21: Nik’s POV

I had made a mistake.

But it wasn’t the mistake I’d thought I’d made. It wasn’t that I’d stepped out of turn, taking the lovely surrogate Ada before my father had determined was my rightful time— before Phoenix had laid his claim. No, it was the gentle kiss on her lips that I had placed just before I left. That was the mistake I’d made.

Based on what Darius had said about his time with her, I knew he didn’t give her that type of intimacy and I knew Phoenix wouldn’t either. Sex with the surrogate was one thing. It was expected, encouraged. The intimacy of a kiss… that complicated things. I’d known I’d made a mistake when I’d pulled back and seen the serene expression on her face.

The intimacy was a mistake because Darius had fallen for Ada with just simple sex. I could already feel myself careening toward the edge of a very dangerous precipice the moment I set eyes on her. It was what had possessed me to pledge my loyalty to her before the competition and why I otherwise avoided the girl.

Love wasn’t something the Midnight Prince could give.

Which is why, as I sat at the breakfast table with my brothers, I knew that I had to take this perfect night— a night with a woman with a perfect body, who came so beautifully I had wished to hear her sing my name every moment since I stepped away from her— and *ruin* it. It was the only way to keep both her and I safe.

“So, brothers,” I plastered a wide grin on my face, “I must confess to having a rather exhausting night in our dear surrogate’s chambers.”

Darius and Phoenix both froze. Much to my surprise, it was Phoenix who’s anger sparked first, “You laid with her?” He snapped, his face turning almost as red as his auburn hair, “Out of turn? Against our father’s wishes expressly?”

I shrugged, avoiding Darius’ penetrating gaze, “You were taking too long to make a move.”

The rage and hurt in my younger brother’s gaze simply made me swallow. There was no reason for them to know this wasn’t intentional— that had I not caught Ada so upset and heartbroken earlier, I would have been able to keep her from my mind. Instead, I’d been tormented. She’d penetrated every thought I had, became the very breath I was taking. I’d been overcome with need. None of those excuses would be good enough, nor would the fact that even when I’d returned to her room I hadn’t intended on fucking her.

It had been the arousal I’d smelled upon her that had ultimately made me lose the control I so very carefully kept at all times. All my resolve had gone out the window and was replaced by hope and wanting — hope that she was dreaming of me and wanting her to be mine.

Phoenix’s growl erupted from within his chest as his hand gripped his glass so tightly it burst, “Rot in hell, Nikolai,” he slammed his fist down, “How could you—“

I leaned back in my chair, sipping a goblet of orange juice, “Afraid you won’t measure up?” My brother’s face somehow turned a deeper shade of red, “We did do some fairly crazy things together and it was merely our first time. I can’t wait to find what our later unions will bring.”

Darius crossed his arms over his chest and harrumphed back in his chair, “It is not a competition, Nikolai,” my older brother and future King stated firmly, “Above all else, Ada deserves our respect.”

Phoenix snorted, “Easy for you to say, dear brother. You had her first,” some of the redness had disappeared from his face, “I was supposed to have her before Nik terrorized her with his—“

“Drop it,” Darius barked out and I glanced down to see his knuckles white with rage, “What’s done is done.”

I sat back, casually eating my pancakes in peace. Unlike Darius, I had been able to succeed in covering up my true feelings for Ada by playing into my cold hearted playboy reputation. It seemed my two brothers had eaten it right up. Now if only I could convince myself that this shewolf had no hold over me.

As if my thoughts had summoned her, Ada appeared in the doorway with the Mariah, the Beta Cade’s wife. I stared at her, willing her to simply look at me. She stood straight as a rod, arms crossed and eyes staring above all three of us. Her eyes were red and swollen. My wolf growled in my mind, daring to burst forth and tear whoever hurt her into shreds.

I tamped him down, “Mariah, Ada. What is it?”

Normally Darius would speak, but he seemed at a loss. Mariah leveled her gaze on me, words venomous, “Shame on both of you,” she turned her head to look at Darius, “I don’t have many gracious thoughts about the three of you, but I at least thought you were decent enough to not go and talk about your intimate times with Ada to anyone else.”

Darius glanced at me and I gave a nearly imperceptible shake of my head. He cleared his throat, “Mariah, we do not—“

“Don’t deny it!” She snapped, eyes narrowed, “Darius, the things that Ada and I have heard about what you are saying are disgraceful. To comment on a woman’s ability in bed is—“

“Mariah!” Ada tugged at her friend’s arm, fresh tears in her eyes, “Please, let’s just go.”

I fought against every muscle that tensed in my body, told me to run to her. Instead, I opted for a nonchalant approach, “And what exactly did I do?”

“Bragging about tying her up? About scaring her?” Mariah questioned, enraged beyond reason, “You two are awful.”

I had hardly been bragging. And I hoped the half about scaring her was far from true. She had seemed so pliable, so giving. Not afraid. Had I been wrong? Had she not wanted me or what I’d given her?

“Neither of us said anything,” Darius sighed, “You are mistaken.”

“I don’t believe either of you,” Ada sniffled and tugged Mariah toward the door, “Sorry to have interrupted your breakfast. I told Mariah this was pointless.”

We watched as they retreated. The fact was, even if there was truth in the details regarding things, neither Darius or I said anything to anyone. There was only one person in this court that I could think of that would think throwing things like this around, or having the audacity to spy on intimate relations.

As the door shut behind them, the three of us looked at each other and simultaneously snapped, “Lady Elizabeth Jane.”