Masked Fate (Fated Love #3)

CHAPTER FIVE

Pandora

Soren is looking into Milana’s eyes like he wants to swim in them, and I’m drinking wine and scowling at him from across the room.

“You look stunning tonight, Queen Pandora,” Prince Raiden, the shifter heir, purrs, and I can feel his gaze on my breasts. Dragging my gaze back to him, I’m about to reply when Salem stalks up next to him. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him, and I’d almost forgotten just how menacing this male is.

He’s tall.

Like really tall.

And built.

His shoulders are broad, and his whole body is made of pure muscle. His white tunic strains across his chest, his strong legs like tree trunks.

I stare up into his pale green eyes, void of emotion. Cold. Dead. There’s nothing in those eyes except pure dominance. A shiver goes down my spine.

“Well, if it isn’t my fiancée,” he growls, a muscle feathering in his jaw.

“Ex-fiancée,” I correct, arching my brow. “Our betrothal died along with my mother.”

Astrid told me when she met him, he emphasized that I was his ex-fiancée, so I don’t know why he’s changed his tune other than the fact he’s insane. Salem has many personalities, depending on his mood. He could have easily ignored me and pretended he didn’t know me tonight. I never know which version of him I’m going to get.

He grins, slow and calculated. “Once mine, always mine.”

Fucking hell.

This is why I try to avoid Salem as much as I can. He’s simply not sane. I could probably run into him a century from now, and he will still be calling me his. Not that he likes me because I’m pretty sure he doesn’t, but because he’s a possessive bastard and doesn’t like others to play with his toys.

“That’s not how it works, Salem,” I reply, taking another sip of wine. I don’t let my eyes move away from him because you don’t look away from a monster.

Raiden slides away, not wanting to get in between whatever this is, leaving me alone with him. I don’t blame him. No one wants to unleash whatever madness Salem keeps simmering below the surface.

“It works however I want it to work, Pandora,” he replies, scanning the crowd. His black hair is still as short as it’s always been, the only one of the triplets to wear it that way. I’ve always wanted to ask him how he got the scars—one on his cheek and others up his arms—but I’ve never dared to engage him in conversation about anything too personal. “Who are you here with?”

Tilting my head to the side, I wonder how to reply. “Friends.”

I don’t want to tell him I’m here alone, and I can’t mention that I’m here with Soren either, so vague is going to have to do.

He steps closer to me, leaning down to tell me something when Soren appears, a plate of food in his hands. He’s filled it with all sorts of things like cake, fancy sandwiches, and fruit.

Instead of eating from it, though, he hands it to me. “Eat.”

Not knowing how to react, I gape at him before accepting the plate, only to stare at it in confusion.

So much for pretending we don’t know each other.

And why is he bringing me food?

Is he drunk or something?

Or maybe this is a dream.

I casually pinch myself, and yeah, it hurts.

Not a dream.

Maybe he’s finally taken one too many hits to the head in that fighting ring.

“Is this your friend, Pandora?” Salem asks, smirking. “Soren, how are you? Out doing King Rave’s bidding, I’m guessing?”

“I’m just here for a good time,” Soren replies, lifting his glass to his full, firm lips. His top lip, fuller than his bottom, is so tempting that I force myself to look away.

“Well,” Salem growls, cracking his thick knuckles. “Perhaps you can have a good time away from my fiancée.”

Soren’s gray eyes flicker, and he swallows the rest of his wine and places the glass down. “If she doesn’t have any mating bands or a ring on her finger, I’m pretty sure she’s a free witch.”

Soren either has balls of steel or is an idiot.

Or maybe it’s a mix of both.

I don’t know why he’s pushing Salem, but before I can say anything, Salem’s sister approaches, her long black hair trailing down her back, blending with her yellow figure-hugging gown. She’s usually in bright colors or more eccentric clothing. I love seeing her outfits every time I run into her. She’s a beautiful, curvy woman, and as always, I find myself unable to look away from her. She’s wearing her usual black gloves. I’ve never seen her without them. Her honey-brown eyes are filled with warmth, lighting up when she sees me.

She’s so unlike her brother.

Those two couldn’t be more different.

I don’t know how the same people birthed them.

“Pandora.” She smiles, her lips lifting. “Long time no see. You look beautiful.”

She rests her gloved hand on her brother’s arm, and he doesn’t even flinch. She’s the only person I’ve seen who can do so. Even his other brothers wouldn’t dare touch him. As the youngest sibling and the only daughter, Saylor is overprotected and spoiled. Her coping mechanism for dealing with all the testosterone in her life seems to be dry humor and wit. She’s a hot mess, but I love her.

“So do you,” I reply, giving her a one-armed hug to avoid touching Salem. “How have you been?”

“Well, thank you. And who is this?” she asks, looking at Soren curiously.

“Soren,” he introduces himself, reaching out his hand to her.

I’m surprised Soren hasn’t met Saylor before. I know Rave has slept with her, but I’m guessing she wasn’t one of the females they shared.

Clearing my throat, I take his hand in mine, stopping him from touching her. I ignore the sparks that shoot up my arm and force a smile. I’ve seen Salem stab a man in the chest just for touching her hand, and even though my fated mate can be an asshole, I don’t want to see that happen to him any time soon.

I don’t know how Rave survived, but I don’t think Salem will offer Soren the same pardon.

Saylor’s honey-brown eyes, so different from all her brothers, flash with relief. “Sorry, my brother is insane. I mean, they all are. But this one is the worst.”

Salem grunts, his eyes still pinned on me, narrowed and giving nothing away, while Soren smirks, using our joined hands to pull me closer to his side. “I see. Well, it was nice to meet you, Saylor. And Salem, it was interesting seeing you again.”

Salem looks down at our hands and scowls. “Get your hands off her… now .”

“She’s not your fiancée anymore, Salem,” Saylor scowls, elbowing him in the arm. “Pandora can do what she wants. Oh, look, Silver and Sage are over there eating all those little strawberry cheesecakes you like. We better go, or there will be none left.”

Salem frowns, forgetting about me and pulling his sister away. “You’re welcome,” she coos with a wink.

Soren and I watch them leave. He slowly turns his head back to me and lets go of my hand, looking at where he touched me with disdain. “That family is fucking insane.” Tilting his head to the side, he cruelly adds, “Yours probably would have fit it perfectly.”

Yeah, okay. That dig hurt. But I don’t give him the satisfaction of knowing it hit its mark.

“You got what we came here for?” I ask, and he nods. “Then let’s get the hell out of here.”

“First, eat something,” he orders, nodding to the plate he got me, still in my other hand. Confusion ripples through me. Why does he care if I eat? He’s never so much as shown any kind of concern for me before this.

Almost in a daze, I pick up one of the cakes, take a bite, and try to ignore the sudden dominant gleam in his eyes.

“Good girl,” he murmurs, his gray eyes darkening.

Fuck.

I can’t keep up with his mood swings. One second, he’s looking at me like I’m worthless, and the next, he’s calling me a good girl.

What does he want from me?

I don’t know how to handle it when he’s nice to me.

I know he’s going to hate me the second we walk out of here. He will remember who I am and go back to ignoring my existence, and yeah, it fucking hurts. How sad is it that I’m happy with the tiny crumbs of kindness he’s feeding me tonight?

Just him looking into my eyes and treating me like a female instead of an evil witch is progress.

I eat a sandwich, then pass him the plate. He finishes what’s left and then nods to the door. “Rave will be glad when I’ve brought you home in one piece.”

Of course.

He’s only putting up with me because his king commanded it.

What other reason would there be?

Because at the end of the day, I’m merely the daughter of the monster who hurt him.