Chapter 10

Ember

Prince Kaine angles me out of view and his body tenses at his brother’s approach. I have an idea why. There have been rumors that the two half brothers don’t get along at best and are direct rivals at worst.

There are even whispers that the Alpha King would prefer Prince Jasper to be his successor. If it’s true that it is the King’s desire to strip Prince Kaine of his title and right to succession, he has so far been unable to. Prince Kaine’s military achievements are too impressive to strip him of his title or succession without due cause.

Prince Kaine has earned his right to inherit the throne one day. This fact is rumored to be a sore spot for both Price Jasper, and his mother, the Queen, who wants nothing more to see her own son crowned King one day.

Prince Jasper’s tone shifts to something lighter, mocking as he regards his brother now. “Didn’t think you had it in you, brother. Showing a softer side now? What a revelation. So, all those omegas who claimed into your bed and ended up dead…was that all for nothing?”

My head is still spinning but I feel Prince Kaine stiffen at his brother's words and as his grip on me tightens I have enough wherewithal to recognize Prince Jasper’s voice. I’m not sure where I heard it, but its familiarity cannot be mistaken. I have met Prince Jasper before.

I hear footsteps and see a figure start to shift out of the corner of my eye, but a jacket is thrown over my head before I can see what’s going on. Prince Kaine’s deep voice sounds muffled as he snaps at Prince Jasper, “That’s none of your business.”

I hear the curiosity in Prince Jasper’s voice as he continues to mock Prince Kaine. “So now it’s the fiancée, the personal guard, and a mystery girl? You’re really living the dream, brother.’”

Prince Kaine’s voice is sharp when he replies, “At least I don't have a reputation for ex-girlfriends storming the palace, forcing our dear mommy to clean up the mess. If anyone’s playing games I think Father would be very interested to know who.”

My head continues to swim as I take in the muffled sounds of the brother’s conversation through Prince Kaine’s jacket, barely comprehending. My Mate’s scent wraps around me musk, and leather, and pine, making it impossible to focus as my memory drifts back to the night we bonded.

I remember the way Prince Kaine felt pressed against me, as he holds me now, the feeling of his body next to mine becoming overwhelming. I bite back a moan as I think of the way it felt for him to claim me and how it felt to completely lose control with him. I think of the way it felt to have his teeth sinking into me claiming me as his Mate.

I am hit with the urge to touch Prince Kaine, to slide my hand inside his shirt and touch the delicate skin where his neck meets his collar. Nara whines in anticipation and approval as my hand starts to move of its own accord, but my last ounce of self control surfaces and I suppress the urge before my action becomes noticeable.

I am vaguely aware of a lack of voices and that I am moving as Prince Kaine carefully guides me through the doors of the empty room. Kaine props me against a wall and then turns to leave, but everything ounce of my body is crying out for him to stay.

I reach out and grab his collar, refusing to let him walk away from me. My lips part unconsciously as I pull him back to me. “What did you say?” His deep voice questions, sending a thrill through me.

My eyes drift to his lips as I remember the feeling of the wild, unrestrained kiss we had shared just a few days prior. Everything about him is drawing him in from his delicious scent to the concerned look in his fierce brown eyes. I find myself leaning in, all desire to fight my instincts has gone from my head as I take in the man in front of me.

I continue to lean toward Prince Kaine, determined to feel the press of his lips once more, when a knock at the door jolts us apart. The sound of Prince Kaine’s Beta, calls through the door, “Crown Prince, the King is arriving shortly.” The sudden reminder of why I had fled snaps me out of my trance, and I drop the prince’s collar, scrambling back.

I almost gave myself away. I almost ruined everything. I need to put as much distance between myself and the prince as possible.

Kaine

Ember is suddenly frantic as she drops my collar and steps away from me, throwing me for a loop. Before I can get a word out she begins to speak, her voice coming out in a rush as she heads toward the exit. “I apologize for the interruption, Crown Prince, I am feeling much better and no longer require assistance. I am going to go lay down.”

Noting her speedy departure, my Beta, Jake, gives me a look, as if to ask what that was all about. I shrug, unaware of what had caused Ember’s sudden ailment or her seemingly speedy recovery.

Jake raises an eyebrow, not accepting my shrug as an adequate explanation. “Ember wasn’t feeling well so I brought her in here to rest,” I explain, not mentioning anything about my brother or the look in Ember’s eyes before he knocked.

Jake nods, accepting my answer. “The King will be here any minute. We should be there to greet him,” he says before striding out of the room.

I grab the coat that I had used to shield Ember from Jasper’s gaze, and turn to follow but something stops me. I look at the jacket in my hands and, Rafe, lets out a low wine in response. There is something about it that is causing him to react.

I bring the coat slowly to my nose, almost afraid of what I am going to uncover, when the scent hits me. Tea and honey and something else, something deeper and irresistible that has me reluctant to tear the jacket away from my nose. My wolf howls in recognition as I continue to scent the jacket.

I am overwhelmed as I transported back the night I found my Mate. I can practically feel the way I got lost in her as she moved against me. Rafe continues to howl as I recall the memory.

My coat smells like her, my Mate, the woman from the other night. Something had been off about Bianca’s scent, but it wasn’t until now that I realized just how off it had been. Rafe had been unsure of her, but I had brushed his concerns aside because Bianca bore the royal mark.

I shake my head, unsure of what this means before looking at the coat in my hands and giving it one final sniff. Ember’s scent matches that of my Mate much more closely than her sister’s.