of distance from my beautiful new wife, I feel so guilty. Mal was right all along. It was selfish to claim her.
An Elder approaches us cautiously, stopping about ten feet away to bow low and respectfully. “Guardian Maalik, Guardian Reule, this is a pleasant surprise. What brings you here this morning?”
The man swallows audibly, and there’s a bead of sweat on his forehead. He’s clearly terrified, but for once, I don’t care. I watch his gaze dart to our wrists, but our coat sleeves cover our fresh rune marks. My nostrils flare in anger. Did he hurt Isla? Is he responsible for what happened to her?
Maalik storms past the Elder, practically shoving him out of the way so the man stumbles over his own feet. “We’re here to speak with King Janak. I suggest you fetch him for us, quickly.”
A wicked grin forms on my face as I follow my eldest brother up the pathway leading to the throne room. Between the four of us, Maalik is always the one to keep a level head. I’ve never seen him disrespect an Elder or the king. Even though he’s awful at sharing his feelings, it’s obvious Maalik is just as smitten with Isla as the rest of us. He’s ready to defend her honor no matter the consequences.
Prince Ilari and Princess Ozara are lounging up on the dais, but the throne room is otherwise empty. They’re laughing until they see us, and Ilari nearly falls out of his seat from trying to sit up too quickly. Ozara remains in her relaxed pose, her calculating eyes watching our every move.
“Maalik, Reule!” Ilari stands up, grimacing when his voice cracks the slightest bit. I almost smile at that. He and his sister recently turned eighteen, and it’s been quite a few years since I’ve heard his voice change.
“Where is your father?” Maalik asks, leaving no room for polite conversation.
Ozara tilts her head at us, resting her cheek on her hand lazily. She’s wearing boys’ clothing and has dark makeup smeared around her eyes. I’ve always had a soft spot for the princess, despite her being widely-disliked by the nobles. But the bored expression she’s trying to project is seriously pissing me off to no end.
“Did you claim that girl last night?” she asks disdainfully.
I bare my teeth in anger and snarl loudly enough to frighten her. I feel a sick sense of satisfaction when she sits up straight, finally showing us the respect Maalik and I deserve. “Did you watch as she was shoved into a cage like an animal by people she doesn’t know and can’t understand? Did you think of her wellbeing for one second after that Elder left here with her in the back of his sled? She almost froze to death!”
Ozara’s face crumples, and Ilari holds his hands up defensively as he shakes his head frantically at us. “I tried to stop it, I swear! Father wouldn’t even let me take off her shackles!”
Shackles? My fists clench, and I breathe angrily out of my nose while I desperately try to keep myself from shifting. Discovering that my poor, sweet kitten was restrained at any point makes me a thousand times more furious. I only know a little of what Isla’s been through, and I’m amazed at her strength and bravery.
Maalik grips my shoulder hard in warning, and it helps to ground me. Ozara is weeping quietly with tears streaming down her face.
“Is she okay? I only saw her for a moment before she left, but the other girls stayed with me the past two nights. They were so frightened…”
“Other girls?” I ask in shock. Mal appears just as horror-stricken as I feel.
The twins glance at each other, and Ilari nods hesitantly. “Father had a bunch of girls brought here who were being held captive by demons in other realms. He planned on giving most of them jobs here in the castle so they could have a fresh start in Briya, but he wanted to choose one of them to be your mate.”
Mate. My brothers and I hate that word. It sounds so primal and inhuman. That may be how most of the world sees us, but it’s certainly not how we see ourselves. Isla is our wife, even if our claiming her and the bond we share with her are magical and unconventional.
My brain catches up with the rest of what Ilari just said about a half second before Maalik rasps, “Demons? Isla was being held captive by a