Page 10 of Filthy Fae

“Oh, little brother, let me tell you—”

“We don’t have time for whatever inappropriate story you’re about to tell, especially in light of tonight’s circumstances, Spring,” Autumn said as he jerked his head toward the door, gesturing for my brother to take off before turning to me. “I’m assuming you’re going to wait here for the werewolf, and we’re going to be left with the joyous task of explaining your absence to your mother.”

“I wouldn’t want you to have a boring evening,” I told him.

His nostrils flared, but he nodded.

Winter unfurled from the chair, sheathing his blade and striding from the room without a word.

Naveen gave my head another rub before punching my shoulder.

I went to punch him back, but Naveen somehow hooked me in a headlock, leaned in, and whispered into my ear, “After that scene, Golden Boy, I get it. I get it. But don’t think our mother dearest won’t kill you for puppy love. A woman like your wolf queen wouldn’t want that.”

He pushed me away, winked, and headed after Winter. Autumn stayed, which was better than Winter staying, but not by much.

I threw myself back into an uncomfortable-as-fuck waiting room chair. Throwing my arms around the back of the chairs to either side of me, I looked up at the red-haired prince and lifted my brows. “What’s up?”

“Isn’t she married?”

“Who?” I tilted my head, pretending I didn’t know who he was referring to.

“Scarlet Riley, newly assigned alpha of the Six Rivers pack. Isn’t. She. Married?”

Crossing my feet at the ankle, I said, “It’s complicated. But even if Scarlet was married, I would still be sitting here, and I still wouldn’t be marrying your mother.”

“Complicated how?”

“I like you, Autumn. You’re a good guy with a terrible job. But this is none of your business.”

“I wish it wasn’t,” he said. “But twenty-two fae died today, and even though Titania didn’t know or care which ones, she meant it when she said she’s going to start picking off your alpha’s wolves one by one. She’s certain that the werewolves are guilty, and I’m inclined to believe her. That would cause a war that I’ve been doing my damnedest to prevent ever since we moved to Heartland. That would be my business. Like it or not, you’re the golden boy.” When I snorted a bitter laugh at that, he raised his voice. “You’re Oberon and Titania’s son.”

I leaned my elbows on my knees and clicked my tongue. “One of a kind. I’m just so special.”

“You love this woman. Don’t bring a war to her pack. Give Titania and my bitch of a mother what they want, let Titania forget her threat against Scarlet Riley’s pack, and keep your relationship with the alpha discreet. It doesn’t mean you can’t still see her—”

“Thanks for your advice, Prince of Autumn,” I interrupted as a squirming feeling writhed in my stomach.

Autumn waited another second before reaching forward and patting my shoulder. “No relationship is worth a war. You have to share Scarlet. Would it really be so much to ask her to share you as well?”

Now he was pissing me off. “We both know that the moment I agree to my mother’s marriage deal, she’ll ship me off to the Autumn Court while she has my head under her axe. I’ll be lucky to resurface this century. It doesn’t matter. The answer is no, Autumn. Never going to happen. Scarlet has her shit together. If the werewolf is guilty, she’ll deal with it. If he isn’t guilty, Scarlet will prove it. Even Queen Titania isn’t about to break the treaties and start an unjustified war with the wolves. She’s throwing a tantrum, that’s all. We’ve got this handled. Just back off and give us a couple of days to sort it out.”

His auburn brows rose, but his expression was far from convinced. “When it comes down to it, you’ll agree to this marriage deal to save Scarlet’s pack. She’ll never forgive you if you don’t.”

“Are we done?” I asked, pushing back my hair from my eyes. “You know what, I’ll answer that. We’re done here. Just…” I sighed. “Please, help give us enough time to fix this.”

He tossed my keys into the air and caught them. “I’ll do what I can.”

Chapter Five

Scarlet

Zane sat alone at a rectangular buffed-metal table wringing his hands. He had a medium build, not bulky or thin, but today, with a gray jumpsuit hanging off his frame, he looked positively gaunt, like he was shrinking every moment the hand of blame pointed at him. The room reeked of sex, fear, and old blood.

I did my best not to gag. The sight of him filled me with a strange mixture of anger and pity. I’d spent too long with the bastard not to feel for him.

The room was barely big enough to fit the three of us, but Jane shut the door, dragged a steel chair from the wall, and started unloading papers from her briefcase onto the metal table. She didn’t look up as she said, “They’re not listening, Alpha.”

I hadn’t asked, but I’d been peering at the mirrored walls and black boxes fastened at each of the room’s corners.