange, and they have me jerking to my feet and turning my back to Arav. My hands clench and unclench against my sides as I grapple with my new reality.
An older brother.
I still don’t know what to feel or how I should feel about this.
“Your Highness?”
Arav’s somber tone has my lips twisting in a humorless smile as I turn to face him. “I know what you’re thinking, Arav, and I assure you, there is nothing for you to worry about. The throne is his by birthright. I have no trouble with that.”
“I am relieved to hear this, Your Highness.”
My gaze narrows. “But you still don’t sound...assured. Why is that?”
“There is still another matter to consider.”
“Is he here?” I suddenly remember to ask. “Is he onboard?”
Arav looks almost offended that I would even think he’d consider returning to the kingdom empty-handed. “Of course, Your Highness.”
I almost smile. Classic Arav .
“Then what’s the problem?”
“This is a very delicate matter—”
“We’re both grown men,” I say dryly. “I don’t think you have to worry about our sensibilities being delicate.”
“But Your Highness—”
I’m already striding out of the office even when Arav has yet to finish speaking, and the first thing I see is my Scarlette, standing in the main lounge, her hair still slightly tousled from sleep. I’m about to say her name when I notice her pallor—
Something’s wrong.
I move forward, my every thought focused on Scarlette and what I can do to fix things for her. But as soon as I enter the lounge, with the white leather seating arranged in a circle—
What the hell?
That’s when I see who Scarlette is staring at.
“Your Highness,” Arav’s voice is irritatingly calm even though he knows he’s about to detonate a bomb. “May I present your older brother, Mr. Vaughn Fuller?”