Page 29 of Ruthless Monsters

“As nice as it is to be out of the mines, somethin’ tells me we’re in for a surprise,” Nate comments, staring at his reflection in the mirror.

I crack my knuckles and move to one side of the door.

Chapter

Twelve

~ Princess Blake ~

“I’ll see you the entire time, my beloved,” King Celzar tells me as he leaves me standing outside a wide steel door. “Retrieve your power. Then tomorrow, we shall be wed.”

I smile tightly, hiding the fact that my heart is galloping in my chest. “Can’t wait.”

Before he leaves, King Celzar waves his hand, and my wings reappear, bursting from my back and tearing through the thin robe I’m wearing. A giddy grin erupts on my face, and I flap my wings twice before folding them behind my back.

“Better that they see you like this,” King Celzar says dispassionately, like he doesn’t care how happy he’s just made me. “There’ll be less questions that way.” I only have time to mumble a quick ‘thank you’ before he disappears into a neighboring room.

Facing the door, I let out a long breath through my nose.What if they’re not here?The nasty thought slithers through my mind, and I push it back. King Celzar might be cruel, but hehasn’t played mind games like Dad would have. No, they’re in there. My males. Mymates.

I step inside and a guard closes the door, sealing me in. I don’t have time to react before a body crashes into me. Large fingers curl painfully around my throat and push me against the door, and I don’t try to fight. My mate’s scent slams into me, and the relief is near crippling, leaving me speechless. If anything, I’m glad for his hand on my neck, because in that instant my legs feel weak. For days, I’d tried to tell myself that it didn’t matter if we were apart. That my mates didn’t want me anyway. But now, as the warm and bitter scents of dark chocolate and mint fill the air around me, all I want to do is climb onto the assassin and remind him why the fuck he should never leave my side again. Because he’s mine, whether he believes it yet or not.

Furious gray eyes bore into me, but then Alaric blinks, his gaze softening with surprise and recognition. “Enchantress?” he rasps, his grip loosening. Slowly, his gaze lowers and as he realizes just what I’m wearing, or more so, what I’mnotwearing, his eyes heat, his expression becoming feral. My lips part, my body responding to him—to his smell, his touch—and the magic binding us together. He leans down, his lips closing in on mine, and my heart races as I think of how good he’ll taste. As I think of how badly I need this. But just when our lips are about to touch, he’s ripped away from me.

And then my three other mates are closing in. Dante. Nate. Prince Callan.

They stalk closer like wolves surrounding their prey, and I grin as my body tightens, a potent mix of excitement, joy, and lust flooding me.Yes.I want them. More than I’ve wanted anything, but just as I get the overwhelming urge to jump on one of them, I remind myself of the king.Because he’s watching.I try to quell my rising desire and focus on calming my frantic heartbeat. I force myself to suck in a few more deep breaths inan effort to gain some control. Because I can’t let the king know what these males mean to me. I need him to think that they’re dispensable.

I work on shutting down my emotions, and a cold mask comes over my face, even as Dante cups my cheeks with his hands. The smile that forms on his face makes my heart squeeze. “Princess? Thank Lady Fate.” His midnight blue eyes bore into me, and the look of relief on his face almost has my mask cracking.Fuck.Before Dante can say another word, I glance at the long two-sided mirror that lines the right side of the room, hoping my warning is obvious.

Nate raises a brow, clearly not understanding my message. “And here I thought she’d be happy to see us,” the shifter complains. “Well, happy to see me, anyway,” he amends with a lop-sided grin.

I roll my eyes.

“Pay attention, Nine Lives,” Prince Callan says coldly, subtly glancing at the mirror, and it takes a moment before understanding shows on Nate’s face.

I stare at Prince Callan. If it’s possible, he looks grumpier than usual, but I guess that’s not surprising given his stay in the mines and the bruises marring his body. In fact, all of my mates are sporting injuries, even Dante. I keep my face passive, careful not to give away how much this bothers me. We were all blindsided, but at least we’re alive.

My mates move even closer, creating a wall so they’re blocking my view of the mirror, and I struggle to keep a clear head as their intoxicating scents surround me.Keep it together, Blake.

I wobble a little on my feet, and Dante steadies me by placing a hand on my shoulder. “You all right there, princess?” he asks, his devilish lips twitching up.

I’m tempted to knee him in the crotch, simply because I love it when I get to wipe that smug smile from his face, but instead I subconsciously lick my lips. I am definitelynotall right.

“You’re naked,” I squeeze out. I really should have expected it given my own lack of clothing, but I hadn’t thought the king would be this practical.

“Seems we have something in common,” Dante drawls, blatantly admiring me and not at all helping me keep my control.

“Actually, I have a robe on,” I point out, indicating to the white gown that’s covering my naked body, though my arms are exposed, along with a fair amount of cleavage.

“That’s not a robe,” Alaric growls, his expression looking pained.

“King Celzar thought this would make the situation more efficient,” I say carefully, not sure whether the king can simply see into the room or if he has ears in here as well. When I’d mentioned the bonding ritual to the king, all I was thinking about was the fact that it would allow me to see my mates again, but now that I’m here, I wonder if I’ve made a mistake.

“What are you talking about?” Prince Callan asks.

“Efficient,” I repeat. “For us to complete the bonding ritual.”

Shock flashes on Prince Callan’s face before his expression hardens.Perfect.Of all of them, I’m counting on Prince Callan and Alaric to really sell this.

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