Claiming: A Reverse Harem Series (To Tame a Shifter Book 2) Page 9

  “The fish, Rime. Remember the fish.” Chaos takes another big bite and I don’t know why but all of them set me on edge. I think they do it on purpose. Who forgets a fish this fucking much?

  A shaking breath enters my lungs, but it feels like it isn’t enough. As if he can sense my emotions, Chaos speaks in a gentler tone.

  “The fifth floor is locked; did you guys know that?”

  I turn toward him, sitting up in my chair and glancing over at the kitchen door on the far side of the room before checking the door on the other side. No one else is in here.

  It’s just us.

  “How do you know?” I study Chaos like it’s the first time I’m really seeing him.

  “The door across from yours, right next to Linden’s. It made me curious.”

  “He’s always curious. Other than his big mouth, it’s what always gets him in trouble.” Kain eyes shine with humor but it only makes Chaos glare over at this friend.

  “So, you see a private door in the King’s castle and you just open it?”

  “Well, not at first. It was locked.” He winks at me and shoves the rest of his heart attack sandwich in his mouth. I roll my eyes just before he speaks again. “I had to break the handle to get it to budge.”

  “You always were the subtle type.” Rime passes his friend a look and Chaos just nods in agreement.

  I wish I could tell him how ridiculous he is over this.

  But I really want to know.

  “What’s in this mysterious room?” My knee brushes his as I turn to give him my full attention.

  “Everything.” He draws out the word and it seems to pique my interest even more. “At first I thought it was just storage but it’s like … infused artifacts.”

  Infused artifacts.

  “Like magic?”

  “Yeah like magic.”

  “Mage magic—powerful magic in general—is outlawed.” Sinister gives Chaos a skeptical look but he seems to believe him.

  “What would the Kingdom of Minden be hiding on the highest level of their castle?” Kain looks to Rime. It’s a quick glance that makes up their minds. Both of them stand at the same time.

  I guess we’re about to find out.

  The fifth floor is more of an attic space than anything else. Rafters hang over head, allowing thick cobwebs to veil the white sunlight spilling in through the small oval window. With a swipe of his hand, Rime pulls away a curtain of clinging webs.

  The smell of cedar is all around us. There’s a feeling here that accompanies that smell. It’s a familiar and knowing feeling that raises the hair along my arm until I’m staring at the clutter as if the antiques and artifacts are speaking to me vocally. In the shadows sits desks of brass and bronze metals. The lamps and urns no longer gleam with the shine of new. It’s a room of forgotten luxury but it’s also a room of something else. White cloths cover tables, chairs, miscellaneous possessions.

  But that feeling is still pulling at my nerves. They scurry through me until it’s all I feel.

  “Something’s here.” Sinister takes an intentional step forward, passing the other three men to stand at the center of the room.

  “You feel it?” I take a step closer as well but Chaos’ palm skims against my wrist. His hand lingers against my skin just lightly. He doesn’t speak. He doesn’t stop me. But I can sense his hesitancy.

  “It feels …” Sinister looks back at me with concern. The look in his eyes is darkened by the shadows, the intensity makes him look every bit the demon that I know he is. “It feels like you.”

  Tension lines the solid muscles of Chaos’ arm and that gentle touch settles a little more firmly against my wrist. Kain passes a quiet look to Rime. Palpable strain falls heavily across the room. It sinks into me. It claws its way into my lungs.

  A long shrieking sound rips through the room and magic fires to life within my fingertips. White scales crawl up Rimes arms in an instant, but the transformation is halted the moment he turns to the source of the sound.

  A black bird ruffles its feathers as it settles down on the back of an old chair. Delicate wings are a stark contrast against the dust.

  “A spying sparrow.” The breathless words slip across my lips and I can’t seem to look away from the creature’s glossy white eyes.

  “What?” Chaos shifts, putting his arm more in front of me as if he’ll protect me from the little bird staring up at us.

  “It’s a spying sparrow.” I think of all the times my mother told me about the rarest sparrows in all the land. I never thought I’d ever see one. They’re just as enchanting as she said. “Mages used to love the companions of sparrows. They’d spoil them and enchant them to keep a look out for them. To protect themselves.” Chaos’ fingers drift down my palm and I capture his hand in mine the moment I’m able to. “They’re gone now. The birds were hunted when mage magic became outlawed. The King said they would curse him.” My lips part and it’s hard for me to speak again as I tell these men the fate of the little animal before me. “He destroyed them.”

  That squawking caw tears through the bird’s sharp beak. Dust fumes up near the sparrow as it shifts around, its wings lifting slightly with every move it makes.

  “What the hell is it doing up here?” Kain comes closer and the sparrow backs away with caution in its watchful eyes.

  My lips part to answer but the bird soars away, up toward the ceiling to settle down onto the dry herbs that are tied neatly on a shelf. The crisp material appears to have been made with care at one time, probably decades ago. The animal shuffles until it pushes an object off. It clatters to the ground, rolling against the boards until it comes to a stop against my foot.

  The small amount of light in the room attempts to beam off the cut edges. It’s a mixture of smooth and rough surfaces as I pick it up.

  “Is that a crystal?” Chaos’ arm skims against mine as he takes a closer look from over my shoulder.

  I nod but I can’t seem think clearly.

  These could all be things King Barren confiscated.

  … or.

  Her picture hangs at the center of the far wall, taking up every inch of space ahead of me. Long blonde hair, a shining crown, and familiar green eyes look back at me.

  “She was a mage.” The pure crystal feels small in my hand, dusty and forgotten.

  The caw that sounds through the room crawls down my spine like a warning bell.

  “She was my mother.” His quiet voice is a steady sound as if he’s said that line a thousand times.

  My feet shift, and I look back at those familiar and honest green eyes.

  Linden keeps his gaze held on me, never once looking at the flustering sparrow, or the healing crystal in my palm or even the looming portrait of his mother.

  I suddenly know exactly why Linden’s been drawn to me since the moment we met.

  He can feel my mage magic.

  But does he realize it?

  Fifteen

  The Solstice Queen

  It takes some time but eventually I’m able to get the four brooding men out of the room—the attic. I think it’s more of an attic space, filled floor to ceiling with dusty forgotten memories. Chaos peers back at the Prince once more before I close the door behind them.

  “I could have sworn I locked this room.” Linden’s attention lingers on the broken knob as I release the handle.

  “I’m sorry we came up here.” Guilt presses into my chest as I realize this man has been nothing but nice to me. Even right now, he’s not even mad. It’s like that booming anger that his father always has doesn’t exist in him. But he also isn’t speaking right now either.

  Why isn’t he speaking?

  “She was beautiful, Linden.” We both look up at the looming portrait of the Solstice Queen. Long hair curls against the curve of her delicate features. A dress of deep blue hugs her frame and a fine layer of dust blankets her image.

  She was a mage all this time when I thought I was alone here. They wiped away her history so damn
easily. I feel fragile knowing they did that to her. In a way, they did it to me too. It confuses me to wonder what my life would be like if mage magic wasn’t forbidden.

  I study her image a moment longer.

  I’ve heard stories of the Queen who saved Minden, but she died when I was just a girl. I’ve never seen her despite being told of her beauty.

  She looks like him. Innocent and pure. Kind.

  “My father hated her.” His voice is even when it crawls through the room. It isn’t filled with disdain or anger. It’s entirely factual.

  She’s so beautiful and she brought hope and prosperity to Minden when the country was failing.

  How can anyone hate something so pure looking?

  “I think I’m lucky not to remember her. To remember them together.” Without thought he bends and scoops out a small handful of bird seed. The sparrow squawks an approving sound as he brings the food over. It pecks the seeds from the Prince’s hands and I can’t help but wonder how often Linden comes up here.

  He has to know. He has to.

  “What happened to the Solstice Queen?”

  His back is to me as he continues to give the bird all his attention. The sound of his voice is flat as the walls soaks up our voices.

  “Some people say she died of a mysterious sickness. Some say she went back to where she came from.” He dusts off his hands and slowly he turns to face me. He looks at me like he’s trying to see what I know. While I gaze at him with a mirroring look.

  “What do you think happened to her?” I ask cautiously.

  A draft of cold air crawls along my skin, making the fine hairs stand on end as haunting words fall from his mouth.

  “I think he killed her.”

  Stabbing tension pierces my chest as we sit for dinner in the hall as we did the night before. Except tonight is much, much different.

  “I’m gone on business and you let half the kingdom inside while I’m away, Linden?” King Barren’s voice booms over the table, raining down on me as I sit with a steely posture. Marg steps quietly forward, just long enough for her fingers to brush against the Prince’s shoulder and for her to whisper her calming voice into his ear. He nods, his palm brushing against her knuckles in a reassuring way. She steps back as quickly as she came but the King holds his narrowed gaze on the petit woman. The King looks like he’d murder her where she stands simply for speaking.

  Linden’s ominous words still echo through my thoughts.

  He killed her. He killed her. He killed her.

  When I heard the King’s voice, I shoved Sinister away in his room. Not that it took much convincing. The demon doesn’t require any food. Goddess knows he doesn’t require the condescending small talk the King is currently handing out.

  I’m just terrified what Linden said is true. If the King can kill a powerful mage like the Solstice Queen, what would he do to a demon living in his house?

  What would he do to me?

  An endless loop of what ifs makes fear claw all through me. But it causes anger to sting within me as well. I haven’t taken a single bite of the food on my plate and I can barely hear the words that Kain and the King are saying to one another. All I hear is the pounding of my heart in my ears as I glare at the side of King Barren’s round face.

  This confusing mixture of fear and anger churns quietly inside me.

  Until I lock eyes with the carefree man across from me. Chaos’ taunting gaze locks on mine, making me shift slightly just from the serious look in his eyes.

  What’s bothering you, Low?

  His rumbling tone shivers through my mind. It distracts and pushes out all other thoughts. I wonder how deep into my mind he goes. I pause for a moment to find him still studying me. Maybe I have to force the words into his thoughts.

  You don’t want to know the mess that’s inside my mind, K.

  He waits for my reply. I try again. Nothing happens. It frustrates me more that I can’t do this one thing. We’re… mates. I should be able to talk to him. What if I’ve fucked our bond up too?

  You can talk to me if you’re lonely.

  A huff of a sigh slips from my lungs and I try it again.

  If I were lonely, there are so many other things I’d do to you.

  Nothing. Dammit!

  I bite my lip and try to force the words through whatever bond it is that we have. I try to think of something that I know he’d respond to. Something to antagonize him.

  Despite your stature, Kain’s is bigger.

  I yell the words in my head, scrunching my brow as if it’ll help.

  Kain pauses his endless speech as Linden looks my way. The room quiets as everyone takes a short moment to look at me with my pursed my lips and wrinkled nose just to get a simple sentence to the man across from me.

  My shoulders lower, my features smoothing as I pass them all a sweet smile.

  Like a lot bigger. Like destroy-my-uterus-please big.

  I look up at Chaos, the testing words still screaming through my thoughts.

  Nothing. I get nothing.

  His eyes narrow on me.

  You can’t do it, can you, Low?

  His lips tilt with a smirk that pisses me off in an instant.

  I can talk to you as much as I like and there’s nothing you can do about it. He pauses, his dark lashes fluttering as he looks up at me coyly. Shyly. Innocently. The dragon taint. If we were alone, I could show you how to do it. If we were alone…

  His tone lowers, and a tingling feeling washes over me as his words become slower, more promising and more lustful.

  If we were alone I’d push that proper dress right off your body. I’d strip you down slowly. Take my time trailing my hands over every curve, every sensitive inch, every delicious part of you.

  His tongue sweeps over his lower lip and his eyes hold on me and me alone. The sturdy chair creaks as I shift once more. My thighs rub together against the velvet cushion, but it doesn’t help the building energy in my core.

  I’d take you hard right here on this table. I’d bury every inch in your sweet fucking pussy until you—

  “Stop!” My voice trembles just as my sex clenches around nothing.

  Silence falls. Once more everyone looks at my flushed face, heaving chest, and shaking hands.

  Chaos’ teeth sink into his lower lip as he bites back a pleased smile. Rime tilts his head just slightly. He gives Chaos a look but keeps his features impassive as always.

  “Are you alright, Arlow?” Linden’s voice is sweet and gentle and so damn oblivious.

  What kind of tormenting amusement does Chaos get out of seeing me flustered in front of the Prince. For the second time now.

  “I’m fine, I’m sorry.” I take a long drink of water. It doesn’t cool me down. The smile that shoves across my face is tense. The King’s glare only makes me more uncomfortable.

  “As I was saying,” King Barren says in a clipped tone.

  All that tingling euphoric energy slips away the moment the King speaks. I pass a glower of my own to King Cock Block.

  Unless you’d rather watch. My attention pulls back to Chaos and his confusing words. Would you rather watch me push my hand down the lines of Rime’s stomach? I’d grip his shaft loosely, taking my time skimming up his hard cock before pushing all the way back down. I’d—

  My lips part with a breath but I refuse to let him tease me.

  From beneath the table my fingers tic, just the smallest of movements. Twirling magic drifts from my fingertips and I know the moment it hits its target.

  His whispering words halt in my mind. A smile curves my lips as he closes his eyes slowly. To anyone else, he might look in pain. Maybe a migraine has just hit. Maybe he remembered something important he should have done today.

  Or maybe a small dose of magic is pulsing through his cock.

  The world may never know.

  Low, don’t do that.

  I smile openly at his plea just as I twist my wrist and send another sexy spell his way.

&nb
sp; His jaw clenches as a quiet groan shakes through his chest. He clears his throat after and Rime cocks a brow at his friend. The judgmental glance goes unnoticed.

  Low, please—

  The magic barely leaves my fingertips when he stands tersely. Behind him, the chair falls with a heavy thud and everyone watches as he starts to abruptly walk away. His shoulders are stiff as he exits the open door.

  “And just where are you going?” King Barren bellows after him.

  “I just need some air. I need space. I need—I need to go for a fucking walk.” He doesn’t look back at the room as he stalks down the hall, his words echoing around before quieting.

  I’m still smirking in triumph when Kain levels me with a stoic stare. I suddenly find the table quieted just as it should be. Just as all my worry and anxiety wanted it to be. Yeah, they’re quiet because they’re staring after the rude asshole who just dismissed himself.

  But it’s some peace and quiet all the same.

  Sixteen

  Ice Myths

  The rest of the long evening isn’t nearly as enjoyable. Not that it stood much of a chance against Chaos’ dirty mouth. The chatter resumes after only a few minutes. The numb and pointless small talk carries on.

  And I’m stuck here waiting for it to end. For at least one more day.

  The conversations of politics and pleasantries go on for so long the staff lights the timber in the fireplace before leaving for the day. The massive well of flames casts golden hues over the pale yellow walls. It’s enough to light the room entirely. Candlelight flickers along the darker corners of the space. Marg makes sure that every nook and cranny is lit up. She stays when everyone else has gone home.

  The candle light is romantic. Or eerie. I can’t decide. The dozens of them cast warm colors over every surface of the room. There’s no room for hiding within the walls of this castle.