Masked Fate (Fated Love #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Soren

Women have always come easy for me.

I’m a warrior and an attractive, dominant male. I’m always in control, and they are always happy to give me whatever the fuck it is I want just to have a taste of what it’s like to be mine.

I’m known to be charming. I’m also known to have a bit of a temper.

Yet, as I sit opposite my mate in the dining hall, my charm seems to be failing me. And I can’t exactly let my temper win out, either, so instead of dragging her into my room and telling her to get on her knees so I can teach her a lesson for ignoring me all night, I sit here miserably, drinking beer.

I tried to make up for the trauma I didn’t even inflict by letting you treat me less than I deserved. Her words play over and over in my head. She’s right. I took it out on her, told her she had bad blood because of her mother, and held that against her when she had been nothing but nice.

Nothing but a loyal friend to Rave and Astrid.

She laughs at something Rave says to her, and I know he’s not that fucking funny. With my jaw tightening, I look at my queen, smirking in my direction, amusement dancing in her hazel eyes.

Pandora takes a bite of her seasoned chicken, and my eyes heat while watching her chew and swallow. I’ve never cared about a female eating, but I enjoy it a little too much with her. I just want to feed her and fuck her for the rest of our lives. She arches her brow and notices me staring, and I’m about to tell her to keep eating when Tor steps into the room, bowing to Rave. “My king, there is a Silver and Sage at the gates, asking to speak to you.”

We all share a look.

What are Salem’s triplet brothers doing here?

Standing with Rave, we zip to the front gate and find the brothers standing there. Silver smirks when he sees us, the runes up his neck moving over his skin. His long, silver hair is loose around his face, while Sage’s long black hair is in its usual braid. Two pairs of light green eyes land on my king.

“King Rave, we are sorry to interrupt. We wanted to apologize in person for our brother Salem’s recent actions,” Sage says, bowing at the waist.

Silver does the same, then stretches to his full height. “We didn’t know what he had planned.” His head tilts to the side. “Although I don’t think he ever does, either.”

Rave nods for the gates to be opened, and the two step inside. “Join me for dinner,” Rave commands, and they both nod, following behind us.

When we’re all back at the table, I speak before Rave can, “Tell your brother to stay away from my mate.”

I can feel their eyes move to my bare wrists. “We didn’t know she was your mate,” Sage replies, turning to Pandora. “You hid that one well, Queen.”

Pandora rolls her eyes. “I didn’t know he was my mate when I was betrothed to Salem.”

But she did know I was her mate when she let him eat her pussy.

She gave that psychopath killer a free taste.

My hands curl into fists by my sides. “Something called him away from here. Otherwise, it would have been a bloodbath. He had shifted.”

Silver winces but smiles when a maid pours him a glass of wine. “We called him back. We told him we had found a lead on our brother, Shadow. We didn’t know what he was up to. He blocked us out of his mind, so it was a lucky coincidence we called him away. But we’ve spoken to him, and it won’t happen again, especially now that Pandora has found her fated mate.”

I had heard the brothers could mind link, and I guess the rumor’s correct.

“No, it will not happen again,” Rave growls, staring at the two shifters over his glass. His eyes bleed from ice-blue to black, shadows drifting around him. “Unless you want a war between our kingdoms. The women in this castle should be able to feel safe without unhinged males appearing and demanding their attention.”

“He will settle when he finds his own mate,” Sage replies, but his eyes flicker with uncertainty, giving him away.

I don’t think anything other than a decapitation will settle that wolf.

And if he touches my little witch one more time, that might be a possible outcome.

I don’t care if he’s the size of a damn house.

“Well, until then, keep him out of my kingdom,” Rave orders, flashing his teeth at them. “You’re lucky nothing happened to my mate or Queen Pandora, or we’d be having a very different kind of conversation right now.”

“Noted,” Silver replies, sharing a look with his brother. He then decides to change the subject. “It’s been quiet on the frontlines.”

Rave’s eyes narrow to slits. “Yes, it has. What do you know?”

Sage takes a sip of his wine, studying the king. “Only what the seer has seen. Declan’s army will come for you.”

Astrid sits up straighter. “Laurel saw that?”

He nods, licking his lips. “As a matter of fact, she did, just yesterday..”

“I’d like to see her,” Astrid replies, leaning forward in her chair.

“No one but the king sees her these days.”

“How many men?” Rave asks, tilting his head to the side in consideration. He doesn’t look worried. He looks almost excited at the thought of finally getting to destroy the incubus who wants his mate.

“About a thousand,” Sage replies, putting his glass down. “And that information is our apology to you for Salem’s actions.”

They both finish their wine and stand. “We must head back now, but until next time.”

One last bow, and they disappear.

“What do you think?” I ask Rave, crossing my arms over my chest. “We going after them or letting them come here?”

“I think we let them come here. We are ready for anything they try to throw at us,” he replies, scrubbing his hand across his jaw.

“I have a hundred witches and warlocks if you need them,” Pandora offers.

Rave smirks. “We already have the strongest one.”

Her cheeks redden, and I wonder what the hell they are talking about. I’m about to ask when my day goes from shit to worse, and the last person in the realm I want to see right now shows up.

August.

That mate-fucking-traitor.

I’ve been nothing but good to the male, and he went and took what was mine .

I try to control myself, but I see red.

Before anyone can stop me, I get out of my chair, rush at him, and throw him across the room. Caught unaware, he hits the wall with a thud but quickly stands, confusion in his brown eyes. He rakes his hand through his curls and has the nerve to look like I’m the one being a bastard.

“Just when I thought tonight was going to be boring,” I hear Rave say.

And is that amusement in his tone?

“What the fuck, Soren?” August growls, looking at Astrid. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”

“Soren, he didn’t know,” Pandora snaps, her chair scraping as she stands. Before she can move toward us, I punch him right in the nose once before Rave grabs me from behind while the women rush toward August. Pandora lifts her hand to touch his cheek, and I lose it.

“Pandora, step away from him,” Rave snarls as I try to charge at him again.

She looks over at us, her violet eyes rounding. Astrid grabs her arm and pulls her away from August. When she’s a safe distance away, I stop struggling and take deep breaths. I don’t remember when, if ever, I’ve been out of control like this. I’ll kill someone for touching her.

“Is it always like this?” I ask Rave, and he laughs under his breath.

“It won’t always be this bad once you complete the bond, but yes.”

“Fuck. I want to kill him,” I mutter, shifting on my feet. “Can I just mess him up a little?”

“I can’t let you do that. Astrid would kill me,” he grumbles, loosening his hold on me.

Astrid is speaking to August in a low tone, so we can’t hear. August raises his head, eyes locking with mine. “Soren, I didn’t know she was your mate. I’m sorry, brother. I won’t touch her again.”

“You will never touch her again,” I command, magic pulsing through the air. Yeah, I’m not above using my magic. I told her I’d never use it on her again, but I said nothing about everyone else.

August nods, the force behind my words holding him hostage.

Satisfied, I turn to Pandora, who is watching me closely, her arms wrapped around herself.

“Are we good?” August asks me, crossing his arms. Now a part of the Royal Guard in Chaos, the capital of the Incubus Kingdom, he’s put on even more muscle than the last time I saw him. There’s a hardness in his eyes that’s new too.

Pandora lifts her brows at me.

“We’re good,” I reply between clenched teeth.

August studies me. “You took it easy on me, considering I took your mate’s virginity.”

“Motherfucker,” Rave snarls when not even he can hold me back anymore. He calls on his shadows, which lift me in the air, restraining me.

“I’m going to fucking kill you!”

He took her virginity.

So, up until only recently, she was a virgin.

She couldn’t have waited a little longer for me?

I want to destroy him.

How fucking dare he take something so sacred from me.

“Why did you tell him that?” Astrid asks, using her magic to create a shield around him. “Do you have a death wish?”

“Better to get it all out in the open,” August replies, stretching his neck from side to side. His nose is still red with blood. “I only want to do this once with him.”

“Soren, he didn’t know,” Pandora says, lifting her face to stare at me, dangling in the air like a raging idiot. “You can’t be angry at him.”

“I can, and I fucking will,” I grind out, contemplating using my magic to get Rave to release me so I can kill the only male to be inside my mate.

Closing my eyes, I try to get control of myself.

I know I’m being a hypocrite.

I’ve slept with many females.

A hell of a lot.

But I’ve only kissed one other, and that was the woman I lost my virginity to. And when I kissed her and realized how personal it felt, I didn’t do it with anyone else.

I was saving that for my mate.

And I’ve never tasted a pussy.

I was saving that for her too.

What did she save for me?

Salem has had her pussy on his mouth, and no way she hasn’t kissed August. He seems like a kissing kind of guy.

“I’m glad you came to see us. It’s been a while,” Astrid says to August, casually starting a conversation like I’m not in the air above them.

August once wanted Astrid, so I don’t know why Rave won’t just let me kill him. “Remember when he wanted your mate, Rave?”

Rave’s eyes flicker with shadows. “Don’t fucking remind me.”

“Well, let me down, and I’ll get revenge for both of us.” I grin, and I probably look unhinged.

Because that’s exactly how I feel.

“Your brothers and Bane want you to come to Chaos tomorrow,” August tells her, completely ignoring me.

“And Zython?” she asks, biting her bottom lip.

“He will be there,” August promises, turning to Rave. “You can all come. She will be safe.”

“Yes, she will,” Rave replies, his tone as ice-cold as his eyes. He looks up at me. “Can we finish our dinner?”

“I’ll go,” August states, kissing Astrid on her temple, which causes Rave to growl like an animal. “I would never touch anyone’s mate, Soren. I didn’t know, and I hope you can forgive me.”

And then he disappears.

Something hits me. “When did he get strong enough to zip?”

We all share a look.

What the fuck is going on in Chaos?

Rave lowers me to the floor, and I rush to my little witch, pulling her against me.

She sighs heavily but lets me hold her.

At least she’s not pushing me away.

That is something, right?