23. The Dog Rose Princess

There was a vase behind her in the vestibule. Sona grabbed it and hurled it at him, but he ducked and it shattered against a wall. Consorts shrieked in the near distance. The Epsilon grabbed Sona and Arden by the arms. 
But Taos looked absolutely delighted. “Oh I do love defensive, physical females. Riling you up is so easy, trinket. Watch what you say, yes, but also watch what you do.”
A light threat that could have dire consequences. How could Sona keep forgetting who he was? A scion of the Redbone dynasty who built their pack on blood and bone, who destroyed cities on whim, who didn’t even give a damn about basic respect. Her and Arden’s lives were on the line if Taos grew too unhappy. If they wanted to get back to Moonvalley and save her family, they had to follow her own advice: be smart. And that included not provoking him, even in jest.
Taos narrowed his eyes as if he could sense her coming to that decision. It made her heart jump and wonder stupidly if he could read her mind.
But he moved on by turning and calling, “I hear there is an intruder in my harem. Don’t you have one of your own?”
Giggles responded first, but a drawling female voice soon answered in a purr, “And I hear you’re neglecting your pretty things, so I’ve taken it upon myself to dote on them. Especially since you’ve gone and broke a few promises.”
Sona stopped at the top of the short set of steps, though was nearly knocked down them when Arden walked into her. His hands caught her hips to steady them both. The consort lounging on them sniggered.
“I did not expect the bitch today,” Taos chuckled as he strode toward the center of the room. Sona couldn’t see who he was talking to, but she could see the half-naked males stretched out beside them. The crude language sounded almost affectionate. She wondered with gritted teeth if she was a lover, maybe a consort he liked above the others. 
“Neither did I. *You* determine if she comes out or not. Going against the indoctrination you forced on me will get me a little resentful.”
Taos’ voice lost its humor. “Grave accusation.”
Sona glimpsed a hand wave in the air flippantly. “What else would you call it?” the female sighed airily. 
“Protecting you,” the Alpha growled. He half-turned his body, offering a clearer view of the mountain of pillows stacked up so a tan-limbed female could rest on it luxuriously. But only for a moment—she jerked to her bare feet to impede on his personal space with a snarl.
“Your *protecting me* is just a tightening cage, Taos!” she snapped. “I want—”
Taos’ hand clamped over her mouth—rather, the entire lower half of her face, his palm being so large and she so small. “To keep your damn voice down so you don’t embarrass yourself in front of our new guests.”
The young female stilled. Taos dropped his hand as she slowly turned toward Sona, whose breath caught in her throat. If she could pray to Luna Amaris, she would apologize a hundred times over.
Because this Redbone was the most beautiful werewolf she had ever seen. If ever the moon goddess took a mortal form, surely this was the one she would take.
Her light brown skin was smeared with red paint; thankfully Sona knew the difference. Jewelry adorned every body part—toes, ankles, fingers, wrists, arms, neck, and slightly pointed ears. Even an elaborate body chain that cross-crossed over her chest and tiered across her ribs. Red silk was banded around and also criss-crossed her large breasts and shoulders, bearing most of her torso, while her lower half was covered by what could be considered the remainder of a long skirt—slits on either side of her hips held together by a chain.
And of course each piece featured bones or bird skulls.
Deep red curls framed her soft freckled face down to her curvy waist, but her expression made it seem sharp. Full red lips, kohl smearing her eyelids and sweeping outward in precise lines. Her eyes seemed even blacker, and they narrowed when she laid them on Sona, who felt pierced by the arrow of mistrust.
Sona feared to truly cross Taos. But this female felt equally, if not more, dangerous.
“Guests,” Taos introduced, “meet the Dog Rose Princess.”
*Dog rose*. It was a flower with little medicinal use to werewolves, but its symbolic meeting…
Sona’s gaze flicked to Taos—goddess, she had to *stop* letting herself be drawn to his stare—and he blinked without missing a beat. She schooled her expression and looked back at the female. Werewolves were considered full adults when they reached their twentieth year. She seemed near that cusp.
“Mistress Mai is wondering how you earned that title, sister.”
*Sister?!*
Though her gaze remained edged, her mouth spread into a fanged grin strikingly similar to another wolf. “Oh, that’s simple, brother,” she said, her voice somehow smooth and gravelly simultaneously. “I’m a hedonist. Pleasure and pain—it’s what I give, and what I get. But,” she added, flicking her attention away from Sona to Arden, “you have permission to call me Cerise.”
Sona heard Arden’s heart lurch and his breath catch. His fingers dug into the flesh of her hips as if he needed to keep himself steady.
Cerise Redbone held the presence of someone experienced and confident in their stature—very close to Gamma Edom’s despite her being half his size. It was odd to see a Redbone so slender; Sona had only seen either stocky and muscular or those rendered ill by the wolfsbane.
She surveyed Sona and Arden like trapped prey. Sona felt embarrassment creep up on her. Why was she wary of someone several years younger than her? 
It didn’t last long. Cerise met Sona’s eyes flatly and ordered, “Move.”
When Sona was too stunned to speak or move, Cerise clicked her tongue. The next thing she knew, Edom had shoved her down the stairs and she was stumbling to catch herself. The moment after that, she realized she’d backed right into Taos’ hardened chest and his palms bracing her elbows. And his mouth near her ear, his breath warm against her skin when he whispered,
“Caught you.”
“I’d prefer you didn’t,” she hissed.
“Then why are you still in my arms?”
Sona ripped away, only to find Cerise taking up her place beside Arden because she was now circling him, looking him up and down as if deciding if he was worth more than his own life. Arden’s heart was pounding as he looked ahead, his spine ramrod straight.
Cerise stopped at his right side, slipped her finger under the armband, and snapped it against Arden’s skin. He winced; it had to be less the pain and more the sound. “Is he really untrustworthy?” she asked her older brother. “He seems less threatening than a teething pup.”
Taos laughed, coaxing a devilish grin from Cerise, and Sona had a feeling that whatever malicious decisions Redbone made as a whole…they were behind it together.“I’ve yet to see him do something noteworthy.”
Arden scowled at Taos, and Cerise pouted—*pouted*—when he looked away from her. “I don’t need to prove myself to you, Taos.”
“You don’t? How am I supposed to take you as a threat when you take your rightful place as Alpha of the Moonvalley pack? Oh, sorry,” he added innocently, “I meant to say *if*.”
“If?” Cerise repeated with interest. She prodded Arden’s ribs to make him whirl back around. “Edom didn’t divulge too much information, the coddling bastard.”
The Gamma just grunted, but Sona caught the smallest of smirks from the hunk of muscle.
Arden arched away. “I apologize, p-princess, but—”
Cerise clapped her hands together, sending each and every chain and bone on her body swaying and clinking. “You’re so timid it’s charming! Brother, may I keep him?”
“No!” Arden and Sona shouted together. Sona began, “You can’t just—”
The Dog Rose Princess shot her a glare so venomous that a chill went through her. “I didn’t ask you, untouchable.”
“Sister,” Taos interrupted, bringing himself between her and Sona, “if you recall, *untouchable* also includes refraining from verbal attacks.”
“But she—”
“But nothing,” growled the Alpha. 
Cerise was silent for a moment, then pouted her lower lip up at Arden. To his and Sona’s horror, she dragged her index finger from his chest down his torso, “Can I *play* with him?”
Arden laughed nervously, stepping away. “I’m sorry, Cerise, but my allegiance is with Moonvalley, and my heart belongs to Sona—”
“But not your soul.”
Sona’s own heart lurched in surprise. Why did she sound…knowledgeable? As if she was correcting an obvious lie. Well…Sona already knew Arden could never be her soulmate—her belief in second chance mates was thin.
Arden failed to respond quickly, but Cerise’s frown broadened into a fond smile. “You don’t need to be flustered with me. Besides, it’s easy to forget allegiances when you’re in my company.” 
She tried to approach again; Arden’s hands bolted up to catch hers—and when his broad goldish-skinned ones entrapped hers, she inhaled sharply. Arden released her immediately. 
“What is your name?” she asked breathlessly. 
“Arden Roshan, son of Alpha Artem and Luna Amaris.”
Cerise quirked her head to the side, the bone beads in her hair swinging. “Why’re you here if they’re dead?”
He swallowed hard, but his gaze remained connected with hers. “It’s a long story.”
“You have time to tell me.”
Sona had no idea what was happening between her best friend and the vicious princess. There was some kind of electricity in the air—the warning before the lightning storm.
She opened her mouth, but closed it when she felt Taos touch the small of her back and murmur in her ear, “I’d say he’s in good claws. Shall we go salvage my sick packmates?”
Suddenly she and Arden traded places. He didn’t want to leave her alone with a Taos….and now here she was not trusting Cerise to leave him alone with her. She seemed fully capable of gutting Arden with ease if she felt like it.
Taos brushed her hair over her shoulder. “You’re just as protective of him as he is of you. That is respectable. Roshan,” he suddenly barked, jolting Sona. “Keep my sister company or I’ll bite your ear off.”
“Don’t!” Sona and Arden said together while Cerise said, “What if I like nibbling it?”
Arden’s eyes widened in horror, looking from her to Taos to Sona. “Uh—”
“Now that’s settled,” Taos continued brightly, his arm encircling Sona’s waist to angle her toward the entrance. “Have fun with your plaything, sister, and do not send for me unless he’s bleeding out.”
“This was your plan,” Sona growled, planting her feet.
“Well yes. I needed to do something productive with the Beta, and my sister needed the company. Now us two can fulfill our own tasks without hindrances.”
“You’re a hindrance to my patience,” Cerise muttered. 
“Your insults need work, Cer—”
Suddenly an Epsilon crashed through the entrance. “Alpha! Gamma!” 
“What?” they barked together.
The young male looked at Sona and said, “Gamma Conri Grayhide is at the border demanding to speak with you.”