I would be lying if I said that it didn’t make me feel a little giddy to know I had such powerhouses at my disposal. I could see it now. I didn't need to be like my father —crushing uprisings and making deals as a means to maintain power and order in Hell. No, I had four strong, able-bodied mates who could keep me powered up for the end of time. I could squash riots and rebellions as soon as it happened. I could make deals to make things better. I could keep the princes in line with my four stronger beings. It would be a different kind of life from the draining and sad one my father had.
I stretched, expecting to hit some limb or chest or some form of man meat, but when I felt around, I discovered that the bed was empty. I sighed, enjoying all the room but feeling a little twinge of sadness. I secretly wished at least one of them had stayed with me.
I told myself not to be so silly. They each had rooms for a reason, and they probably wanted to get comfortable in this new place. I needed to not look a gift horse in the mouth and enjoy this feeling. For only the second time in my life, I felt completely rested and full, which felt amazing and put me in a good mood for the day. Feeding off four of your mates could really make your day. I would advise this lifestyle for everyone.
I sat up, and when I looked down, noticed that I was wearing a set of sheer boy shorts and a bra, which I guessed was Con’s doing. He seemed like the only brother that cared about fashion and functionality. I mean, it was kind of annoying, because I usually liked to wear comfy, baggy clothes to bed, but when I looked in the mirror, I had to admit I looked hot. Plus, with the material being sheer, it didn't make me too hot or constrict my movement. Maybe I could add this to the rotation, keep it spicy.
I looked up from my body and saw the worst case of bed head I had ever seen. I shrieked and jumped up, quickly trying to brush it out and mumbling about my sleeping routine getting messed up. Despite the mess of my hair, I was having a hard time regretting last night. I mean, the sex had been fucking phenomenal, and I definitely wanted to do it again and again. The boys were going to make an addict out of me if they kept this up. Speaking of, where are my little powerhouses…or horses. I smiled at my joke as I got up.
I tugged on a robe in a hurry and opened the door. As soon as I was in the hallway, my stomach grumbled voraciously. Although my magic was at an all-time high, my body most definitely wanted some fuel now too. Okay, mission one, find Reggie and get food.
I kept repeating that over and over in my head as I hunted all over the house for him. I searched all the bedrooms, mates’ rooms, and my father’s hobby rooms upstairs, which I never wanted to go into again. What I saw there had scarred me for life. I made my way downstairs, wondering where the heck everyone was.
I opened the sitting-room door first, expecting Reggie to be either eating or doing some chore he enjoyed, when, to my surprise, I found Fame at the table, surrounded by papers, maps, and contracts.
He looked up at me and smiled. Suddenly my heart melted into a puddle of goo. I had never had someone look at me like that first thing in the morning while I looked like the big bad wolf ready to huff and puff my way through the whole house.
“How did you sleep, princess?”
I watched his face for any sneers or condescension, but surprisingly, there was none. His smirk said he could tell what I was thinking, which just annoyed me, so I walked in and did the last thing he thought I would do. I gave him a kiss on his cheek and sat next to him.
It was hilarious to see shock and awe on Fame's usually calm and serious face before he composed himself and looked back down at the papers in front of him. His cheeks got a little red as he made himself focus, and I found it all to be heartbreakingly adorable and so normal it was abnormal.
“Where are the others?” My curiosity was piqued, since I hadn't seen them in their rooms, or during the upstairs exploration, but I also hadn't finished searching downstairs.
He flipped over a page from the stack he was reading and continued scanning it as he said, “Con is in the conference room with a couple of the princes, trying to settle a dispute about a wandering soul and whose fault it was.”
My eyes got wide as he continued, “War and D are settling a small skirmish that started up in the circle of Envy. Apparently, the souls were pissed that we were able to leave. Surprise, surprise.”
Now my mouth dropped open, but he just kept going like this was just a normal day in the neighborhood. “And I am going over some of the boundary lines, familiarizing myself with some of the deals your father has made with some of the souls, demons, and the princes. For being so flippant about everything, he must have a mind like a steel trap, because these deals are so intricate and complicated that it would put some of the best lawyers to shame.”
He looked up at me finally, but I didn't have time to cover my utterly stupefied expression. Had he really just told me that while I had been sleeping, they’d all taken it upon themselves to help me run this shit show? But why?
Before I could grill him on their reasoning, Reggie walked in with a serving tray full of food, not surprised to see me. He walked over and placed the tray in front of Fame and me.
“I prepared eggs, pancakes, and sausage for you, Your Majesty. I thought you would be hungry after thelongnight you had.”
Aaannnnddd there was the dig I’d been expecting. Fame's mouth twitched at his comment but didn't say anything.
Reggie turned to him. “I also thought that Mr. Famine would enjoy a coffee, black, and blueberry scone for breakfast.”
Reggie was out of the door faster than I could react. I lifted my hand to call out to him, but the door shut, and I knew he wouldn’t be back. That bastard was trying to give me time with my new mates. He’d made that very clear when he’d explained what being power drunk did to me.
“Did you need something?” Fame said, and I almost jumped in my seat.
I was not used to having people help me, let alone four mates who were trying to woo me, because that had to be what they were trying to do, right? But again, why? What did they have to gain? They were already my mates. What was their end goal? Make me trust them before they try to stab me in the back?
My stomach growled as I looked at the plate of food on the tray, ready to surge forward and attack that plate like the hungry savage I was, but my eyes slid to Fame, and I hesitated. I didn't want to look like a big, fat pig in front of my new mate. That was like year two stuff.
He chuckled under his breath as he picked up the plate off the tray. I almost snarled at him for trying to take my food before he set it in front of me, then continued his reading.
I snatched a sausage off the plate and devoured it in five seconds before I responded, “I was looking for my phone.” I made up an excuse on the fly, but when I really thought of it, I actually did need my phone. “I need to check my emails and forward some things to Cass to make sure she has everything she needs to run the company while I’m gone.”
Fame reached into his pocket, not looking away from what he was reading, as he pulled out my phone and placed it next to my plate. “Is this what you are talking about?”
I was about to go all psycho chick on him, telling him how he couldn't just take someone's phone from them, when he kept going.
“I left it on your vanity, but it kept ringing and ringing, and you didn't wake up. I was worried it was something important, so I answered the phone. If by Cass, you mean Miss. Cassandra Mendoza, then you are correct that she was worried. She couldn't reach you with your seal bond, as you were out cold from the power influx, but I talked to her and straightened it all out.”
