Page 128 of A Crown Without Mercy

Nicolai looked at Riordan. “Why is it in our bed?”

Riordan draped his arm over his face. “Will everybody go to fucking sleep?”

Sylvana began laughing under her breath, and it wasn’t long before Nicolai and Kieran joined in on her amusement.

“At least it’s the whole pup and not its paws,” Nicolai joked.

Kieran let out a belly laugh, and Sylvana slapped his chest. “Nicolai, that is not funny!”

Nicolai placed his hand on Kieran’s shoulder. “Can you imagine what the legions are going to say when they find out that Riordan Demidicus Acheron gifted his mate a scraggly little pup?”

“I’m sure word has spread already,” Riordan grumbled. He then tossed the covers off, walked over to the liquor cabinet, and filled a cup. “If the three of you cannot quell your amusement, Kieran and Nicolai, I will kick your asses out.”

“We should name him after Riordan, Rio for short,” Kieran joked as he held the puppy up in one hand.

Sylvana placed a pillow over her face to muffle her laughter while Nicolai and Kieran continued to taunt their brother.

After gathering her composure, she tossed the pillow to the side, sauntered over to Riordan, and slid her hands over his chest. “Come back to bed, my love.”

Kadric was lying on his back with his arm draped over his face when he felt a presence. He looked over, and a silhouette materialized into a svelte looking woman with waist-length, golden hair streaked with silver strands. Her iridescent-green eyes shone bright against her sienna colored skin dappled with golden flecks.

She calmly walked over, collected the upturned chair and sat; she then smoothed out the satiny, amaranth-colored material of her dress, crossed one leg over the other and the material slid to the side bearing her toned thigh.

Kadric sat on the edge of the stone slab and stared at her, and with one smooth motion of her hand, the table was upright, along with the other chair. “Take a seat,” she said in a melodious tone.

“I’ll pass,” he stated firmly.

“As you wish,” she replied.

“You’re not speaking in Faye tongue?” he asked.

“We adapted long ago. Communication is best when all understand thy dialect.”

“Why are you here? I will never betray the Acherons.”

“Help us and we shall reward you generously.”

“You’re wasting your breath.”

The Faye’s expression hardened, her melodic voice adopting a noticeable edge. “Ranan has asked twice. Please, don’t make me repeat myself. Rewards will be plentiful, and refusal will be painful.”

“The same way in which you rewarded my mate with aplentifulbounty?” he snarled.

“It was unfortunate. We made her an offer, and she chose to close thine eyes. We assume it was in order to protect herself as well as her offspring’s identity.”

“As I told Ranan, you are chasing a dragon that doesn’t exist,” he stated.

“Dragons exist. You must know where to look,” she replied.

“What is your name?” he asked.

“Vispera,” she replied.

“The mythical Faye Shifter,” he stated.

“One and the same, Vampyre.”

“Well, let me make myself clear, Faye. I will never be fucking indebted to you.” he said, as he stole a glance at another Faye, who was towering over him.

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