Masked Fate (Fated Love #3)

CHAPTER THREE

Pandora

Hand-to-hand combat has never been my strength, but that doesn’t mean I’m untrained. I am a queen. We don’t wait for others to save us. I made sure I learned how to protect myself. I’m many things, but a damsel in distress isn’t one. Astrid is potentially one of the strongest fae alive, but there are some things a witch can do that a fae can’t. It’s why they come to us for their wards, spells, and enchantments. It’s also hard for us to keep a straight face because well, we’re usually drinking wine together, not fighting against each other. Her lip twitches as she takes me in, and I start giggling, unable to help myself.

I hear Rave mutter something that sounds like “For fuck’s sake,” which makes us laugh even harder.

“Come on, we have to do something,” I say to her, putting my fists out in front of me. “Let’s just circle each other until everyone gets bored.”

She laughs, spreading her feet into a fighting stance. “I’m the one who wanted to spar, but not with you. It doesn’t feel right to hit my bestie, and look at you… you’re all cute and petite.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not that much smaller than you.”

“I’ll fight her!” I hear Vale call out. When did Rave’s son come out to watch?

Eventually, Rave gets sick of us, steps into the ring, and throws Astrid over his shoulder. He turns and crooks his finger at me. “Meet me in the throne room. I need to speak with you.”

Uh-oh. That sounds ominous.

“Am I in trouble?” I call out after him.

Surely, he can’t be mad that I didn’t attack his mate.

“You, too,” Rave then calls out to Soren, who nods and follows behind.

I rush to catch up to him. “What do you think he wants?”

Soren glances over at me, his lips tightening as if he doesn’t even want to speak to me. I know he doesn’t like me, but it’s really getting old. The man sure knows how to hold onto a grudge.

He opens his mouth to reply when a beautiful blonde woman runs up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and climbing him like a tree. My fingers dig into my palms. It’s not easy to miss the marks around her wrist, like she’s been restrained, and the large finger marks on her neck’s pale skin. “Soren! I missed you.”

“I saw you this morning,” he replies, clearing his throat.

“I know,” she replies, licking her lips. He still walks next to me, keeping pace with her dangling off him like an accessory. Feeling awkward and a little sick to my stomach, I pick up my pace so I don’t have to see anymore, but the bastard easily does the same, his long-ass legs not letting me get too far in front of him. He tries to put her down, but she continues to hold onto him, kissing his neck. “I want to be in your bed tonight, Master.”

Master?

I choke on air.

He gets his females to call him Master?

The fates must have been drunk when they gave me this warrior as my fated mate.

“One night only, that was the deal, pet,” he replies, stopping and murmuring something to her. I don’t hear it because I rush away from him like my ass is on fire.

I don’t know whether to feel jealous or sorry for the long list of females he’s been with, but I think I feel a bit of both.

When I enter the room, Rave sits on his Shadow Throne, his fingers thrumming on the bone of the armrests. I’ve never seen a more terrifying-looking throne in my life, but what else would I expect from the now King of Shadows.

Astrid sits next to him on her gold and black velvet throne, flickering her eyes to me, attempting to silently converse, except I have no idea what she’s trying to tell me. I’m guessing Rave is about to say something I won’t like. Vale is standing next to Astrid, but she whispers something to him, and he grins and leaves, his little sword hanging at his side. “Where is Soren?” he asks, frowning.

“He, uh… got caught up,” I reply, my eyes flickering to Astrid. “One of his… pets.”

She shakes her head, scowling. “I wonder what his fated mate will think when she finds out he’s been with half the female population.”

That’s, of course, the exact moment he steps into the room, smirking. “Is this what we are here to discuss? And, my queen, I think my mate will be happy with the experiences I made sure to have so I can give her all the pleasure she deserves.”

I look anywhere but at him, my eyes returning to Astrid, who sighs heavily.

“So, I wanted the both of you here for one reason, and that is we need to find out more about this warlord who wants my mate,” Rave growls, his jaw tightening. “So I’ve come up with a plan, but I’m going to need both of your help.”

“What’s the plan?” Soren asks, crossing his arms over his chest, legs spread. His swords are strung behind his back, and he looks like he’s ready for war. The arrogance in which he holds himself shouldn’t be attractive, but it is. He’s confident, commanding, and knows he’s sexy as hell.

It’s annoying.

I don’t know why I’ve been called into this meeting, but if I can do anything to help, I will.

Rave smirks, bringing his ice-blue eyes to his best friend. “I’m glad you asked. The Goblin Kingdom is throwing a party to celebrate one of the princes finding his mate. We’ve heard that Milana, Declan’s daughter, will be there. I need someone to get information from her, and who better than Romeo over here?”

Soren smirks, studying Rave. “You want me to seduce her?”

“No,” Astrid blurts out, shaking her head. “No, we don’t want you to fuck her, Soren.”

“You don’t want me to use my best and most honed weapon?” he replies, his lip twitching.

Absently rubbing my tight chest, I try to keep my expression neutral. I now realize why Astrid was looking at me with something akin to pity.

“Do what you must. Try your persuasion. We need to find out what Declan has planned, and Milana is the key to that,” Rave replies, frowning at Astrid. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

She licks her lips, studying me, and then Soren. “Don’t touch Milana, Soren. I don’t give a fuck if she’s blonde or your type. She’s not yours.”

Soren’s gray eyes flash with confusion, but he nods, bowing to his queen. “Persuasion it is.”

“And Pandora, we were hoping you wouldn’t mind going with him,” Astrid adds, her expression blank. This just keeps getting worse. “You will be sent a separate invitation, and it won’t be obvious that you have his back if something goes down.”

So I’m meant to go and watch my fated mate seduce another woman right in front of my eyes?

I know it’s too dangerous for Astrid to go and too obvious for Rave, so their plan does make sense. Soren is charming and a known womanizer, so no one would think anything of him flirting with females. And as royalty, I’d be expected to be there.

But fuck.

Being alone with Soren in another kingdom?

I don’t know if I can do it.

Soren turns his body to me, his eyes narrowing. It seems like the feeling is mutual.

But Astrid and Rave have asked me to do this, and for them, I agree. “I’m in.”

“Thank you. We owe you,” Rave replies, tilting his head to the side and watching me. “But just a heads up, Salem will be there.”

Wow, the hits just keep coming.

Salem is a shifter I was once betrothed to. Luckily, when my mother died, so did that agreement because Salem is completely batshit crazy. He’s unhinged, wild, and psychotic. He’s also possessive as fuck, and because I was once his, he has a hard time forgetting that fact, even if he never even wanted me in the first place. Shifters can be like that, especially wolves like Salem and his two brothers. The triplets are dominant and strong apart, but together, they are unstoppable. I don’t know how their younger sister, Saylor, puts up with them. They’ve also got an older brother, Shadow, but no one knows where he disappeared to.

“You don’t owe me anything. Friends don’t keep tallies.”

“Family, don’t you mean,” Astrid says, her eyes gentle. “And that is what you are to me, Pandora.”

Family.

My heart warms.

I wonder if she knows how much that means to me.

Rave turns to Soren, eyebrows drawing together. “Watch out for Salem with Pandora.”

“Of course,” Soren promises.

Well, I guess that’s it.

I’m going on a mission with my fated mate, who doesn’t know he’s my mate and hates me, to watch him seduce another female.

With my former betrothed.

What could possibly go wrong?