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The bear and the three princes square off with each other. Shoulders back. Hatred in their eyes. But it’s Prince Arlys who seems to be leading this little meeting.
“What the hell do you want, Prince Darkheart?” Prince Arlys demands, his face contorting with anger as he advances on the other man.
All three of the wolf shifters seem to fill the room with their anger. And me? I’m like a caged animal as they stand between me and the bear shifter, like they’re afraid I’ll be attacked at any moment if he can see me. Even though I’m struggling damn hard to look around them.
The guy is big, but he doesn’t strike me as dangerous. But, perhaps, I’m wrong.
Prince Darkheart stands calmly, towering over Prince Arlys with his broad shoulders and muscular build. He’s almost double Prince Arlys’s size, which is shocking, given how large the wolf shifters are. If they actually decide to fight, this will end badly.
I hope they decide to talk this problem out instead.
I creep closer, intrigued by this new man, but every step I take is met with a step from one of the princes, blocking my path. The heat radiating off of them is sweltering and oppressive. Even Prince Arlys flicks his eyes between me and the bear shifter. It makes me wonder what the hell they think is going to happen.
Is this man really that dangerous?
I push past them, just to get a better view, but Prince Drogo’s thick arms suddenly encircle me, picking me up with ease. A whiff of his now familiar musky scent catches my attention and momentarily distracts me. His face is stern as he places me back behind them all. “Stay.” He locks his eyes on mine and grumbles at me like I’m an insolent animal.
Glaring, I say, “I’m not a dog.”
He rolls his eyes. “Just obey. Why is that so hard?”
“Some women don’t like obeying,” Prince Darkheart says, amusement in his voice.
“Stay out of this,” Prince Drogo snaps, then his gaze is back on mine. “Stay.”
“So,” Prince Rinan stretches out the word, breaking up our argument. “The bears are here because they heard some rumors. Is that it?”
“No,” Prince Darkheart says, and I peek at him from between Prince Rinan and Prince Drogo’s arms. “I’m just wondering where my invitation is.”
“Invitation?” Prince Arlys retorts. “What invitation?”
The bear lifts a brow. “To the alliance with the witches. I know you married that gorgeous thing back there as a part of the treaty, so where was the invitation for me to join this little alliance?”
The guys exchange a look, but Prince Rinan is the one to answer. “It was between us and us alone.”
Prince Darkheart laughs, his chest swelling. “Do you think I’m a fool? I’ll be damned if I allow you and the witches to work together against the bears.”
“That’s not what we’re after,” Prince Arlys says, jaw clenching.
The bear shifter’s eyes sparkle. “Yeah, I’ve heard that you need to cross onto my land, onto my mountain, to find the cure for the Illness plaguing all of you. And guess what? I’m not allowing it.”
Some of the air leaves the room, and a thousand questions circle my mind. But I don’t voice them. I wait to see what the others will do.
“How did you find out about that? The witches?” Prince Rinan asks, and I feel mildly insulted by the question.
The bear smirks. “No, we don’t have any reason to associate with the witches… typically, but we do make sure that we have ears and eyes on all wolf territories.”
I think of the brown bear I saw in the forest just a short time ago. Could that have been a bear shifter? It’s strange to think that the bears could have been anywhere, hearing everything going on in the wolf castle, and we didn’t even know.
“See how fun this little game of ours is?” the bear asks, still smirking, as he crosses his huge arms in front of his chest.
Prince Drogo growls. “If you aren’t here to help us – which it’s obvious you’re not – then get the hell out.”
His bold words are met with nothing but an amused glance from Prince Darkheart before he refocuses on Prince Arlys. It’s like he thinks Prince Drogo is playing a game at a level far beneath him, and maybe he is.
“And what,” Prince Darkheart asks, seeming to choose his words with care, “just wait until you come onto my lands to kill you? I guess I could do that.”
Well… damn.
