All four druids held perfectly still, frozen.
The air fairly sizzled with druid power.
On the inside, I grinned. I almost flashed fang.
They knew where to find the Breaker.
I placed my hand on Bel’s bicep, shutting him up before he demanded to know immediately. He had pissed off three out of four of them already. I didn’t think they would be too forthcoming with him.
Gently, I added to the request, “We will be in your debt if you tell us how to find it.”
Kimber cracked her neck and rose to her feet. She looked nowhere near Bel or Dorian—Bel’s plan for female solidarity now realized in my mind—her gaze steadfast on me, her words only for me. “I know where to find the Breaker. I will tell you if you first help me with an issue we have here.”
I lifted one eyebrow, not looking away. I asked bluntly, “What do you need of us?”
“To kill a mad queen, Your Royal Highness.” Her lips curved up at the edges, at peace with her words. “The Queen of Vampires—in S’Kir. She needs to die before she hurts anyone else, and if your asshole lover is anything like his dick twin, they just might do the trick.”
My lips twitched in dark humor. I took my hand off Bel’s arm and held my hand out to her. “You have a deal. But we must be quick about it. The war starts soon on Earth.”
“Deal.” Kimber shook my hand solidly.
3
GWYNNORE
The six of us stared at their four horses.
It had been many years since I’d ridden. That didn’t mean I had forgotten, but I much preferred a private jet to take us to the nearest town. S’Kir was most definitely behind in technology compared to Earth.
This would not be a fun experience for me.
“Um… the ladies get a horse, correct?” I muttered, my nose crinkling at the scent of manure. “I call the one on the right.”
“That one is mine.” Kimber lifted her chin into the air.
“Not anymore,” I stated evenly, hiking toward the horse I wanted. “Age over beauty, honey.”
Kimber blinked. “We have a deal.”
“Not for the horse, we don’t.” I flashed my fangs. Female solidarity was a joke. You stick with the one you came with, not with the person you just met. She would learn this quickly enough, a little life lesson given by little old me. “You can fight me for it if you want.”
“Gwen…” Bel snorted. “Now is not the time.”
I hoisted myself up on my horse, ignoring how the druid woman’s hands clenched into fists, and how one of her twins placed a hand on her shoulder. I kept my attention on my lover—the person I came with, where my loyalty lay. I settled down on the saddle and patted the horse’s neck softly. I stated honestly, “This place gives me the heebie-jeebies. I need a decent fight to calm my nerves.”
“We’ll spar later, if that is what you want.” Bel held my gaze, his frost eyes narrowing on mine. “But remember what I said before.”
Yes. Yes, I must be nice.
“You’re a bore,” I droned. He was anything but.
His gaze ran over the other horses, settling on one he liked best. “A bore with a white stallion to ride.”
“That one’s mine,” Rilen snapped, clearly irritated by these turn of events. “Try and take him. I dare you.”
King Belshazzar shrugged his shoulders.
Dorian groaned low under his breath.
I blinked… That was all. One. Blink.
Bel sat atop the white stallion, and Rilen was hogtied on the ground with dirt stuffed in his mouth.
Dorian shook his head in the stunned hush and stomped over to his mate, who looked vaguely ill on the ground—shaking his head, blinking hard, and coughing out mud. Dorian squatted down in the silence. He began untying his mate and cast a brutal glare up at his smirking brother.
Dorian hissed, “Stay away from them, Bel. They are off-limits. Dare or not.”
It was so hard not to laugh.
Only years of training kept my features smooth.
King Belshazzar grinned, full-toothed. “Be happy, brother. I left the two best horses for Kimber and you. I did this with love in my heart. I took the weakest horse just for you.”
Dorian bared his teeth at his twin’s antics.
I gurgled in my throat then sputtered, “W-Where did you get the rope?”
“My bag,” Bel stated simply. He held down a hand to his brother. “I’d like it back, too.”
“I have something else for you first.” Dorian marched to the far horse, digging in a satchel, while his furious mate clambered to his feet. He pulled something out and tossed it through the air—right at his brother. “You brought me a gift. I brought you one.”
King Belshazzar caught the object deftly.
My lover stared at the severed head he held.
“Savion,” he snarled with malicious glee.
“I’d hoped it would be you at the gate.” Dorian lifted his brows. “A kill for a kill, as promised.”
Kimber’s brows snapped together. “You asked this imbecile to kill your son?”
“I did.” Dorian nodded easily.
Kimber’s brows lowered even further.
“That’s a conversation for another time.” Bel’s gaze flicked back and forth between the two of them, tension coiling in the air. “Wouldn’t you agree, brother?”
“Yes.” Dorian took the save hastily, even tossing the rope up in silent thanks. “We should ride quickly. There are forces here that would rather see us dead.”
“Does anyone want the head as a trophy?” Bel asked pleasantly.
Dorian and Kimber took to the other horses—allowing Rilen and Roran to ride behind them, as I thought they might do.
Kimber stared at the severed head. She stated harshly on a whisper, “He was my father. I want it destroyed.”
Bel and I both stared at the head…
It had fangs.
“Excuse me?” I mumbled, utterly confused.
Her grin was ruthless. “Oh? I didn’t mention that, did I? I’m half druid, half vampire.” The druid flashed fangs, proving her insane point.
I tried my hardest not to gape.
S’Kir was getting weirder by the minute.
I wouldn’t mind going home right now.
King Belshazzar observed, quiet and thoughtful. “Now, that is interesting.”
“Toss the head,” Kimber ordered, done being stared at. “I want nothing to do with it.”
Bel’s lips curved up at the edges. He waited.
She rolled her hazel eyes. “Please, Your Royal Highness.”
King Belshazzar flicked the head over his shoulder onto the ground. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“Fuck you.”
“Oh, no. I never take my brother’s sloppy seconds. It’s a rule we have with one another. And we’ve never broken it.” My lover winked at her, and then his regard swiftly tilted to his twin. He stated conversationally, “Try to keep your mates in check. I am trying to be civil.”
Dorian chuckled. “You are never civil.”
“But I am trying.” Bel smirked.
Rilen, Roran, and Kimber glared on.