“Don’t you dare. Stop right there!” Lucie narrowed her eyes and pointed her finger in the direction of the two guys. They both lifted their fingers and pointed to themselves. Lucie giggled and shook her head. “I figured you had a cave brownie in here.Lower me down, please.” She looked up at Ryan, who was staring down at her with fascination. The way he was looking at her made her feel a bit self-conscious. It was like he was staring into her soul. Slowly, he lowered her to the ground but leaned down behind her to support her body.
Lucie swallowed hard and shook her mind of her impure thoughts. She reached her hand out. “Well … come here.” She smiled as the small, furry creature bounced over to her. It climbed into her hand, and she giggled at it. “Are you having fun in here, causing trouble?” She stroked its back. “I need you to do me a favor, little friend. Can you find me a messenger and direct them here? I need to send a message to my parents.” The furry creature spun around in her hand and jumped off, ran to the stone wall, and disappeared into it. Brownies were cute but troublesome, especially for those who couldn’t see them.
“What were you doing?” Tonya asked, stepping in front of Lucie to look at her.
“You had a cave brownie in here. That’s why your things get moved and go missing. Or why water gets mysteriously tipped over.” Lucie giggled and looked at the two guys near the television. “But I asked him to bring back a messenger fairy so I can get a message to my parents.”
“A cave brownie? I didn’t see anything,” one of the guys near the television said.
“You can’t see them unless you have fairy vision.” Lucie smiled.
“You have fairy vision?” Tonya asked, surprised.
“Um … yes. I have fairy blood in me.” Lucie watched as Tonya looked at Ryan in confusion.
“How can you be part werewolf, part fairy, and have pure vampire blood in your veins?” Tonya marveled at this mysterious girl.
“Part witch too,” Lucie said quietly.
“Who are you exactly?”
Lucie opened her mouth to answer, but the messenger fairy had already arrived. “Oh perfect. That was fast,” she said, redirecting her attention to the little speedster. “You know who I am?” She watched the fairy nod its head as it hovered on hummingbird-like wings. “Tell my parents that I’m safe and I’ll come back to them soon, but that I’m hiding until it’s safe.” She wasn’t about to let her parents know she was injured. “Also, it’s important to let them know that Meryl’s granddaughter Beryl is up to something. They will want to alert the covens and maybe even Aunt Reiya. Okay now, be quick, little friend.” The fairy zipped out in a blur. They could travel fast and would get to her parents within the hour. She sighed. At least they wouldn’t have to worry about whether she was okay or not.
A low grumbling sound came from Lucie’s stomach and her cheeks heated in embarrassment. Ryan chuckled behind her, lifting her up once again.
“Let’s get you something to eat. By the way … you are adorable.” Ryan smiled as he cradled her into his chest.
“Please don’t think like that about me. I told you. I’m engaged.” Lucie had to choke the words out. She didn’t want to have to deny her mate. And already, she found herself thinking about being his instead of being Derrick’s promised bride.
Ryan chuckled as he carried her. She was his. The one who was made for him, and he knew she knew it, too. Still … it was cute watching her try to fight it.
CHAPTER 9
“I’m surprised you have a cook here,” Lucie said as she stared into the kitchen where the chef had disappeared after asking how she wanted her eggs.
“Really? Well, I guess it would seem odd, if we were just a bunch of vagabonds,” Tonya said, flashing a bright smile as Zach walked into the room, taking a seat next to her at the long table.
“I bet you thought we were just a small band of rogues, huh?” Zach chuckled as he kissed Tonya’s temple.
“Hey, I wasn’t going to judge.” Lucie smiled sheepishly. She definitely thought they were just a random band of rogues.
“Nope. Not us. We are the prince’s men,” Zach said, causing Lucie to spit up her drink.
“You’re Derrick’s men?” Lucie coughed out. She looked over at Ryan, who tilted his head and smiled at her.
“You know our prince?” Zach said, flashing his eyes at Ryan then back to her. “And why are you speaking his name so casually?”
“Well …” Lucie squirmed a bit uncomfortably in her chair. She wasn’t going to say anything about who she was, but maybe it was for the best. After all, if Ryan knew she was his prince’s fiancée, he would understand why she couldn’t be his mate. She fiddled with her fingers as she stared at them. “I’m Derrick’s fiancée.” She looked up to see Zach and Tonya’s jaws drop. Out of the corner of her eye, she looked at Ryan. She noticed his eyes flickered slightly but his expression didn’t change.
“Wait. You’re the prince’s fiancée? Then that means you’re the werewolf princess?” Zach asked, and she nodded slowly. “Bloody hell. How the hell did you end up captured?”
“That’s what I want to know too.” Ryan’s eyes darkened as his voice lowered.
His changed demeanor made Lucie look at him for a moment. She didn’t know why, but the fact that he sounded upset made her feel upset. Maybe it was because he was her mate?
“I allowed myself to get taken. I wanted to know what they were up to. I heard them mention my pack’s name, so I thought I would get answers.”
“So you willingly let them take you?” Ryan growled. His amber eyes seemed to glow as anger radiated from him. “You could have been killed.”
