Mischievous Prince

by Michelle M. Pillow

  “They have made it their mission to sacrifice any human woman we bring through the portals. They believe we will see the resolve of the gods, who do not want tainted Var blood.” Rafe added. “Ivar oversaw hunting them down, but it’s not easy. Their members include several of the Old House Nobles.”

  “Our elder council members are not pleased with the portal being open either,” Finn said.

  “Do you think that is who tried to poison me?” Sadie whispered to Finn.

  “You were poisoned?” Rafe asked, indicating her whisper had not been quiet enough. “By who? When? How?”

  “There has been an attack on your family?” Ainmire asked Severin. “You did not say.”

  “It only just happened,” Galina put forth. She gestured at Sadie to speak.

  “Someone gave me a seed from the Yellow to eat,” Sadie said. “I didn’t know what it was.”

  Lassairfhina gasped. “They attempted murder inside the palace walls?”

  “I was in the village with Princess Eve. The locals discovered I liked trying new foods, and they were giving me dishes as gifts. One man gave me the seed. I don’t remember much about him. I think he had on this brown,” she paused and gestured up and down her body, “long, cape-robe kind of thing.”

  “Another called her a,” Finn glanced at his mother almost apologetically, “gwobr.”

  “Brown robes sound like the Nutef,” Rafe said, “but poisoning?”

  “We have one of our best men looking into it,” King Severin assured them.

  “Who?” Finn asked.

  “Gudmund,” Severin answered.

  Finn immediately lowered his voice. “I think we should speak after this meeting.”

  “Your brother and I already spoke about it,” Severin dismissed. “Gudmund is as loyal as they come. Already he had supplied us valuable information. I do not expect it will take him long to—”

  “This situation is unacceptable,” King Ainmire interrupted. “Our princesses are at risk. Ivar was making progress with the Nutef. We thought he was coming to Draig land to investigate the possibility of rebel Draig alliances. Instead of finding the rest to the rebels and securing our future, it turns out he was hopping through the portal with Finn.”

  “You were investigating on Draig land without informing us?” Galina demanded, her eyes flashing with gold.

  “You’re using the portal without informing us,” Ainmire countered, letting a shift ripple around his eyes. Tiny sprouts of fur appeared briefly. “That was not our agreement. We’re supposed to be equal partners.”

  “Prince Ivar and I went through without telling anyone,” Finn interrupted. “He agreed with me that the portal should remain open.”

  “Perhaps that is why he stayed. To keep it open,” Severin offered. “Ivar is a brave man.”

  “He would not abandon his investigation into the Nutef.” Lassairfhina pushed up from the chair. Her son tried to urge her to stay seated, but she swatted his hand away. “He would not go without leaving word.”

  “He did not plan to stay, but he is there now.” Finn tried to sound reasonable. “His last act before the portal closed was to send my bride through. He knows the portal schedule. When it opens, I will be there to greet him.”

  “As will I,” Sadie stated. When they all turned their intense looks in her direction, she added weakly, “for what it’s worth.”

  A long silence fell over the royal families.

  “I am not pleased with what you and my son have done,” King Ainmire said to Finn. He sighed heavily. “Tensions are already high. This year will not be easy as we wait for Ivar’s return—for any of us.”

  “I have a suggestion,” Sadie said, trying not to flinch as they all looked at her again. “What if instead of closing the portals, you let more shifters through? I would think if more of them find happiness and love, then we could dispute the Nutef’s arguments about humans being bad. If men truly just want to find mates, as it has been explained to me, then let them. Give them a chance. Send more to Earth. Regulate it. Train them. When morale is low, you must do anything you can to boost it. Do whatever must be done in the background, but hope is your best weapon against fear. Start openly working toward the goal of mass mating, even if you don’t send them all through right away.”

  Ainmire arched a brow. Severin cleared his throat. Sadie bit the inside of her lip, suddenly wishing she could take the words back. They didn’t seem to appreciate her thoughts on the matter.

  “Hm,” Lassairfhina hummed thoughtfully. She nodded her head. “You have married well, Finn. She shows much wisdom.”

  “She does?” Ainmire glanced at his wife. “But I thought we wanted the portals regulated.”

  “We want our men to find mates. They’re becoming too wild,” Lassairfhina countered. “And I want grandsons.”

  “Yes,” Galina agreed, smiling at Sadie. “The gods have truly blessed us.”

  16

  Finn held Sadie in his arms not wanting ever to leave her side. They rested on the bed, even though it was late in the morning and he should be up. He could think of nothing more important than protecting his wife from all outside threats. And if doing so meant laying in her arms all day, well that was a bonus.

  “I can’t get your mother’s face out of my head. She and Queen Lassairfhina both kept looking at my stomach like I’d become pregnant at any moment.”

  “We will have children when you wish it,” Finn answered.

  “Don’t get me wrong. I do want children. Someday. But it doesn’t feel like the right time. There are so many uncertainties and threats happening on this planet right now.” Sadie lightly ran her fingers along the side of his face.

  Finn smiled at her. The feel of her breath against his neck was amazing. He found himself liking the tender intimacy of the moment—being vulnerable and at her mercy. He had never felt anything like it. He knew this is where he wanted to be. Forever in her arms.

  “Do you think Gudmund will figure out who tried to kill me?” Sadie’s fingers stopped moving. “Do you think they will try again?”

  “I promise to protect you, Sadie.” Finn hated to see the fear in her eyes. He knew catching the person who made an attempt on her life wouldn’t fix everything, but it would be a start to easing those fears. “It looks like you were right about Gudmund. If my father and my wife both trust him, then I trust him.”

  “They will tell us what they find out as soon as they find it out, won’t they?” Sadie insisted.

  “Yes, I promise.” Finn sat up reluctantly. “I hear someone coming down the hallway now. I should get dressed.”

  Sadie tilted her head to the side and listened. “Shifter hearing must be amazing. I can’t hear anything.”

  He let the shift flash over his eyes in response. She seemed to like it when he did that. His voice dipped with sexual meaning. “We shifters are amazing at many things.”

  “Oh, I’m aware.” Sadie chuckled. “Now stop looking at me like that. Get up and get dressed and go save the dragon-shifters from these evil Nutef rebels.”

  He rolled out of bed, obeying her wishes. He pulled on a plain tunic shirt and pants, pausing long enough to kiss her as she lay on the bed watching him.

  “Be careful,” Sadie whispered, before adding, “Don’t you dare let anything happen to you.”

  “As you command, my wife,” he returned just as softly.

  Finn’s smile lasted until he stepped out of his home into the palace halls. A heaviness came over him. He did not like leaving his wife’s side. His love wanted to keep her near. His fear wanted to protect her from all the bad in the world. He wasn’t sure what he would do if he lost her. She had become as much a part of him as his dragon. It amazed him the blessings he’d received from the gods in such a short time.

  But, then, the cost had been high too. Ivar was trapped on Earth. Sadie’s life was threatened. The tensions between the Draig and the Var were mounting.

  “All will be well,” Sadie’s voice whisp
ered inside him. “Don’t worry about me. Keep yourself safe.”

  “Yes, my heart.” Finn took a deep breath to calm his fears as he heard the footsteps getting closer. As his brother appeared, he asked, “Kyran, is there news?”

  “Come. I don’t want to talk in the palace halls.” Kyran nodded for his brother to follow him. They made their way quickly through the halls. Passing a couple of the palace guards, Kyran ordered, “Stand guard over Princess Sadie.”

  “Thank you,” Finn said.

  “Don’t thank me yet. If Sadie is anything like Eve, she’ll not be happy with the restrictions on her movement.” Kyran led him to the portal tunnels.

  “Are we going on a trip?” Finn asked.

  Kyran held up a hand to his brother for silence. The guards at the portal stairwell entrance nodded in greeting. “Did the king give you instructions?” The guards nodded again. “Good.”

  When the door closed behind them, leaving them reliant on their shifter hearing and sight to navigate the dark passage, Finn said, “I don’t understand. Are the portals going to open up near Ivar?”

  “No, not the portals,” Kyran whispered. “Gudmund infiltrated a rebel sect.”

  “What sect?”

  “Draig supporters of the Nutef. We were right to suspect him of secrets, only they weren’t the kind we feared. Apparently, our parents didn’t deem it necessary to inform us of it, but they’ve had Gudmund spying on several of the others and reporting back directly to them.” Kyran passed by the unlit torches, not taking one up as he kept them in the dark. His voice was low as if he worried they’d be overheard. “We couldn’t figure out how dragons were sneaking into the portal when it’s under lock and key.”

  “Did you find which guard was letting them through?” Finn paused as his brother ducked under a protrusion.

  “Not a guard.” Kyran waited for Finn to duck under the same rock. “An old cave system that breaches the tunnel. Someone uncovered it while they were digging out the portal and didn’t report it. With the threat against the princesses, Gudmund became more aggressive in his efforts.”

  “Why didn’t the king and queen tell us about Gudmund?” Finn sighed. “We could have helped.”

  “Because they still treat us like children.”

  “Me, you mean. They give you responsibilities. They still see me as a child—some mischievous boy sneaking out of the palace, running around the countryside, and causing trouble.” Finn’s reputation as a boy was not unearned, but he’d worked hard to show he was worthy of trust.

  “Fine, yes, you. What do you expect? From day one you have not taken the portal trips seriously. You have not been looking for a bride. Until Sadie, no one thought you wanted a mate.”

  “Of course I wanted a mate,” Finn countered. “What harm was there in enjoying life while looking? I can be responsible and still have fun.”

  “Like Crystal Lake when you nearly drowned?” Kyran charged.

  “I was a boy. That was decades ago.”

  “How about the ceffyl races when you were flung off a cliff?”

  “Barely a cliff,” Finn countered.

  “You broke your arm,” Kyran said. “That bar fight on Earth.”

  “Local custom. I was blending in,” Finn answered.

  “Losing Ivar?”

  Finn didn’t have an answer for that one.

  “I’m sorry. That last one was not fair. I appreciate what you were trying to do, and had I been unmated I might have tried the same thing.” Kyran motioned that they should walk. Finn could hardly see his brother’s gesture in the darkness. “We should remain on task. The tunnels are this way. Gudmund will meet us there.”

  Kyran led the way in silence.

  About half way through a small tapping noise caught Finn’s attention. He saw a tiny thread of light. It was enough to illuminate a waving dragon-shifter hand. He laid his hand on Kyran’s shoulders. “There.”

  “Gudmund,” Kyran answered. He quickened his pace and shifted into dragon form before reaching up. Within seconds Gudmund had pulled the prince into a hidden ridge along the top of the tunnel.

  Finn darted by several times but failed to see the opening, until Gudmund’s hand reached down, triggering Finn to shift before jumping for momentum to help Gudmund lift him into the secret caves. The opening was tight as he passed through. After a short crawl, he was able to stand. Gudmund had lit a torch, making it easier to see.

  Kyran stood, peering into a corner. When his brother stepped aside, Finn frowned. Gudmund had Cleve bound and gagged. The man’s eyes begged for release, while at the same time conveying he didn’t expect the two princes to help him.

  “Cleve is the traitor?” Finn balled his hands into fists. He thought of Sadie, of the poison in her hand lifting toward her lips. The urge to beat Cleve into a bloody pile of nothing was temptingly strong. How dare this man betray them? And after they’d given him such an important position guarding the portals.

  Gudmund gave a small kick on the bottom of his prisoner’s foot. “No, he’s merely a fool.” He reached down to pull the gag. “Tell them.”

  Cleve took several gulps of air, pretending as if he needed to catch his breath before speaking, but Finn smelled the young man’s fear.

  “Go on,” Gudmund ordered.

  “I thought I was doing right. I believed I was helping our people,” Cleve said.

  “Enough excuses. Tell them what you have done,” Gudmund commanded.

  “You weren’t letting dragons through the portal,” Cleve accused the royals. “Our people are dying out, and you are keeping the cure for yourselves. We all have a right to find mates. That’s why I told Montague—”

  “Montague?” Finn interrupted. “He is behind the exodus?”

  “Why would he send men to Earth? That makes no sense. He wants the portals closed. He hates Earth.” Kyran asked.

  “No, he doesn’t,” Cleve denied. He spoke of it with conviction. “He’s been sending dragons through to the promise land. He’s saving us.”

  “He’s stranding our people on an alien world,” Gudmund countered. “He’s hurting us.”

  “What proof do we have that you’re telling the truth?” Kyran asked Cleve.

  “My word, by my honor,” Cleve answered.

  Gudmund snorted in disbelief.

  Finn pulled his brother away from the two guards so they wouldn’t be overheard. “What if Montague started the exodus and the rumors about the portals to cause a fake panic? What better way than to take control and be the hero to the people than by proving you’re the only voice of reason in a situation? All those who know the truth would be stuck on Earth when the portal closes.”

  Kyran shook his head. “What would he have to gain by that?”

  “Everything,” came an irritated voice.

  At the word both brothers lifted their arms, ready to fight. None expected the elder to be in the caves. They had not heard his approach as the sound was dampened by the damp moss along the rocky walls. Montague stood with five men Finn did not recognize—four dragons, and a shifted cat. All six of them were draped in brown robes of the Nutef. They blocked the main entrance to the cave.

  “I knew your grandfather. When I was a boy, he was a great ruler,” Montague said. “Now there was a man who understood what it meant to be in power. He didn’t hesitate to do what must be done. He did not coddle the people. He was a true king.”

  “Those were different times,” Finn said. “Barbaric times.”

  “And what times are these now?” Montague asked, spreading his arms as he had in the council hall, performing for his robed audience. “Times of weakness and indecision. A time of weak princes who don’t know their place,” he motioned to Finn, and then Kyran, “and future kings who can’t control their own brother.”

  “My brother does not need controlled,” Kyran spat. “You do.”

  Montague laughed, holding his stomach and tilting back his head. “He abandoned the Var prince. His actions threaten war upo
n our people.”

  “War?” Finn repeated. He sized up the robed men. Even with Gudmund, they were outnumbered two to one. “No one is speaking of war. We met with the Var royals. They know Ivar chose his own actions.”

  A few of the men glanced at each other as if silently questioning the truth of Finn’s words.

  “If the Var royals rule their kingdom as loosely as you do yours, then I doubt they can control their people any better than you have. The Draig need strength, not weakness. We need leaders,” as he spoke, Montague’s eyes moved to Cleve, “not friends.”

  “I only spoke the truth. We are—” Cleve tried to explain.

  “Quiet. You betrayed your brothers,” Montague warned the bound man.

  “Careful, my lord,” Gudmund warned. “What you speak of borders on treachery.”

  “I’m sorry,” Montague laughed, the boisterous sound annoying in its loudness. He held out his hand, and one of his followers placed a knife in it. “Borders on?” The blade moved leisurely in the air. “I thought I was clearer than that. We want to overthrow the monarchy. We want strength in the throne of power. We want—”

  “By all the dragons, stop blustering,” Finn said in exasperation. “I’m tired of hearing that you want to be king. We get it, Monty.”

  Montague’s face turned red with anger at the impudent tone. The odds were not great, seven Nutefs against the three of them.

  “It will not happen,” Kyran stated.

  Montague shifted and leaped forward, hoping to get the upper hand. Finn’s dragon armor covered his body in defense but not soon enough. He felt the deep cut of a talon down his arm. It ripped his flesh, leaving it burning. He threw his hands up, knocking Montague’s hand that wielded the blade. The elder released the knife, and Finn heard a sickening thud as it found a target.

  “Kyran?” Finn glanced back. His brother was unharmed. The blade had imbedded in Cleve’s side. When he turned back, he caught the gleam of satisfaction in Montague’s expression that the blade hit the target it did. Cleve groaned softly but was helpless in his binds.

  At the elder’s actions, four of his robed followers backed away, staring at Cleve in disbelief. They ran from the cavern, evening the odds. The other two attacked. The room became a flurry of swinging limbs and slashing talons. Finn reacted on instinct, blocking assaults as they came. His heart beat hard, pumping energy through his entire body. He thought of Sadie, of protecting Sadie. These men had tried to kill her.