Page 22 of Deranged Demons

~ Prince Callan ~

She’s my Ahalian Touizda.The knowledge haunts me as I keep watch, crouched on the rooftop of a two-story building. We’d walked for an hour and crossed over a bridge before setting up camp in this place. The beast shifters we encountered will likely be able to track us if they are intent on doing so, but I suspect Princess Blake knows that and this is some kind of test for the alphas.

I think about the demon princess resting on the floor below me, and her phantom scent reaches my nose, the sweet honey and spicy cinnamon making my blood pound faster. I grind my teeth as I try to banish the female from my thoughts, but delicious images flash through my mind making mybody tighten. I want to taste her, to feel her skin on mine and make her beg for release before I let her come apart in my arms.Fuck.

Taking a deep breath, I run a hand through my hair. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. As the oldest unbonded prince in the royal Manero line, it was my obligation to attend the ball. To present myself to the princess and keep King Dalton happy. But I hadn’t thought the half-blood princess and I would actually be fated. Nor had I anticipated that the demon king would gas us and leave us in an abandoned realm, which was a failure on my part.

My Ahalian Touizda.The truth of the statement vibrates in my bones, but it makes no difference. I can’t have her. If I bond with the female nothing would keep me from her side, and I can’t let that happen. The promise I made years ago surfaces to the forefront of my mind, a constant reminder of my duty back in Toralyn. No, I can’t make Princess Blake mine. Lady Fate made a mistake.

There’s a grunt to my left, and I turn my head as Nate climbs onto the roof and settles beside me. He’s still wearing the ridiculous outfit that’s way too small for his muscled form, and my brows slam down. “What is it, Nine Lives?”

“What’s with the hostility, brother?” he replies, baring his teeth. “We’re going to be bonded, after all.”

I turn my attention back to the street below and crack my knuckles.

Nate stares at the side of my face. “Ah, you’re notstill fixated on that promise, are you? Is that why you’ve been so cold toward our queen?”

“She’s notmyqueen,” I argue. “She can’t be.”

“Yes, and that’s why you’re still here guardin’ over her, isn’t it?”

“And what about you?” I turn on him. “What’s your play, Nine Lives? Because we both know being a royal stuck in a stuffy palace has never been your end goal.”

His lips curve into a smile. “Maybe I finally realized that I deserve happiness. I don’t know, spendin’ the remainder of my days pleasurin’ my mate while I enjoy the luxuries of Seral doesn’t sound too bad.”

I scoff. “You’re either fooling yourself or you’re fooling her.”

His playful smile slips away. “A lot has changed since our last encounter in Toralyn, prince.”

“And I dare say not for the better seeing as your head isn’t mounted to the Toralyn palace gates,” I retort, my jaw clenching.

His expression hardens, his slitted gaze hyperfocused on me. Fangs start to peek from between his lips, but the sound of voices draws my attention to the dark shadows further up the street.

Nate cocks his head, his nostrils flaring. “It’s the alphas from earlier. They’ve found us.” He listens for a moment longer, and his features darken.

I draw my sword, careful not to make a sound. “Let me guess, they’re not here to make friends?”

“What do you think?” he answers, and his newclothes shred to pieces as he shifts, fur sprouting over his body, and his muscles rippling as his hands morph into paws.

My lips curve into a wicked smile. “I think it’s time to remind the little beasts to have some manners.”

~ Nate ~

The alphas aren't quiet as they stalk down the street in their non-shifted forms. The bear shifter leads the way, his gaze feral and unfocused, and I stand in the middle of the road, my tail flicking in agitation as I block their path.

Prince Callan drops down beside me and folds his wings behind his back. “I’m going to assume given your current state you don’t realize how stupid you are for coming after us,” he drawls. “And with that in mind, I’ll give you one chance to go back the way you came.”

The shifters glare at him and stop where they are.

“We’re here for the medicine. We know you have more of it,” the bear shifter growls.

“And the demon princess,” one of the wolf shifters adds. “She’s the reason we’re in this mess.” The others nod in agreement, fangs already protruding from their mouths as they partially shift.

“Actually, you have the demon king to thank for your current vacation,” Prince Callan corrects them. “And there truly is no extra medicine here, so I suggest you turn around and hunker down someplace quiet before someone gets hurt.”

“That's easy for you to say. You've got the girl and the medicine,” the other wolf shifter snarls. “But what about the rest of us unbonded. We're supposed to just wait around until this little test of her father’s is over?”

Prince Callan stares at him like he’s an imbecile. “Well, yes.”

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