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Chapter Twelve

Roth

I was not a cuddler.

Which was why Samara was tucked between Draven and Alaric with Kieran resting his head on the prince’s bare chest. Samara, the lazy shit, had slept through us carrying her to the washroom to clean her up.

We’d all agreed to let her sleep a while since we didn’t know when we’d have this opportunity again, but she’d woken up soon after we’d all climbed into bed, that sleepy, blissful smile still on her face.

I was sprawled across the bottom of the bed.

These rooms had clearly been designed for the high-ranking Fae because this bed was enormous.

It was even bigger than Samara’s at House Harker.

I was already plotting how we could come back here and steal it, because we’d definitely need a bigger bed so we all had room to sleep.

Maybe I could set up a chaise or something too? I’d liked sleeping in the same room as Samara before she’d been taken. Now I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep without knowing she was there.

But I still didn’t want to fucking cuddle.

I had to admit that this was nice though.

All of us together—except Vail. But since he was my least favorite of the group, I didn’t really care.

The asshole had betrayed her. One word from me, and I knew my brothers would make him disappear.

I wasn’t sure if Samara would like that or not.

She acted like she hated him, and every word they exchanged was caustic .

. . but I saw the way Vail looked at her when he thought no one was watching.

And I saw the way Samara looked at him a second after he turned away.

It was the same look—full of hurt and longing.

I had no idea what the fuck to do about that. I’d have to ask Kieran or Draven about it later; Alaric was almost as useless as me when it came to navigating emotional clusterfucks.

But that could wait. My family wasn’t back yet, so we could enjoy this peace and quiet a little longer before the world came crashing back in. Maybe I could nap . . .

“What is our priority going to be once we reach House Devereux?”

Of course, Alaric ruined the mellow vibe.

Everyone groaned, and I grinned. I decided Alaric did have his uses after all. He was worse than me at reading the room. It was nice not being the only socially awkward one.

I propped myself up, bending my elbow so I could rest my head on my hand and better see everyone. Alaric stared up at the ceiling, his mouth pressed into a hard line. “We have a lot of problems and no workable plans for any of them.”

I mourned the nap that could have been.

“What? Killing everyone who opposes us isn’t a workable plan?” Draven drawled. “Are your sword skills so lacking?”

“My sword skills are just fine,” Alaric ground out.

Draven gave Samara a pitying look. “It’s good that you have me and Kieran. We’re quite good with our swords—definitely better than just fine .”

“Stop antagonizing him,” Samara chided Draven, her expression serious until her gaze collided with Kieran’s, then her resolve crumpled in an instant. She made a sound that was somewhere between a snort and a laugh.

A hand flew to her face to cover it up, and we all stared at her. She did it again.

The irritated look on Alaric’s face was quickly forgotten when he looked away from Draven to gaze down on Samara. A small, close-lipped smile graced his lips. Wow. I hadn’t even known he was capable of smiling.

“It’s not funny,” she grumbled, even as her lips quirked up.

“False.” The corners of Alaric’s eyes crinkled slightly. “It’s adorably funny.”

I chuckled, as did Kieran and Draven.

“Mad at all of you.” Samara sighed before scooting back on the bed until her back rested against the headboard. Then she crossed her legs underneath herself. “Alright, let’s hash everything out.” She chewed her bottom lip, a slight crease forming between her brows.

I knew that look. That was the I have a lot of emotionally heavy shit to drop on everyone look.

Oh, nap, how I miss you.

“Samara.” Kieran raised his head off Draven’s chest and sat up, mirroring her cross-legged pose. Draven took one look at Samara, released a long-suffering sigh, and maneuvered until he was sitting beside Kieran.

Clearly, they both recognized that expression too.

“What?” Alaric blinked at everyone, confusion etching his features.

“Wow.” I stared at Alaric in wonder. “Someone more clueless than me at reading people.”

Kieran started laughing so hard, tears streamed down his cheeks. Alaric glared at him, then got distracted when Samara bent over and planted an upside-down kiss on his lips. My eyes flicked to Draven, and I found him admiring Kieran, like that laugh was the best thing he’d ever heard.

I knew Alaric still bore a grudge against the prince because of everything that had transpired between him and Kieran.

Specifically how Draven humiliated Kieran at an event and then publicly ended their tryst. Alaric and Kieran had been best friends for a long time, and Alaric apparently wasn’t as willing to forgive and forget what Draven had done.

I wasn’t sure how he didn’t see how much Draven loved Kieran though. It was nauseating, really. Kieran and Samara were the prince’s entire world. If Alaric didn’t figure that out soon, maybe I’d have to clue him in.

I chuckled under my breath. Who would have thought that I would ever be in a position to give someone emotional insight?

Gradually, Kieran got his laughter under control, and everyone seemed to settle down—although that crease between her dark brows was back on Samara’s face.

As if she sensed me studying her, those entrancing purple eyes fell on me, and she gave me a small smile.

“How about you break things down for us, Roth? Then I’ll add in my . . . information.”

I was really curious about what Samara had learned, but she clearly needed to build up to telling us, so I did as she asked.

“We should group the problems together as much as we can to minimize how many plans we need.” I held up one finger. “The crown and Carmilla are one. Getting the crown away from Carmilla will help neutralize her as a threat and make her easier to capture.”

Everyone nodded in agreement as Samara bit her lip.

This had to be tough on her. She was an incredibly rational person .

. . but Carmilla was her family. I knew she would do what she had to, but I hoped we’d be able to simply imprison Carmilla and keep her from causing more trouble for Samara’s sake.

I continued, a second finger joining the first. “Two.

Tangentially related, but we need to determine how unstabilized the Moroi Houses have become.

Right now, everyone is waiting for the dust to settle after Queen Velika's death and Carmilla rising to take her place. Nobody knows exactly what happened, and Carmilla is using that to her advantage, but when she is”—I glanced at Samara—“taken out of the running, there is going to be a power vacuum.”

“House Tepes and House Devereux won’t try to fill the void,” Alaric said.

“The Devereux are isolationists; they’ll try to make it on their own.

” I made a noise of agreement. My birth House did not give a single shit about ruling the other Houses.

“And Tepes already prefers to deal with the Velesians over the Moroi. This will only cause them to further separate themselves from the other Houses.”

“House Salvatore is a bit of a wild card,” Kieran added thoughtfully, “but my parents and House Corvinus will absolutely try to seize this opportunity to gain more power.”

Samara went absolutely still, and her eyes widened in panic.

“Sam?” Kieran focused on her. “Why did you just tense up? Did something happen with my parents?”

Oh shit. Was that what she’d been keeping from us? No . . . She looked almost blindsided by the mention of Kieran’s parents, like she’d forgotten something.

“They’re still alive,” Samara said quickly.

“More’s the pity,” Draven drawled, earning a smirk from Kieran, who then kissed his chest. Ugh. They were so grossly affectionate.

“I’m sorry, I should have told you sooner, Kier,” Samara apologized. “But with the rescue and seeing you all again, it just slipped my mind and?—”

“Sam,” Kieran cut her off gently. “It’s fine. I’m glad we were able to so thoroughly distract you.” He winked at her, and she huffed a laugh, some of the worry fading from her face.

Okay. So sometimes his obnoxious, cutesy mannerisms had their uses. I’d put up with anything if it made Samara happy.

“They arrived at the Sovereign House a couple of days ago,” Samara explained.

“Of course they did.” Kieran sighed. “Let me guess, they were playing the roles of slightly bewildered but oh so supportive courtiers?”

“Yep,” she said with a pop.

“Carmilla saw through their bullshit, used the crown on them, and sent them back to House Corvinus to act as spies?”

“Yep,” Samara repeated.

“Something eventually is going to have to be done about House Corvinus,” Alaric rubbed his forehead. “All the Houses are devious, but their plotting is on another level. They don’t give a shit about all Moroi surviving, only their House.”

“I know.” Samara chewed on her bottom lip. “But that’s a future problem. We have to stop Carmilla from brainwashing all the Houses one by one and then starting a potential war with the Velesians.”

“That brings us to problem three.” I wiggled three fingers in the air. “Moroi and Velesian relations have been growing more strained for years. Only House Tepes and House Harker had decent trade policies in place with them . . .”

“And now, thanks to Vail, House Harker can kiss its good relations goodbye.” Samara chewed on her lip, debating if she should say something, then decided to just get it all out there. “And you should all know that I won’t leave Rynn with the Alpha Pack if she doesn’t want to be there.”

“Another prison break.” Kieran grinned. “Fun.”

“Not fun.” Alaric glared at him.

“Definitely fun,” Draven agreed, earning himself a glare too.