The Darkest Craving (Lords of the Underworld #10)(69)
Author: Gena Showalter

“William, my darkling,” the queen gasped out. “What are you doing? You’re to be my protector.”

The king roared, “Darkling? You’re calling another male by my pet name?”

“Shut it, both of you,” William snapped, all humor gone. “We’ve heard enough out of you.”

The queen’s mouth floundered open and closed, but she never made another sound.

Leopold stepped forward, but Red reached out and grabbed him by the neck, jerking him backward. In the next blink, a blade was poised at the prince’s hammering pulse and he was gurgling in pain, a bead of blood leaking to the fluffy collar of his dress shirt. He tried to speak, but the weapon prevented any sound from forming.

“But what about me?” Synda called, racing up behind Kane, her wedding dress not quite fastened. She had to hold up the beautiful Fae lace with her hands. And her veil was askew, about to fall out of her pale curls.

“Shut it, woman,” Kane snapped, mimicking William. “If I have to listen to one more bit of cruel, inane chatter from you, I’ll remove your tongue. I swear I will.”

Synda stopped, just stopped. No one had ever rejected her before—well, not for long. Bewilderment and hurt danced in her eyes, and Josephina almost felt sorry for her. Almost. She was too busy reeling. Kane had just put the girl in her place.

Red bloomed in the princess’s eyes as she marched through the sea of guests, throwing people out of their chairs.

The king blustered, saying, “This isn’t the way of things, Lord Kane. We should—”

“Pick,” Kane shouted. “I didn’t ask for commentary.”

Silence rolled through the masses, every gaze on Tiberius. The king switched his attention between Kane and his friends.

“Very well,” he finally gritted.

“Good choice.” Kane placed Josephina on her feet and glared down at her.

“Should I curtsy to your friends?” she asked to hide her nervousness. “I feel like I should curtsy.”

He leaned in until they were nose-to-nose. “You’ll accept this. Whatever you feel about me, whatever you believe about me, this is the best choice for you right now.”

A wave of dizziness struck her. “I can’t let you do this.” She needed to tell him something else, but…what? She couldn’t recall.

“Unlike your father, I’m not giving you a choice.” He turned to the male officiating the ceremony. “What are you waiting for? Begin.”

The priest obeyed him, but she didn’t hear a word he said. Her thoughts were too loud. Surely she couldn’t marry the very warrior that had slept with her half sister only last night. Surely she couldn’t allow him to welcome a lifelong war. Surely she wouldn’t bind her life to his, giving herself to him, while wearing a maid’s uniform, looking her worst.

Even if he was the most incredible man she’d ever met…even if every inch of her body screamed, yes!

But would he ever be faithful?

Did he even want her or was he just trying to protect her, as he felt he owed her?

Her gaze strayed to Kane’s friends. What had they thought of her at first glance? She’d been slung over Kane’s shoulder so…probably not much.

“I’m really quite wonderful,” she muttered.

“I know. You’ve told me,” Kane said. “Now answer the priest.”

“I will, just as soon as you tell me what he asked me.”

The same murderous red she’d just seen in Synda’s eyes pulsed from Kane’s. “Just say yes,” he snapped.

A beam in the canopy above them snapped and fell, and Kane had to drag her out of harm’s way.

“Say it,” he commanded.

“I will if the question was, does Kane annoy you? Because yes, he does,” she said, attention returning to the other lords.

“Tell me the answer to that question again,” Kane demanded, but he didn’t sound offended.

“Yes,” she threw at him.

He nodded, satisfied.

Lucien winked at her and she couldn’t help but offer him as big of a smile as she could manage at the moment. Reyes nodded in acknowledgment. Strider gave her a thumbs-up. Sabin continued to glare. She wanted Kane’s friends to like her—even though she didn’t currently like Kane.

“This is a mistake,” she whispered. Yes! Those were the words she’d wanted to give him. “We shouldn’t do this. Let’s stop before it’s too late.”

He squeezed her hand so tightly she whimpered, but even then, he didn’t loosen his grip. He slid a ring on her finger, the metal heavy, with a huge stone glittering in the center. A stone she didn’t recognize. The color hovered somewhere between ruby-red and sapphire-blue.

“It’s already too late. Don’t ever take this off, understand?” Kane said.

Too late? They were…they were…no way.

Still. Eyes wide, she nodded.

“Oh, and here’s the big guy’s ring,” William said, handing her a plain, over-warm band that was vibrating.

Trembling, she slid the thing onto Kane’s finger, and finally he released her.

“It’s done,” he said, and there was a wealth of satisfaction in his voice.

Josephina could only nod, dazed.

A scream nearly split the daylight. “You’re not taking her away from me!”

Not Synda. But…the Phoenix?

Definitely. The entire back end of the garden burst into flames.

Kane threw Josephina over his shoulder.

“Not again,” she gritted out.

Lucien held out his arms. “I’ll take her now. And I’ll take good care of her, you have my word.”

“Change of plan,” Kane said. “She’s going with me. At least for now. Get the others to safety. And thanks for coming, my man.” He took off in a dead run. Smoke wafted to her nose, making her cough. Shouts of fear erupted through the crowd.

“How do you propose to leave the realm?” she asked, trying not to panic. Only a select group of Fae possessed a key between the human realm and this one. Kane wasn’t select, nor was he Fae. She had planned to steal Leopold’s for her own escape, but that was now an impossibility.

“Like this.” Kane withdrew a flesh-colored glove from his pocket—a key. “Before you ask, I stole it. And no, I’m not ashamed and I won’t return it.”

“I don’t want to chastise you, you silly man. I want to pat you on the back. Now, do you know how to use it?”