Chapter 15

FIFTEEN

Forrest

I sit in Cassia's room for a full minute after she leaves before I teleport back to my room at the castle, feeling frustrated and confused as hell. What the fuck did I do wrong? I keep running through everything that happened, and feel like I should be happy, but I'm not. We connected. She showed that she was attracted to me. More than showed it. If I hadn't had some primal fucked up need to have her admit my claim to her, I'd probably be buried inside her right now.

She. Wanted. Me. Despite her painful words, she showed me that she felt the mate connection between us, and it was a moment of triumph. Yet the look she gave me when she walked away was one of fury and disgust.

Why? "Damnit!"

I punch my fist into the bed as a growl escapes my lips. Women are confusing. Women, I never understand. They're perfectly happy to dangle off my arm and soak up the power given to them as my woman, or fuck me, but their presence has always left me feeling empty and confused. I never seem to say or do the right things. I can sense they don't want to be around me, no matter that I'm the Prince to the Fall Fae, but I'm clueless as to why.

They're so different from men. Men respect good hunters and good fighters. That's all that matters to them.

And yet, I thought it would be easier with my mate. I thought she would understand me. Some ridiculous picture in my mind painted a story of us living in peace and harmony together. Sharing laughter. Sharing stories. But if I can't pull my big foot out of my mouth, none of that will happen.

A terrible thought occurs to me. What if she's never happy with me? What if I love her and cherish her, and she only wants the other men? It feels like I've swallowed a rock.

Of course, she would want them. They're smooth, always saying the right things. Women fall all over Sulien because he's "strong and silent." They laugh at Cobar and drink up his compliments. They fall for Zane's intelligent conversations and elegant words.

What do I have to offer a mate? Nothing. Fucking nothing. My title seems to be the only thing, but my Cassia will get that from the other men.

I feel sick.

For a minute, I don't know what to do. From the moment she became my mate, all I cared about was her. She needs to see and believe that I'll be the husband she needs if I have any hope of capturing her heart. So what can I do right now that would show her my love and devotion, but give her space while she deals with whatever the hell upset her?

And it hits me! Her father and grandmother should've arrived by now at the castle. If she loves them, then I do too. They're now my responsibility, and I'll care for them each and every day moving forward. If she sees that, maybe she'll realize I'm more than my fumbling words and crass behavior.

She'll see a reason to love me too.

I leave my room and head down the hallway towards the stairs, planning to check on them. But in an instant, Zane teleports just ahead of me. He leans against a wall, his typical cold expression carved into his pale face. And I know by the way he looks at me that he's here waiting for me.

"Leaving so soon?" Zane inquires coldly.

"Fuck no. I have a mate. I'm not going anywhere." This asshole. He can't just let me walk past him. He always has something to say.

He gives me a look that's almost sympathetic. "I know it's hard for you to be out of your element. It's different, more civilized, here in the Summer Court. No one around wearing animal pelts and bone jewelry. There aren't any wild hunts or drunken parties with bonfires. It's all finery and delicate things."

I can't tell if he's trying to insult me or if that's how he really sees my people. Either way, it is insulting. My people are wild, they do enjoy the hunt, drinking, and being free, but we also have civilized meals and palaces that rival the Summer Court's. Which he knows, because he's spent many months in the Fall Court.

Irritated, I cross my arms and stare back at him. "We take pride in our savagery. It helps us survive. It helps us win wars. And it's better than being whatever the fuck you are."

"I am the beloved prince of the Winter court." He gives a dramatic royal bow. I don't laugh, but I want to. He's ridiculous.

But with Zane, I can never tell if he's joking. I just don't get the man. I don't get any of the fae princes. Every word out of their mouths tends to piss me off.

"Beloved my ass."

He studies me. "Far more beloved than you, am I correct?"

"Fuck you." I pass him, planning on getting as far from him as I can.

"Is it hard always being a jerk? Is it hard to always treat everyone around you like they don't matter?"

I stop walking, but I don't turn around. While punching him square in the jaw would be wholly satisfying, I have to admit he's right. I've made no effort over the years to even get to know the other princes, and now we're linked together forever. The realization is kind of miserable.

Just like with Cassia, something has to be done. I have to change in some way. Show my value.

"I haven't tried to bond with you—with any of the princes," I confess.

I'm unsure if I should go down the stairs or try having a deeper conversation with him. Truthfully, I just want to leave. I want to just continue on with my day and not interact with anyone at all. But that's how I always handle things, which has resulted in a pissed-off mate and the three men I'm bonded with hating me. So, maybe it's time for something else.

I take a deep breath. "But none of you like me for some reason, so I haven't bothered." The truth hurts to say aloud. Vulnerability doesn't suit me.

"It's not that," Zane begins slowly, as if carefully selecting his words. "You act like an arrogant asshole. Like you want to be anywhere but around us. And you never let down your guard, never , not even after all this time. So how are we supposed to know you, or like you, if you don't give us a chance?"

"You're telling me Sulien lets his guard down?" I ask, turning in disbelief.

Zane tilts his head. "He does, with people he trusts."

In other words: not me.

"Who do you trust, Forrest?" He stares, and I say nothing. "Your father? Your mother? Your friends?"

I draw myself up taller. "There are few people I trust less than my parents."

"You and me both," he says, almost as if he's surprised.

Interesting. "And I wouldn't say I have friends, in the technical sense."

"But you could, right?" He lifts a brow. "If you tried. With us. I mean, we're going to be living together, sharing a woman together, and building a family together… So shouldn't we try to be friends?"

I've got a philosopher on my hands, but damn, he's right again. Friendship isn't something the Fall Court's known for. We don't have balls or parties with glitter and fucking pretty drinks. There's no hanging out with buddies. We do two things well: hunting and fighting. We survive.

I'm surprised with everything I've heard about the Winter Court that Zane doesn't understand that about me. They work hard to survive too. Actually, it's their humans who do the hard work. I think back to what Cassia said earlier about surviving and never having time to dream. Maybe Zane doesn't understand my position as much as I might have thought.

I crack my neck, square off, then remember that we're talking and not fighting. "Look, I've been an arrogant asshole. It's a part of who I am, but it's something I'm working on. Regardless, you're right. We're going to be sharing a stubborn mate, who I think hates all of us, so we can't keep things the way they are."

Zane nods thoughtfully.

"We can start over and be a united front," I continue, believing the words more with each one that's spoken. "We can't hate each other and expect our mate to find a way to love us."

The four courts have always tolerated one another. Never before have we had to work together on a deep enough level to share a mate. That's why the Celestial Equilibrium lay uninhabited.

Cassia's going to change all of that for us. Because of her, we have to do more than tolerate each other, or we'll never have a happy wife or a happy family. Maybe she's what we need to bring our kingdom together. The last time all four fae princes shared a mate, war broke out. Maybe this time, peace will reign.

Zane sighs. "I'm willing to give, I think." He doesn't seem confident, but it's something.

I hesitate, then blurt out, "I saw her today."

The information feels important, like something that might help us bond. If I'm going to try to trust these men, I might as well start today. No matter how uncomfortable the whole thing makes me.

But Zane simply raises his eyebrows and waits for me to continue.

Okay, I can open up. I can share. This is normal and not weird as fuck at all. "The castle sent fae servants to move her family out of their home and into the castle. After they left and she was alone, I appeared and went into her house." After watching her for a bit, so I could arrange a moment for us to talk alone, but I don't say that.

Zane listens intently, but I swear I see jealousy flicker in his eyes.

"Her home was… tiny, old, and rundown. Not at all the kind of place I imagined for our beautiful mate."

Truth be told, it bothered me, but not as much as her comments about not having enough to eat. My people often preferred to sleep under the stars rather than beneath a roof, but no one went hungry. No one. Each person played a role in our society, in our hunting and our feasting, so everyone ate. The fact that she knew hunger made me want to beat the shit out of Sulien and the rest of his dickhead Summer Fae.

"And what happened? How… was she? Was she anymore open to the idea of marrying the four of us?" Zane sounds desperately curious, which is surprising. The man seldom shows any emotions at all.

"She told me flat out that she doesn't want this. That she doesn't want us." It's somehow even more depressing to say the words out loud.

Zane sighs and nods, rubbing the back of his neck. "I got that sense too."

I hesitate, then push on. "What do you think will finally win her over?"

He takes so long to answer that I almost think he won't. "You're right about us needing to work together. We can be charming as hell, individually, but it doesn't seem to be enough with Cassia. We need the full power of the four of us to show her a life that she'll enjoy. We need her to see what all the other fae women see, which will require teamwork."

"Teamwork. I like that. It's better than no plan."

He nods. "And I know Cobar and Sulien will be on board. Sulien's been sulking in his room all morning over her, and Cobar's been ordering new clothes in hopes of impressing her, along with having jewelry made to gift to her. I don't think he can get his pants any tighter, but by the gods, he's trying. Now we need to combine our efforts and win her over."

I grin, feeling better. Working as a team might just get her to love us and build great relationships all around. Hell, I've always wanted a wife. But just as much, I've always wanted real friends.

This might be the beginning of the happier life I've always wanted. The one where I feel safe. Where my nights aren't plagued with nightmares. Where someone loves and cares about me.

At least, I hope.