Chapter 18

EIGHTEEN

Cassia

With my fists balled up and my heart pounding, I march to Prince Sulien's room. He had to know about this test before we even started this plan. Was this all a joke to him? A game? They're clearly going to discover I'm just a human, and then they'll take my head.

I don't knock. I barge in, ready to start shouting, but I have to stop short when I find him there with Prince Zane. Half-naked. Their glistening bare chests give me pause. They zap every thought from my head, and I'm left gaping at the sight before me.

They're in nothing but towels. Water slides down their bare skin, heading to whatever's concealed beneath the little towels, and my head starts to conjure up the bits of them I'm missing. Even though the bits I can see are more than appetizing.

Fuck. How can men be this good-looking? This muscular?

I realize I'm staring with my mouth hanging open and close it. They're both looking back at me, frozen in shock, twin expressions of surprise on their handsome faces. I know I need to talk before they do, and I destroy any power I have in this situation.

Speak. Fucking speak!

"What have you two been doing?" I ask, my voice dripping with suspicion.

Uh, what? That isn't what I planned to say. Hell . But what had I planned to say? The water droplets cascading down their pecs make me lick my lips. I'm suddenly very thirsty, and it's hard to come up with a clear thought that doesn't involve me on my knees licking these two dry.

I swallow hard.

They glance at each other, eyes wild, then back at me. It'd be comical if I wasn't so damn turned on.

"We were practicing with our swords. And we just got out of the shower," Prince Sulien says awkwardly, tightening his towel and shifting his feet.

My eyes grow wide. I imagine the two of them together, water running down their hair, over their chests, to their hard cocks. I see them rubbing each other with soap, their hands sliding around, then down.

"You showered together?" I whisper, trying to rid myself of the image.

"There were separate showers," Prince Zane adds in a rush, his voice deeper than usual.

Does he know that my dirty thoughts need a long ass shower to get clean?

My brain scrambles for what to say. "And you needed to meet up to talk before you got dressed?"

And do they have these half-naked meetings frequently? Maybe I need to pop in more often …

"What are you doing here?" Prince Sulien asks, ignoring my inquiry, an edge to his words.

His irritated tone helps to snap me from my dirty thoughts. A little.

"I don't know what I'm doing here. Maybe I was just drawn to your room by some kind of magical force," I tell him sarcastically.

Prince Zane smiles seductively. "My room's across the hall… If you ever feel a magical force and want to head there, you're welcome."

My cheeks feel hot, and my eyes dip lower to slide over that little towel of his. "Uh, yeah, maybe." When I force my gaze back up, he's grinning, and I realize he caught me in the act.

"Cassia, what's really going on?" There's Prince Sulien. The man without a heart, and with a terrible plan that might get me killed.

Anger and bitterness rear their ugly heads inside of me once more. "I've got some questions for you, Prince Sulien," I reply, crossing my arms and glaring at him.

Prince Zane's smile fades away, and the energy in the room changes. Is he upset? I can't for the life of me understand why. I'm the one who's pissed.

"I'm free to answer any questions you might have," Prince Zane says, giving a little bow, like he's in a fancy suit instead of a towel.

My anger practically hums through me. "Good to know, but this question is just for Prince Sulien."

His gaze shifts to the other man, and he draws himself up taller. "So, I assume you want me to leave you alone together?"

I stare, confused but trying to keep a grip on my anger. Anger makes sense. Anger is safer. "Yeah, that's usually how private conversations go."

There's a flash of something in his eyes.

"Maybe this can wait for another time. Maybe when I'm dressed," Prince Sulien says, emphasizing each word in an obnoxious way.

Like hell he's getting out of this. "I don't think so."

Prince Zane moves toward me, and then he's standing over, smelling like something cool, refreshing, and absolutely delicious. "I know that you're from the Summer Court, but I want you to see me as a confidant and advisor as well. Anything you need, anytime you need it, I'll be there."

My cheeks heat, even though I'm not sure he knows what I'm picturing when he's saying things like that while barely wearing anything at all. "Good to know. Thanks."

He hesitates, then reaches out and combs the hair back from my face. "And you can pop into my room any time you'd like, just the way you do with Prince Sulien. My door is always open to you."

I shrug. "Thanks, but I can't see myself needing to pop into any of your rooms."

He stares. I stare.

Okay, I need to say something more. "It's not like I come here often."

" Often ?" Prince Zane's eyes darken. "You've been here before? With him, alone?" He lets out an almost imperceptible growl.

Prince Sulien's eyes dart in Prince Zane's direction, but he doesn't say a word. I'm learning he wields silence like a weapon. Or like a very incompetent weapon, like a flaccid penis. I haven't decided which.

The thing is, I don't understand what's going on, and I don't care. I need to talk to Prince Sulien. Alone. And not a nice conversation. One with lots of pointing, shouting, and name calling.

"Whatever this is, can you do it later?" I ask Prince Zane before facing Prince Sulien. "I need to talk to you right now. Alone. "

Prince Sulien and I both peer at Prince Zane expectantly. Prince Zane shifts closer, blocking out my sight, bombarding me with his essence. He suddenly doesn't seem so cold. There's something almost dangerous about having a big, sexy, half-naked man close enough to touch.

I breathe him in. My eyes close, and I lean in closer to him like there's actually a magical force drawing me in, and I feel him lean in too. Close enough that I can feel his breath on my neck.

"I can't wait to make you scream on our wedding night," he whispers into my ear, and his voice practically vibrates through my body.

Jerking back, I try to calm my breathing. What is it with these guys and talking to me like I'm just a piece of meat? Is this what a married life with them would be like? All sex? Feeling like an object?

Yes, I was just ogling him. Yes, these men make me think dirty things. But just once I'd like to hear something sweet or reassuring from them. It's like the only women they've ever talked to are ones that couldn't hear them talking.

These fae princes need to be taken down a peg. Or maybe twenty. If I'm forced to marry them, I don't want my life to just become that of a woman with her legs spread all day for her husbands. If I let stuff like this go, I predict my married life will be absolutely miserable.

So, handle it.

"I'll be screaming?" I clarify angrily. "Screaming with laughter, I think!" I tap at his crotch and his hands reflexively cover the area. I raise my eyebrows and let out a small laugh.

To my surprise, he looks more hurt than angry. "So, this is what you want? Just to speak to Prince Sulien? Alone?"

"You finally get it!" I say, taking a step away from him.

He looks between us, gives a curt nod, and heads for the door. For some reason, my chest aches as I watch him leave, but I'm not sorry for what I said. Aren't all these changes enough? Do these men really think that constantly talking about fucking me before I even know them is going to make me want to be around them?

Because it doesn't.

"Was that necessary?" Prince Sulien asks softly.

"You could have gotten him to leave," I challenge. "Or reminded him that I'm not a piece of meat."

He sighs, shaking his head. "He didn't mean it that way."

"What other way is there to mean it?"

He's silent. I hate when he goes silent. I don't even get the sense he's thinking, just ignoring me in hopes that I'll go away. It's almost as frustrating as the crap the other princes keep pulling.

Deep breaths. We're finally alone. "What's this test the elders have planned for me? And when is it?" I feel out of sorts, like I'm doing everything wrong when I'm just desperately trying to protect myself and my family, and I hate feeling like this.

But I need answers .

He waves me off and walks to his dresser. "Don't worry about that. I took care of it."

I glare at him, unmoving. I want my response to be calm and measured, so he knows I'm serious. But I don't have that in me.

"You took care of it like you took care of the spell that got me four mates?" I take a step closer to him, trying to keep from pounding my feet in anger.

Nothing. I get nothing from him. Again . I'm damn near combustible. My throat is sandpaper, and my body trembles.

" What have you taken care of? Did you take care of letting me know I'd be awakened by movers this morning?" I grab a small wooden statue off the shelf near me and hurl it at him. He's far enough away to see it coming. Or maybe his fae powers make his instincts fast. Either way, he twists, and it misses his shoulder by centimeters.

"Did you get those three assholes to stop chasing me around like they're dogs in heat?"

There's a carved ball on the shelf behind me. I pick it up, then throw it with all my strength. But, of course, he catches it with one hand. Never taking his eyes off me.

I grab a little carved figure. "Did you take care of the spell that linked me to four men?" Then I hurl it.

This time, he lets it hit him. It strikes him in the chest, then bounces onto the floor. Useless. Certainly not big enough or hard enough to do any real damage to a man made of steel, but I'd desperately wanted to hit him.

Yet, I don't feel any better now that I have.

My fists are drawn so tightly that my fingernails hurt my palms. I cross the room, get in his face, and jab him in the chest. "As usual, you've taken care of nothing but yourself. What actual action have you taken? "

I blink, and he's behind me, smelling of citrus and cedar. His presence is so overwhelming that I instantly want to move away from him, but I don't. He breathes into my neck, his hot breath branding my skin. My knees surprise me by buckling.

His strong, bare arms wrap around my waist, pulling me against him. His body is huge compared to my own. Hard against my softness. I'm shocked when he plants a kiss on my neck. And no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to draw in a full breath as he presses one kiss after another up my throat, branding me with each touch.

"I take action when it's necessary," he whispers in my ear, his breath hot against my skin.

He nibbles my earlobe, sending goosebumps dancing on my skin. Then, he turns me to face him in one fluid movement. His hand digs into the hair at my nape, and he holds me as he devours me in a kiss.

He's not soft or gentle. His lips move with fervor on mine, and the urgency of his tongue to get to mine stuns me into opening my lips and letting him have his way. One of his hands moves to my ass and he grips it, hard, dragging me against him.

His erection is an incredible surprise. Thick and long, pressing against my belly. Announcing that this kiss is affecting him just as much as it's affecting me.

I don't know what I'm doing when I reach between us and grab ahold of his cock through his towel, but his groan against my lips encourages me as I stroke him up and down, loving it when he curses and kisses me harder. His mouth slants over mine, his tongue slides up and down my own, and his hand in my hair angles me in whatever direction he wants.

And I like it .

These princes know how to kiss. Like no man I've been with before. And it makes me wonder, what else are these fae better at? The temptation to untie his towel builds inside of me, and I slip between the folds of fabric and grab hold with my hands.

His lips break from mine. "Fuck, Cassia!"

I stroke him harder, gripping him as our gazes hold. The air between us sizzles with tension. The need to have this man inside of me is overwhelming.

"This. Means. Something," he says, his words grinding out in tune with my pumps.

I nod and kiss him again, but he pulls back.

"Cassia, you're mine. Really. Mine."

Damn it to hell. What is it with these fae men?

"Let's just fuck and not worry about it," I pant.

He shakes his head. "You have to stop. I can't. I don't have the strength. I'm going to–"

"Come?" I whisper.

He shakes his head. "Claim you."

Damn it. I don't want to think. I just want to act. "No. Fuck. Just fuck."

When he releases me, pushing my hand away, we're both panting and disheveled. I smooth my clothing out, and he readjusts his tented towel. Both of us are looking at the other, and I have no idea what the fuck to do now. He's the only prince things should have been simple with, and now, things are even more complicated.

I don't even know what this means.

"What is it with you fae wanting to claim me like some prize?" I ask, trying to keep from sounding breathless. And failing.

His dark eyes sweep to me. "Have you done this with the others?" His words border on an accusation .

What do I say? Do I lie? Fuck it. "You arranged this so these men are sharing me. You can't be surprised when that's what they do."

His hands ball into fists, and a shiver rolls down my spine at the pure fury in his gaze. But he says nothing. Not a word. Just glares around the room like he wants to fuck the whole place up.

I take several steps back, trying to escape his scent, trying to escape his overwhelming presence. Getting too close to these men affects my sensibilities in a way I don't understand. It must be their fae magic, because never before has a man made me lose all logic, all sense of myself, the way these men do.

What did I come in here for? Right, the test. The fact that soon everyone will know I'm only human, the princes will know I lied to them, my family will lose everything, and I'll lose my head. That's what's important. Not the sexy man in front of me.

"Tell me your plan. How are you going to protect me from this test?"

He runs his hand through his hair, looking away from me. "I can't say."

"Why?" I'm mad again now.

He doesn't answer, just keeps his gaze fixed on a wall near me.

Does he know how much I hate his silence? "I really thought I could trust you. I thought you'd do right by me. But all you've done over the past twenty-four hours is let me down. I don't trust you anymore, so I have no choice but to take care of this myself."

His gaze finds me again. "Don't do anything stupid, just–"

"You've already done something stupid. I'm just going to try to find some way out of this mess you've created." I turn and head for the door, hoping against hope that he'll stop me. That he'll tell me his plan and restore my faith in him.

But he says nothing… which tells me everything I need to know.