“As I said, our stubborn king and equally stubborn prince fell in love, yet determined for the good of all that we would continue as planned. On our journey, Riley had another vision, panicked, ran off the designated path, and a battle against the demons ensued—one where Riley sacrificed his life for Khalon, accepted his Soldati prince title, condemned his soul to limbo, and died.”
Riley narrowed his eyes at Rayner. “You’re not good at this.”
“Oh?”
Riley threw his hands out, startling everyone in the room. “There I was, running for my life. Demons coming at me from every angle!” He made clawing motions with his hands. “Whoosh, hiss, tigers leaping! What was I, a poor human prince with great hair, to do? I fought fiercely.”
“So fiercely,” Ezra agreed, his eyes alight with amusement.
“When suddenly a demon sprang up out of nowhere and made straight for Khalon. I pushed my love out of the way, and…” He gasped and clutched at his stomach.
“Was it not traumatic enough the first time?” Khalon asked, looking pained, but Segreti would hazard a guess it had more to do with Riley’s imaginative performance than the hurtful memory.
“Aw, don’t worry. It’ll be over soon.” Riley patted Khalon’s cheek. “Where was I?”
“You’d been wounded after so valiantly sacrificing your life for our king,” Rayner pitched in helpfully, earning himself an uninspired expression and headshake from Khalon.
“Right. So there I was in Khalon’s arms, and before my last breath, I accepted my title as Soldati prince.” He threw a hand out to Rayner. “I was dead for the next part. Take it away, Rayner.”
Rayner opened his mouth, but Khalon quickly interjected. “The priestess appeared, she asked what price I would pay to have Riley returned to me, I said anything, the price she set was for me to live my life as a mortal man every full moon. Riley was returned to me, we mated, I love him, we lived happily ever after. The end.”
Riley shook his head. “Wow. That was… I don’t even have words to describe it. You guys should not do theater.”
Khalon leaned in and kissed Riley, a short but passionate kiss that made the prince melt against him. “The point is, this is the price I paid for my love.” Riley grumbled something under his breath, and Khalon gave him a pointed look. “A price I’d gladly pay over and over, no matter how stubborn my prince is.”
“And this year the full moon has landed on the festival.” Segreti cursed under his breath.
Khalon stood and turned to Rayner. “We must be prepared. I want our best Soldati around the council at all times. We don’t know who else is in danger.”
“You don’t think that’s going to alert the bad guys that we’re onto them?” Riley asked.
“Our warriors will remain hidden. Either Rayner, Adira, or I will be with you wherever you go.” Khalon turned to face Segreti. “The Orso are arriving as we speak. Will you greet your brethren and perhaps gather some information? We must know if any among them are plotting against us.” Khalon balled his hands into fists, anger filling his eyes.
“If someone plots against you, my king, I’ll find them.”
Riley held up a hand. “Um, won’t whoever’s planning all this know that we know? I mean”—he pointed to himself—“Saugur.”
“Which means we must be extra vigilant,” Rayner said. “If you had a vision, it means they still intend to carry out their plans.” He brought Toka into his arms. “I don’t suppose I could get you to stay safe and indoors?” Toka arched an eyebrow at Rayner, making him chuckle. “Merely checking. Please stay with our prince.”
With a sweet kiss to Rayner’s lips, Toka left his mate and went to his prince’s bedside.
“Your Majesty?” Ezra stepped forward, his expression a mixture of concern and confusion. “I fear there is one crucial question we have yet to address.”
“What is it?” Khalon asked.
“We understand the why of Riley’s vision. There’s a plot afoot to kill you, and in your weakened state, the traitor manages to succeed. What we don’t know is how? How does this traitor know they will be successful?”
Segreti frowned. “Ezra is right. We know whoever plans to kill Khalon is smart and has been plotting since Pavoni’s demise. They’re not going to risk exposing themselves and their cohorts by simply hoping to catch Khalon off guard. Everyone knows of the Soldati Saugur and the Eye. Surely they know if they so much as think of a way in which to kill Khalon, they will be seen by either the prince or Ezra.”
“Which means they know Khalon is vulnerable. Perhaps not the exact details, but enough to know he can be killed,” Rayner said, leaning against the fireplace.
Khalon sighed. “Until we know more, we’re in the dark.” He turned to Ezra. “I need you to join the festivities, keep the Eye close, and stay as near to Segreti as you can without arousing suspicion. Perhaps the Eye will glean additional knowledge should it be exposed to any possible traitors. We have two days until the full moon.”
Segreti bowed and left the room, Ezra on his heels. They walked in companionable silence, but soon the silence became too great. Spotting a shadowed alcove ahead, he took hold of Ezra’s hand and stepped into it. He turned Ezra so as to block his view of anyone who might be curious enough to investigate. His Orso vision helped him see enough of Ezra’s features and the concern in his eyes.
“Are you all right?” Ezra asked quietly.
Cupping Ezra’s cheek, Segreti brushed his thumb against Ezra’s soft skin. “Are you?”
“Well, it’s all quite unsettling, knowing there’s a traitor in our midst.”
“Agreed. However, I was referring to you and how you were feeling after our intimate time together.”
“Oh.”
Segreti might not be able to see the blush on Ezra’s cheeks, but it was there. Unable to help himself, he brushed his lips over Ezra’s. “You seem to be all I can think about lately,” he confessed. “My thoughts are filled with the taste of your lips, the feel of your warm skin, and the delicious sounds you made at my touch.”
“Segreti,” Ezra said through a gasp, his fingers digging into Segreti’s biceps. “I… I confess I struggle to think of anything else. I would have liked to continue what we started in the cottage.”
The words thrilled Segreti. “I’m glad to hear it. Perhaps once this mess is over with, you might allow me to spend some time with you?”
“I would welcome it.”
Segreti pressed his lips to Ezra’s, a small groan escaping him when Ezra parted his lips, his tongue poking out to meet Segreti’s. He wrapped Ezra in his arms and kissed him thoroughly, needing to bask in his taste and scent in the hopes it would stay with him until their next encounter. Ezra seemed content to remain enveloped in Segreti’s arms, a dreamy sigh escaping him when they came up for air.
“We should go,” Ezra said, his tone laced with reluctance.
“Be safe, my sweet Ezra. Should you need me for anything at all, simply call for me.” Segreti kissed the back of his hand before stepping out of the shadows and forcing himself to leave Ezra’s side. The quicker he found this traitor, the quicker he could return to Ezra.