Chapter 1

ONE

Cassia

Laying on Prince Sulien's enormous four-poster bed feels like laying on a bed of feathers. I've made this bed a hundred times before, hating it with every fluff of the pillows, but laying on it is a different story. I've never felt luxury like this before, and the sensation of the soft material against my skin as I move my arms and legs sends goosebumps rising on my skin. Closing my eyes, I lean back and nestle into the pillows.

I could stay here forever.

A big, warm hand slides up my calf, then my thigh, and pauses. I arch, feeling desperate, feeling restless… like there's lightning trapped under my skin, and I'll burst if I don't release it. And then that hand slides up under my gown and touches me, stroking me gently in a way that makes it hard to draw in breath.

Shivering, I moan loudly, and Prince Sulien's low growl reverberates through the air. He strokes me with exquisite movements, sliding his fingers gently against my folds, growing my arousal with each stroke. Sometimes his pressure is light. Other times it's harder, and his calloused fingers feel so incredible that it's hard to keep from moaning out loud over and over.

"How does that feel?" he whispers, his voice husky.

I arch a little more as he skims my clit. "Fucking amazing."

He chuckles, and the sound is low and sexy. "You're so beautiful, and you feel so damn good. So soft. So incredible. I can't wait to have you."

I twist my hands into the bed sheets as his thumb finds my clit and starts to work it. My breath comes in and out so fast my head gets light. "This is better than my dreams."

"Your dreams? You've dreamed of us together?"

In any other position, I might be embarrassed, but I can't be when he's touching me like this. "Yes."

He's silent for a minute, then whispers, "You've been in far too many of my dreams, too." His hand pulls away, and I almost demand he come back when he climbs on top of me. His body is huge compared to my own. Huge and hard, just like I'm sure his cock is.

Unable to help myself, I wrap my arms around his neck, my eyes opening as I do. Damn, this man is beautiful. His long, dark hair is left loose around his shoulders, framing his face, and those impossibly-colored amber eyes of his hold me under his spell. I trail one hand back across his face, my palm cradling his cheek for a moment before combing back his hair, and he leans into my touch, nuzzling against me in a way that makes the harsh man seem gentler.

"How is it that you do this to me?" he asks, and he sounds genuinely surprised. "How have you put me under your spell?"

I smile, his words warming me. "I'm told I have a magical pussy."

His brows rise. " Magical pussy?"

I nod, not having a clue where I'm going with this. "No man can resist it."

"They better, or they'll find their end at the edge of my sword," he growls, his eyes flashing with rage.

I shiver. Prince Sulien jealous is a very sexy sight. "Maybe I'll find my end at the edge of your sword."

His anger melts away and a seductive grin plays across his lips. It has my pulse racing before he lowers himself, putting his full weight on top of me. His erection presses between my thighs, and it's hard to breathe. Just the thought that I turn him on like this, this silent, brooding man, makes everything inside of me feel like it's on fire.

"Maybe I should test out this magic pussy of yours, then?"

Every muscle in my body is tense as he slowly runs his tongue from my collarbone up to my neck. I arch my back in response, and my body hums for more. He takes the opportunity to move his hand down to my ass, grabbing a handful of it and groaning as his face hovers over mine. I look up into his auburn eyes and his gaze is filled with lust.

Moving my hand back to tangle into the nape of his long, black hair, I pull him down into a kiss. It starts off soft and grows rougher with each second that passes until his tongue slides into my mouth. I meet his tongue with my own, tearing a groan from his lips, and the sound makes me feel frantic .

Breaking our kiss, panting hard, I hold his gaze as I slide my hand down his body between us. His eyes widen in disbelief when I unbutton his pants and slide my hand inside. To my surprise, not only is he hard, but he's slick with pre-cum.

When I stroke him from root to tip, he bucks, groaning my name. His eyes close and his jaw tightens as I continue stroking him. I start off slow, squeezing a little tighter as I near the tip each time. I glory in the feel of my hand around him, the knowledge that I'm the one touching him like this. My Summer Prince.

"If you're enjoying that, just wait for me."

My eyes fly open, and I find Prince Cobar standing beside the bed, watching us. His pants are tented with his arousal. When the hell did he get here? Pulling my hand out of Prince Sulien's pants, I attempt to cover myself up, then realize my thin dress still covers me, yet I feel so vulnerable.

"What are you doing here?" I gasp, my heart hammering for completely different reasons.

To my surprise, Prince Sulien smiles. "I know this is strange, but give us a chance. Trust us."

I don't know what to say as I look between the two men. Prince Sulien with his dark hair and strange eyes, and the Spring Prince beside us, with his golden ringlets and beautiful face. Both men are handsome. Both men are tempting. I'd have to be insane to turn them away, wouldn't I?

"Trust us," Prince Cobar tells me, his expression sincere. "We'll stop anything if you don't like it."

Not knowing what else to do, I nod. I've always been a risk taker. Why not with something like this? Whatever happens, I have a feeling I'll never forget the experience, that's for damn sure.

Prince Cobar lies down on the bed beside us and, gripping my chin between his fingers, turns my head toward him. "You've kissed one prince, time to compare."

His soft lips are suddenly on mine, but before a protest comes to my mind, I'm melting into his kiss. It's so different from Prince Sulien's. His lips are fuller, softer, less demanding. It's more like he's tasting me. Testing me. And I don't mind it one bit.

I feel Prince Sulien reach between us and feel the whisper of a chill on my thighs before he's there. Touching me again. His thumb just barely brushing my entrance. Teasing me in a new and frustrating way before he parts me and begins to stroke my core.

A shudder rolls through my body. Two is definitely better than one.

"My turn," another familiar voice calls out.

I shiver at the sound of Prince Frost's voice. At the idea of the Winter Prince catching us like this, I break from Prince Cobar's kiss, breathing hard, and look up into the pale eyes of Prince Frost. Only, I've never seen his gaze heated this way before.

Without a word, he lies down on the bed beside me, and then his lips are on mine. His cold, incredible lips. I feel goosebumps rise across my skin as I sink into the feeling of this handsome man, as I think about what it would be like to feel these chilled lips on other parts of my body.

Someone is undoing the buttons at the top of my gown. Prince Cobar. Prince Sulien is occupied with making me wet and ready, stroking me in a way that tells me he's practiced this far too much. When the cool air touches my breasts, Prince Cobar's mouth closes around one nipple while his fingers pluck the other.

I'm overwhelmed, bucking my hips, wanting more while wondering if I could even handle more.

"Is there room for me?"

My lips break from Prince Frost's, and I see Prince Forrest standing in front of us. He's shirtless. His red hair streams down his back. An aroused, almost jealous, look is on his face.

I try to close my legs against his gaze, but Prince Sulien is there, keeping me spread. When Prince Forrest's gaze moves from my pussy up to my exposed breasts, his gaze goes wild, and it's suddenly hard to breathe as I think about the wild Fall Fae slamming into my body.

"I can make good use of that pretty mouth," he growls, reaching for his pants.

"Maybe this is too much. Too fast," I whisper, heart hammering.

Prince Frost turns a glare to Prince Forrest. "We agreed we'd take this slowly. For everyone's sake."

He stands there for a minute, then nods, his expression gentling. Going to the side of the bed where Prince Cobar is focusing on my breasts, he kneels down beside me, as close as he can with the other men all around me. "Sorry, got a little jealous there. Didn't want to be forgotten."

"How could I forget you?" The words my lips before I can stop them.

He smiles, a real, genuine smile, then leans down and kisses me. And, it's strange. Even his lips are rougher. Harder. More demanding.

Just like the man himself.

And yet, I suddenly don't mind it. I start to relax again as Prince Frost takes one breast, Prince Cobar takes the other, and Prince Sulien strokes me slowly, building my arousal in a way I've never felt before. It's like the best orgasm of my life was a five, but I'm already at a six, and I haven't even climaxed. I know this is going somewhere else, somewhere good, but where?

"I really want to taste you," Prince Sulien whispers near my thighs. "Can I taste you, my sweet bride?"

I'm about to answer when everything changes in a way that's frightening and disorienting. I can't feel my men touching me. Sound fades away, and everything grows dimmer. I reach for my men, but my hands feel nothing. The princes disappear into the darkness along with the fluffy bed and my sense of safety.

Something is wrong. Everything in my body hurts.

I groan and open my eyes. It's dark and smelly… not at all a fluffy bed with hot fae princes. My eyes dart around as I try to figure out where I am, and for a minute, my heart races. For some reason, I have trouble placing everything.

Where the hell am I?

Then, I remember. Fuck. Everything comes rushing back to me. I'm still bumping up and down along the road as a prisoner in a goddamn cart. Heading east. Always east, away from the Summer Court and toward the rising sun.

I shake my head. What the hell is wrong with me? I've been kidnapped. I'm bouncing around in the back of an ironclad cart, an illegal cart made of iron, going who the hell knows where, but I'm primed and ready to fantasize about the fae princes I'm supposed to marry.

This is crazy. I don't know how many days it's been, but I'm over this shit… both the strange dreams and my ki dnapping. All I can take comfort in is knowing we haven't traveled long enough to be out of the Summer Court yet , even if me being transported in a cart of iron also means that I've been kidnapped by enemies of the fae.

And the fae have few people foolish enough to count them as enemies or to create objects made from forbidden iron. Which makes sense. Anyone found to be an enemy of the fae is tossed out of our lands and left to the iron demons.

A punishment that's ultimately a death sentence.

Idiots.

"Aren't you four so big and bad? Stealing a lone woman off the street!" I thrash around angrily the best I can. Unfortunately, my wrists are bound with heavy iron cuffs with a chain between them. My legs have nearly the same setup, but they also have enough give on the chains to allow me to shift around freely. It's irritating, but at least I can move around.

For days I've shouted and taunted the people who took me, partially because I want them to release me so that I have a chance to run, and partially because I keep hoping someone on the road will hear me. It's just about the only thing I can do in my current situation, so I keep trying, even though my shouting has only resulted in my throat hurting.

But like hell am I going to give up. If that's what they're hoping for, I'm going to prove them wrong!

I throw myself around and kick at the cart's walls, cringing in pain when my feet hit the iron bars encasing me. There's no way I can escape. It's something I'd learned on day one, but apparently, my temper works better than my brain .

"Fucking hell! Let me out of here!"

Nothing. I doubt they even stir when I yell. Hell, I bet they're giggling to each other and hiding behind their skirts like the pricks they are. Yet, if I have any chance at escape, it's going to be with this plan. That I know for sure.

"Hello! Can you kidnappers hear me? Let me go, you slimy assholes!"

Only the sound of wheels hitting yet another hole in the dirt road responds to me. It's a viscous hole, and my whole body rises and thuds back down, awakening even more pains in my miserable body.

"You tiny-dicked bastards!" I curse them, trying to ignore the very real desire to cry, hiding behind all my bravado.

"I don't have a dick," the one female captor says from the front of the cart in a chipper voice.

I'm going to kill her first when I get out of this.

"Bitch."

How could she help these men kidnap me? Shouldn't we women be sticking together? She won't even tell me why they've kidnapped me. None of these fuckers will. I deserve that much, at least.

I don't know the rules of kidnapping, but I'd like to think telling your victim why you have them would be a common courtesy, but every time we've stopped to eat they just throw food at me and ignore my questions. I can't even see their faces through the masks they wear.

Fucking cowards.

Kicking at the bars, the sadness behind my anger tries to rise up for the thousandth time, and I push the unwanted emotion down so far that it's like a burning yeast infection being ignored at an important event. Which, well, is impossible. That kind of burning itch can't possibly be ignored.

The back of my heel hits the bottom of the iron carriage-cage and pain radiates from the movement so shocking that my breath rushes out. The minute I can, I'm gasping in air, just lying there, feeling lost. How the hell did I get in this situation and how do I get out? Can I even get out?

My thoughts start to change as my sadness deepens, despite how hard I fight it. I wonder if the princes are worried about me, since even my dreams won't let me forget about them. Maybe. Probably. They do think I'm their mate, after all. If they knew the truth, they wouldn't care that I disappeared, that's for sure.

Yet, I think I might care about them. At least a little. If my dreams are any indication.

I didn't show up for their precious test to explore my "fae side," so they have to know I'm gone and that I've been gone for a while by now. The thing is, they might think I ran off instead of being dragged away. At least Prince Sulien would think so, especially after our last brutal fight.

Maybe he told the others. Maybe they're not even looking for me now. Hell, he could have just revealed our whole scam, so everyone is glad to be rid of me.

Tears sting my eyes. Is my family still safe? Or have they been thrown out on their asses, left to starve until I can escape and get back to take care of them?

I sigh. My heart aches. And that burning rises back up, like the itchy, burning bitch that is a yeast infection, or unwanted feelings. I take a deep breath, finally deciding to explore whatever the hell feelings I'm trying to run away from. The burning inside of me that doesn't want to keep being ignored while I hide behind anger.

The emotion I find is surprising. It's not just sadness, but longing. I'm longing for them . I think I miss the fae princes, which makes no sense at all. I pushed them all away in no uncertain terms. And the idea of being with them—all four of them—is something I just can't fathom, even though my dream has me a little less terrified and a little more excited about the prospect. Still, right now, I wish they were here. Even if we were kidnapped together, that would be better than this.

Another emotion comes behind the sadness and longing: regret. Even if they don't know the truth about me, they might not even be looking for me since I rejected all of them the night of the ball, and fought with Forrest and Sulien the day after the ball. Maybe none of them want me anymore. Maybe they think I'm more trouble than I'm worth and they're happy I'm gone.

This could be for the best, at least for them. They can chalk this all up to some celestial glitch and go back to their regular lives. Lives of wealth and privilege. Lives with all the beautiful fae throwing themselves at them.

But even when the thought crosses my mind, I feel sick.

"This is a joke. This whole fucking thing." But this time, I'm talking to myself. I don't want them to hear, I just need to say the words aloud.

I just can't stand the idea of us all going back to our old lives so much that it scares me. Which makes no sense. Isn't that all I've wanted since this mess started?

My heart pounds at the thought of my regular life; the life where my dad and my grandmother are back in poverty with nothing to eat and a house smaller than a royal fae's bed chamber. Has my grandmother been thrown out of the palace for the second time in her life?

A lump forms in my throat. Knowing how fae royalty operates, probably. She and my sickly father have no doubt been thrown out on their asses and not even moved back into our old home. Their stuff everywhere. No way to earn money for food.

Will they starve if I don't get back? My eyes sting. Probably.

I kick the iron bars again, enjoying the pain in my foot. I deserve it for putting my family through all of this turmoil. They might've had a chance to stay if I'd treated the fae princes better, if I considered their feelings and didn't outright reject all four of them. If I hadn't thrown a tantrum and run back to the hovel we'd called home.

The cart comes to a stop, and I ready myself, my troubling thoughts disappearing in an instant, replaced by more calculating thoughts. No matter what it costs me, I'm escaping this time because I've figured out their pattern. They always pull far off the road, stop, and remove the cover over the iron bars that make up the cart, then unlock my bindings and let me out. Then they give me a chance to relieve myself, while guarded closely by the woman, and I'm given food before being thrown back into the cart.

This time, I'm not scared and confused. This time, I know exactly how many of the fuckers there are and how they operate. I'll distract them and run.

But instead of the usual bawdy conversations and slow amble to the back of the cart, they're quiet. I peer through the cracks and see a large structure. It might be a house, but it looks older and rougher than my family home with decaying wood and broken windows. And it's surrounded by forest. The wild kind of forest that seems undisturbed by people.

Where have they taken me?

My breathing comes out faster, and my hands begin to tremble. I listen for any voices or sounds. It's eerily quiet now that the wheels have stopped moving. My muscles tense, and I feel wound up and ready to pounce. This will be hard with the cuffs on, but not impossible. These criminals are going to see that I'm not helpless.

My stomach is in knots. Someone starts to unload the front of the cart. I guess we've reached our destination.

I have no idea what's coming next.