in the princess’s suite with Cinder, naked. He gave Shar a subtle nod of thanks, no doubt the demoness had filled in the rest of them on her suspicions, since not even the princess was surprised by him adding another concubine.
It also meant he now had six women to sate, twice a day, though the morning orgy would make that easier since they all helped each other out too save the princess. He wasn’t sure what the practical limit would be there, but he really hoped it didn’t come up again. He had more than any one man, or dragon, deserved that way as it was. He also wasn’t complaining, but there was only so much time in the day.
Cinder told the princess what she was, and it went pretty well actually. She also left it up to the princess on whether to tell anyone else, like her father. She didn’t seem to overly care which way Stephanie went with it.
He supposed that was because she was his now, and his to take care of. She didn’t have to worry about being run off, or even the crown no longer hiring her to provide her a living. She was his, and she’d never want for anything if he had his way.
After that, they all gave into their baser natures and needs. It had surprised and delighted him just how much his princess seemed to enjoy being watched and watching him with the others. Of course, it wasn’t all at once. One of them had to guard the suites, the twins or one of the others were with April in his rooms, while the rest of them were in the princess’s bed as they switched things around as the night progressed.
He was so damned spoiled. He was also confident enough to realize that so were they…
Chapter Twenty
The rest of the week passed quickly. He took care of his bonded mates, April, and practiced his sorcery magic, and also his one spell. They continued to have daily meetings, but nothing really changed on that front, and they had their plan.
No one, not even the king, had been happy to hear his plan. To challenge his sister before battle broke out. They were all worried about him, but they agreed not to interfere when the time came. The hope was his fight with his sister would awe and terrify the enemy army enough that they’d abandon the plan if he won, and of course if he lost the fight and his succubus was banished then they’d have no more valid reason to continue it.
Realistically however, they had an army on the border, and he knew the emperor would be tempted to use it anyway.
The enemy started their march north a day late, but other than that Cinder’s intelligence through spying was flawless. No doubt she’d been listening to their strategy sessions through the candles or lanterns in the area.
It was also when he’d had to say goodbye to his princess for the duration, and they went down to the fort. The fort was made up of stone fortified walls, surrounding basic barracks and small cottages for the officers and nobles involved.
The wizards and witches that accompanied them fortified the walls with magical protections that would slow down the two enemy earth sorcerers and five wizards. He hoped it all turned out to be unnecessary, but they had to prepare for the worst just in case his plans to stop it all came to naught.
The men who volunteered to man the watch towers to the east and west of the fort were given orders to abandon their posts at the first sign of trouble. They didn’t want to throw away any lives, but they had to make the enemy believe their plans were working to draw in their main force so he could them surprise them.
His training continued for those last few days, and he also worked on wielding his fire sorcery using Cinder instead of a spell. Every little bit counted. He tried to stay positive, and not worry his bonded, but he was a realist and the plan was extremely risky. He hated to even admit it to himself, but their loving as he sated their lust and his on that last morning was tinged with desperation.
The enemy was sighted mid-morning on the fifth day after they’d started their march north. The thousand solider legion marched in twenty lines of fifty soldiers, the supply wagons and carriages for the prince and magic