Reluctant King (Reluctant Royals Book 1)

by Montana Ash

  Brax’s brows lowered, creating a network of frown lines on his forehead. Eyes glowing and reflecting the light, he pulled her in close by her legs, invading her personal space. “Sabre, if you don’t come to me, I’m going to think you’re a coward.”

  Sabre shoved against his shoulders, cursing when the muscled behemoth barely moved. “I’m no coward. I just have things to do tonight.”

  Brax’s eyes roved over her face, seemingly satisfied with what he saw because he nodded, relaxing a little. “Okay. Tomorrow night.”

  “Busy then too,” Sabre fired back.

  “Sabre …”

  Brax’s words were more of a growl than anything else, and a little distorted because his lower incisors had elongated. Sabre shivered a little, remembering the feel of those unique lower fangs digging into her shoulder and holding her still for mutual pleasure. She wanted to feel that way again more than anything but Dra’mon’s taunt of her being in love, coupled with her own growing self-awareness over the matter made her reluctant to agree. If she were standing on the cusp of love, another night in the passionate and tender arms of her lover would surely send her tumbling over the cliff. And Sabre knew what awaited her at the bottom of that cliff; jagged rocks, broken glass, and probably a grenade or two. There would be no warm arms or tender words to break her fall. She would just be … broken.

  “Brax, this isn’t wise …” she began.

  Brax shifted to his knees, straightening his torso, and making him a few inches shorter than her. Looking up as he grasped her waist, he murmured, “I’m not the wise king; that was my father. I’m not the good king; that was my brother. I’m the king who’s been kicked in the teeth by life and is struggling to do what’s right. And this, you Sabre, you feel right.”

  Sabre swallowed audibly, “How’s a girl supposed to argue with that?”

  “She’s not. And if she says she feels differently, then I would say she’s a liar,” Brax stroked her back as he spoke casually.

  Thinking quickly, Sabre decided there was something she had to do first before she gave herself to Brax again. It was a contingency plan in case there was nothing left of her afterwards. Because she had no doubt only one of them would be walking away from the encounter with a still beating heart. Here’s a spoiler; it wouldn’t be her. Because she would have handed it over to Brax in post-orgasmic bliss. “Okay. I’ll come to you. But I have some things to do first. I need two days.”

  Brax searched her face for a moment, “You have yourself a deal.” He quickly gained his feet, “Do I even need to bother to let you in?”

  Sabre patted his dimpled cheek, “Sweetheart, I could take a bath in that huge marble tub of yours with the onyx dragon tap fixtures and you wouldn’t even know it.” That said, she turned and strode away, laughing out loud when a disbelieving voice yelled from behind her;

  “Wait a minute! How did you know my taps have dragons on them? Sabre! Sabre!”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “What is that disturbing look on your face?” Gage asked, startling Sabre out of her inner musings.

  “Huh? What look?” She asked, scowling at the zombie-man when he pushed her feet off the table where they had been resting.

  “Feet off the table, you heathen,” he scolded.

  Sabre rolled her eyes, “This table regularly has dead bodies on it but you’re worried about my feet?”

  Gage levelled his black eyes on her, “It’s not polite.”

  “Whatever,” Sabre grumbled, but she kept her feet firmly on the ground. Gage may be something different now, but the human he was born as continued to shine through. He was perpetually badgering her or admonishing her over the smallest things. She could show up holding a trachea like she had a few minutes ago and the man didn’t so much as blink. But if she tried to eat dinner without a napkin? All hell broke loose. Sabre didn’t mind. In fact, she secretly loved it and hoped the akuji never changed. Not only was Gage determined to cling to his humanity, but he was determined to drag Sabre and Jinx along with him. On the days when she was covered in blood and drowning in lies and violence, Sabre was beyond grateful.

  “Now … back to that look,” Gage prompted, redrawing her attention.

  “What look?” A feminine voice spoke from behind her.

  Sabre nudged out a chair for Jinx, not even bothering to look because she would recognise her voice anywhere.

  “Sabre has a look on her face that on anyone else I would say was happiness. But on Sabre’s face it kind of just makes her look constipated,” Gage informed Jinx.

  “Hey! I can do happiness!” Sabre’s affronted tone caused Jinx and Gage to snap to attention. Sabre sniffed, “What? I can.”

  “Well, sure,” Jinx allowed. “But it’s usually because you’ve gutted something. Have you recently gutted something?” Jinx inquired, thoughtfully.

  “Yes. A demon lord as a matter of fact!” Sabre hastily replied. “I just gave Gage his trachea, plus a few fingers, an ear, and even some brains.”

  “She did,” Gage acknowledged. “But I must say, the trachea looks somewhat handled.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that. I wanted to push a few of Draven’s buttons.” Sabre grinned a little evilly, “It worked.”

  Gage rolled his eyes, continuing to prod at the contents of the Esky Sabre had provided, “I swear, messing with that angel’s Zen is your new hobby. Can’t say I blame you, he makes it very easy. Still, I kind of like him. Brax too. He comes around here a bit you know,” he raised his eyes to Sabre. “It was kind of weird at first. I thought he was trying to shut this place down or something. But he just comes to shoot the shit. Has some funny stories from his time as General,” Gage added.

  Sabre knew that would be something Gage could appreciate because he had been in the military on Earth. He had been SAS – the elite soldiers of the Australian Army. But Sabre was reeling over that revelation for another reason; Brax visited Gage and Jinx to talk with them? Sabre hadn’t known that. Why would he be talking to her friends? Was he trying to get intel on her? The thought made her feel a little sick.

  “Brax comes here when I’m not here? Does he ask questions about me?” she demanded.

  Gage’s dark irises passed over her face once more, lingering on her eyes before he slowly shook his head, “I just told you; he comes to talk. People like talking to me, you know that. It’s my charm.” Gage made it a statement – and it was true. There weren’t many supernaturals who Gage couldn’t talk to. Eventually, everyone fell for the dead-but-awake man. “And you know I would never talk about you behind your back, Sabre. He asked a few questions the first time but soon found out his inquiries would get him nowhere. He has since respected those boundaries.” Gage shrugged, “I think he’s lonely. I like him.”

  “I agree,” Jinx chimed in. “He’s a good guy. And definitely not hard on the eyes.”

  Sabre’s mind was reeling. Not only was Brax worming his way into her heart, but he was also charming her friends! She’d had no idea. Brax had never mentioned it once before – nor had the pair in front of her. It could mean only two things; they had all been hiding it from her because they feared her reaction. That was unlikely because Jinx didn’t fear anything, least of all Sabre. Or none of them mentioned it because they didn’t think it was a big deal – because they all genuinely liked each other and it wasn’t related to her at all. Huh, my friends like my lover, Sabre thought. And then had to force herself not to hyperventilate. Shit just kept getting realer.

  “Sabre? You okay?” Jinx asked.

  “Fine,” Sabre croaked out.

  Jinx’s nose twitched and her eyes narrowed but she didn’t question Sabre further, instead coming out with; “And I don’t mind Draven either. That is one gorgeous male! But he sure is stuck up. I know just what he needs – a good rogering.”

  Sabre didn’t know what the sound was that left her throat. Maybe a gurgle? Or perhaps the sound a goat makes when it gets startled? Either way, it wasn’t attractive. But what was she expect
ed to do when her nineteen-year-old ward used the word rogering and Draven in the same sentence? “Nope,” Sabre said. “Nope, nope, nope. There will be no rogering with Draven. Ever! Don’t make me cut off his dick, Jinx, I’m begging you. Because you know I’ll do it.”

  Jinx burst into laughter, “The look on your face! I was talking in general terms. I have no intention of sexing the angel up – no matter how beautiful his face and body are. I’m just saying; sex would help with his overall … ambience.” Jinx eyed Sabre curiously then, “You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’ve gotten some action. You are very relaxed, and as Gage pointed out, kind of happy – in a constipated way.”

  Sabre avoided eye contact with the young feline, not willing to touch that comment with a ten-foot pole. “Gage, you think you can consume some demon lord now?” she pointed to the Esky.

  Gage nodded his head, picking up the cooler and moving away, “I’ll chow down and let you know what I see.”

  “You know you don’t have to hide from us when you eat, Gage,” Sabre reminded him. He often felt the need to go into another room whenever he consumed organs or flesh, as if he were embarrassed or ashamed. But it was something Sabre wouldn’t stand for. It was a part of Gage and therefore a part of their lives too. She accepted the zombie-man just as he was and didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable or feel the need to apologise simply for being himself. “We’re family,” Sabre followed up softly. The looks of shock on Jinx’s and Gage’s face would have been comical if Sabre weren’t so embarrassed. She had never said that out loud before. Maybe Brax was making her soft.

  Gage stopped walking away and turned back around. He slowly placed the Esky back onto the long bench table and opened the lid, “I … okay,” he said, reaching inside.

  Sabre smiled at him before turning back and asking Jinx about how her studies were going. Sure, she wanted Gage to feel comfortable enough to be himself around them, but she didn’t want to stare at him while he ate. That would be just as weird as if someone stared at her when she ate. She’d probably have to throat-punch them, Sabre thought. Jinx caught her up on how her tertiary courses were going and Sabre explained what had gone down with Lucifer and Dra’mon while Gage ate the demon in question quietly in the corner. It was probably weird to most people, but Sabre wasn’t most people and she thought the entire scene was very domestic.

  “Demon lord from one of the inner circles is rather tasty,” Gage offered, making his way over to take a seat with Sabre and Jinx at the small, round table.

  Sabre grinned at him, “Good to know. What did you find out?”

  Gage leaned back in his chair, regarding her seriously, “Well, he wasn’t lying to you; Dra’mon did not order the basilisk to kill King Maliq. He had memories of the super snake returning after going missing, having a broken fang, and then perishing several days later. The timeline coincides with the murder of the old king and I have no doubts that it was the same basilisk.”

  “Damnit! I didn’t think he was lying to me – I was rather persuasive,” Sabre added. “But I was hopeful. Brax was right; we’re back to square one. If he didn’t order the basilisk, who did? Maybe it was charmed?”

  “I didn’t think it was possible to charm a basilisk?” Gage asked,

  Sabre groaned, banging her head against the table, “It’s not. I’m just grasping at straws.”

  “What if the basilisk thought it was commanded by Dra’mon?” Jinx offered, her brow furrowed in thought.

  Sabre sat up straight again, “What do you mean?”

  “Well, what if someone who looked and sounded exactly like Dra’mon ordered the basilisk? It wouldn’t know the difference, right?” Jinx explained further.

  Sabre’s internal antennae started pinging. “Like if someone was using a glamour?”

  Jinx shrugged, “Yeah. Or a skinwalker maybe?”

  Sabre tapped out an unconscious beat on the tabletop with her fingers, mulling over Jinx’s suggestion. It was a damn good one. The girl really did have the devious mind of an assassin. Too bad for her Sabre had expressly forbidden that particular career path. No matter what, Sabre was determined Jinx would end up nothing like her, the weretiger was much too good for that. “It’s a good theory. One well worth exploring,” Sabre admitted. “Thank you.”

  Jinx smiled, looking pleased, “I’m glad.”

  “In fact, I might even discuss it with Hound tomorrow,” Sabre mused, thinking of her upcoming meeting with the rebel.

  “You’re meeting with Hound?” Jinx’s dual eyes sparkled with keen interest. “Oh, can I come?”

  “No.”

  “But –”

  “No,” Sabre repeated. “You’ll only flirt and make his words all stuttery and then I’ll have to box him over the ears to get him to think straight again. Just no.” Jinx’s crush on the demon rebel would have been cute if it weren’t so pointless. Sabre knew Hound would never allow anything to happen with Jinx for too many reasons to count – despite the fact his brain turned to mush whenever the weretiger was around. On top of that, Hound had a very intricate and powerful glamour in place, so Jinx didn’t even know what his real face looked like. In typical male fashion though, Hound had chosen a face that was superbly attractive. Still, Sabre knew it wasn’t his real one and it just made her want to punch him in his perfect nose every time she saw him. Which wasn’t often these days. Circumstances didn’t allow for it.

  “Okay, well, thanks team. I’ll be off and –”

  “Wait. I’m not done.”

  Sabre was halfway out of her chair but she sank back down upon hearing Gage’s words. “There was something else?” Sabre asked.

  Gage looked at her very seriously, “You could say that. Like the fact that you’ve been having sex with Abraxis and are in love with him.” Gage crossed his arms over his chest, daring Sabre to deny it.

  Fuck, fuck, fuck! Sabre raged. She had completely forgotten that that part of her conversation with Dra’mon would also be accessible to Gage. Gage had no doubt seen and heard it all verbatim. And as her friend, he would be able to read the look on her face and see the truth in her eyes, no matter the words of denial she had spoken to the dead demon lord via his memories. Sabre quickly shook her head, saying nothing, wondering if she could kill one of her best friends and live with it. Considering the gleam in their eyes, Sabre figured it would be worth it and was just palming a knife when Jinx spoke.

  “You’re in love?” Jinx’s pupils expanded as her tiger chimed in, before she gasped, hands covering her mouth, “Dear Gods! You’re in love!”

  Sabre slammed her closed fist down on the table, snarling, “I am not in love!”

  Jinx completely ignored her outburst, eyes sparkling with fervour, “In love. With the king. Of course you are, he’s clearly the love of your life. It makes sense. Think about it,” Jinx urged. “It explains why you’ve been stalking him all these years and lusting after him from afar.”

  “I wasn’t stalking him! And there has been no lust!” Sabre fervently denied.

  Jinx stared at her, “You are so in love with him.”

  “Am not,” Sabre returned.

  “Are too!” Jinx fired back.

  “Am not!” Sabre hurled one of her throwing knives at Jinx, who simply moved an inch in order to avoid a blade to the face. The knife stuck into the back of Gage’s chair instead. Sabre ignored his annoyed growl, forging ahead, “Enough! I am not in love with Abraxis and the next person to say so will get their tongue cut out.”

  “You are soul mates! Destined to be together!” Jinx howled, completely ignoring Sabre and her hollow threats. “I mean, I’ve seen his biceps. I can only imagine what his dick must be like,” Jinx sighed, eyes turning dreamy, “You can’t fight fate, Sabre. He’s yours.”

  Sabre tossed a helpless look in Gage’s direction, begging for help but he simply shook his head, humour lighting his eyes, “All I can say is that he must have a magic dick if you’re spouting words of love and destiny after only a coup
le of weeks.”

  Sabre screamed in frustration, standing up so fast she knocked her chair over, “I am not spouting words of love and destiny. That is jerk-face Jinx over there,” Sabre pointed an accusing finger at her. “Although, I will admit one thing; Brax’s dick is pretty magic.” Sabre felt like it would be sacrilege to deny that at least.

  That comment seemed to give them all pause and after a solid thirty seconds of silence, the three of them burst into laughter. Jinx rose from her chair to wrap an arm around Sabre’s shoulder, “Oh, Sabre. Do you really love him?”

  “I –” Sabre shook her head. “I’m not allowed to. I can’t afford to.”

  Jinx’s eyes held sympathy as they looked into Sabre’s and she patted Sabre’s hair, “I’m sorry. I won’t tease you anymore. But … did you really have sex with him?”

  Sabre moaned, dropping her head into her hands, “Yes. I really did. I really, really did.”

  Gage stood up as well, coming to a stop on Sabre’s other side, “Let me get this straight; you had sex with the man whose brother you were hired to assassinate? The same man who happens to be the King of Purgatory and who hired you to find said assassin – among other things. Do I have that right?”

  Sabre scrunched up her nose, “Well, when you put it like that, it sounds kind of like a poor life choice.”

  And perhaps it had been, Sabre admitted silently. Because everything Gage said was true; Sabre had indeed been hired – and ordered – to kill Mikhail. Looking down at her calloused hands, she sometimes imagined she could still see the red from the previous king’s blood staining them. It had been a hard job to take – and to execute. Perhaps the hardest of her life. But she had done it anyway. Because of her impeccable reputation. And because of loyalty. And love. Not that she could ever explain that. Jinx and Gage knew the truth and they knew how hard it had been on her at the time. It was why they had been so against her taking the job from Brax in the first place.

  “You think maybe I overstepped a little?” Sabre eventually asked.