84

Cocci shook his head as he watched Crinka follow the concubines to their place. He knew how the night was going to end, having overheard their plans the night before. What they had in mind for the unsuspecting she-wolf was dangerous but Cocci wasn’t going to intervene, nor was he going to let anyone save her, so he locked his brothers in and kept them busy with drinks and women. Next time, she won’t douse his eyes with pepper. Turning on his heel, he walked toward the grand hall where the party was being held.

Unknown to Cocci, Sia hadn’t been in the hall, but with Pharix. He ought it good to spend some time with her before partying, and he was going to until he felt something in his gut. Crinka wasn’t okay, so he took Pharix with him to his room. She wasn’t there. He searched the south wing, the east, and the north, but she wasn’t there, so he went back to his wing. Nothing.

“She might be at the party my prince”, Pharix said quietly. She hated how he cared for her. She was just a wolf and there was nothing special about wolves. “I’m sure you would find her so just relax. I have drawn up a bath for you in the bathhouse. You just freshen up and I will check around for her”, she said, walking towards Sia. She helped him take off his clothes but when it came to his underwear, he pushed her away, walking in the direction of his bathhouse. Pharix waited until he was settled in the bathtub before closing the door and twisting the lock. She was only doing this to buy the concubines' time. By the time he breaks free, Crinka would be dead.

….

“Sia, you need to calm down”, Massa stated as he watched his brother pace the iced floors, dark veins littering his chest. The monster in him was threatening to come out, and the last thing the kingdom needed was for Sycamore to break free.

“Calm down? Why the hell should I calm down?”

“If you don’t, Sycamore would take over, and kill people”.

“Then I won’t calm down. Massa, I can’t find her. Where could she be?”

“It’s possible she left”, Massa said tiredly. He didn’t want to be here. He was supposed to be at the party, getting shit drunk, not trying to calm Sia down.

“Left? That’s impossible”.

“It’s possible. Nothing is keeping her back here Sia, so she probably left to be with her people”.

“I don’t believe that. Something isn’t right about any of this Massa. I can feel it”, Sia said with a sigh.

Massa was just glad to see that his brother was back to normal.

“She’s gone bro. Just accept it”.

“No, she isn’t”.

The two brothers paused and turned in the direction of the voice. Massa’s eyes widened. Prita was here in the flesh. She looked oddly pale, and the dress she wore didn’t cover much. Throwing caution to the wind, he embraced her and kissed her hair. She pushed him away.

“Don’t touch me you feather-brained prince”, she said with a snarl.

Sia eyed the girl. She had to be the vraugmita.

Massa pouted. “I missed you baby. Tell me you came here to see me”.

Prita rolled her eyes. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I came here to see him”, she said, pointing at Sia.

Massa waved away the feeling of jealousy. It is probably for something important.

“You would see him later. "Now tell me how you sneaked into the palace without being seen”, he said, looping his arm around her shoulders. She shrugged it off.

“I don’t have time to tell you about my adventures”.

“But we…”

“Leave the girl alone Massa”, Sia spoke up. “Let her say what she wants and leave”.

Prita sucked her teeth. “So fucking rude. You can’t even welcome me properly”.

“Vraugmitas aren’t welcomed here and you know it”, Sia sneered.

“I don’t care whether I’m welcomed here or not. I’m telling no one of Crinka’s whereabouts until I’m properly fed”.

Sia’s ears perked up. “You know where Crinka is?”

‘Yes”.

His eyes narrowed. “If you’re lying, I swear I’ll..”

“Rip me apart? Feed my remains to the dogs? I’m not afraid of you Nasia Sycamore Lancaster. Instead, you should be afraid of me”.

Sia scoffed. “And why should I be afraid of you?”

“’Cause I have Crinka and since you two are blood bonded, I indirectly have you in my hands”.

Sia cursed. Massa smiled, watching them converse. His mate was a spitfire alright.

Sia glowered, and Prita glared. Finally, he caved.

“Fine! What do you want?”

“Ah, the question I have been longing to hear!”

He gritted his teeth. “Just state it”.

“Firstly, I would like to eat”, Prita said wearily. She was tired and hungry. Dragging Crinka to the palace on an empty stomach had taken up most of her energy.

“I can arrange that”, Massa said.

“Secondly, I would like to shower and wear fine clothes. I haven’t had a proper bath in years”.

“Yeah I can tell”, Sia said, scrunching his nose. She glared at him.

“I can arrange that”, Massa said again. He was hell-bent on pleasing his mate.

“Lastly, I would like a tour of the palace. It’s been a while and I would like to check out the new improvements”.

“I can arr…”

“No”, Sia said, cutting him off. “That’s too dangerous, so no tour. We can’t risk her being seen”.

“I can make her invisible”, Massa defends.

“Avetha would know and the last thing we need on our lands is a screaming fest”.

“Fine. Since I can’t have a tour, then I’ll just leave”, she said, turning on her heel.

“Wait!”, Massa said, catching her wrist. It was so bony. She needed to be fed. “Surely there has to be an alternative”.

She tapped her chin in thought. “There’s an alternative but I’m not sure Sycamore would like it”.

“Say it”, Sia said angrily. He didn’t like this woman. He would have to talk Massa out of it.

“Fine. Promise me that my people would be fed every weekend”.

“No. If we do that, we’ll be short on people”.

“Then ‘ll just leave”, she said, yanking her wrist free from Massa’s grip.

“Wait!”, Sia yelled.

Prita halted, biting back a smile. “Yes?”

“I have a better idea”.

“You do?”

“Yeah”.

“Say it”.

“I have a woman that I think you might be interested in”.

Massa glared at Sia. He was encouraging his mate and her choice of partners! So unethical! “Sia…”

Sia ignored him. Prita’s eyes lit up. “Really? Ooh, tell me more. Is she pretty?”

Sia didn’t know if Pharix was pretty since he had never studied her but he remembered Cocci’s compliments regarding her looks, so yeah. “Yes”.

Prita was beaming. Massa was awed. “Ooh. Is she curvy?”

“Yes, and do you know the best part?”

“She has never been touched”.

“Do you mean it?”

“Of course. I have no reason to lie”.

“Then it’s a deal”.

Sia smiled as he shook her hand. Pharix deserved everything that was coming to her. Next time, if there would be, she won’t lock up an Icelander ever again.