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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

WREN

T hree faces stared at him from around the table, all with varying degrees of solemnity.

Skye looked concerned as he watched Wren pace, his eyes tracking his movements as he wore a path in front of the balcony.

Gabriel looked interested, eyes bright, like he was waiting to hear how he could help. And Sonnet…

Well, Sonnet mostly looked amused.

“Are you going to tell us what’s going on in that head of yours?” Gabe leaned back in his chair much the way Neah had the night before, the contrast striking Wren dumb for a moment. “Or do you want us to just watch you brood in silence?”

Wren scowled and Skye threw Gabe a look that typically translated to behave .

“I have been doing some… snooping.” The statement received quizzical looks from all three of them. “Spying,” he clarified. “On Neah and Zennon.”

Only Sonnet looked unperturbed by the news. “And? What did you discover, my king?”

He paused in his pacing to fold his arms across his chest and level her with a look that he hoped communicated his ire. “I suspect you know.”

“Well don’t keep the rest of us in suspense,” Gabe protested and Wren sighed as he dropped into the empty chair in the centre of the group.

“Zennon is Neah’s half-sister and Neah is—Neah is a spy.” The words left him in a rush that felt a lot like relief and the bright sunshine behind the balcony doors caught in Sonnet’s eyes as she watched him closely.

“Interesting,” she said slowly, consideringly, and Wren narrowed his eyes. “I can assure you, Your Majesty, I knew of no such duplicity.”

“It gets better,” he continued. “Or worse, depending on how you look at it. Neah uncovered a plot. Someone tried to hire the hunter’s guild to kill me.”

That, at least, got more of a reaction from his friends.

Skye whistled. “That’s some fucking nerve. Don’t they know the guild answers to you?”

Wren shrugged. “If they didn’t before, they do now. Whoever placed the bounty tried again last night, in town.”

“You think it’s someone in the palace,” Gabe surmised and Wren nodded. “A shift from politically fuelled rumours to murder?”

“Maybe,” he murmured. “Oh, and Zennon confessed that she doesn’t think we’re mates and that she feels nothing for me beyond a budding friendship.

” Skye and Gabriel gaped at him but Sonnet looked unsurprised at the deluge of words.

“I don’t suppose you’d know anything about that ?

” He directed the question to the witch and watched her intently for even the most minute of expressions that might give her away.

Sonnet shrugged. “I told you already. The spell worked as intended.”

“Must I remind you that if I don’t find my mate and complete the bond, I’ll become quite insane? My offer of sanctuary will be no good to you if I’m trapped as a mindless animal.”

Sonnet frowned, like the thought of his impending doom was a small inconvenience. “I provided you with a location. You knew that was all the ceremony promised when I performed it. If you’re certain that Zennon isn’t your fated, then there must have been another there that night.”

He and Skye shared a look and Wren nodded. It was as they’d suspected.

“But I can see you already knew that, you just wanted my confirmation.” Sonnet rolled her eyes. “It seems you won’t be rushing toward madness just yet then, Your Majesty.”

Wren ran a hand over his face, rubbing his eyes until they burned. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

“Who would deny a king?” The look on the witch’s face was coy but there was a real note of surprise to the words that made Wren sigh. Even if she was right, he wanted to be desired for him not his title.

“Neah,” he said, deciding there was no use in tip-toeing around it. “She’s not ready to accept it. Accept me, ” he muttered. “She told me she’s never shifted before.”

Skye raised an eyebrow. “A shifter that can’t shift?” He looked at Sonnet, almost begrudgingly, before asking, “Have you ever heard of such a thing?”

Sonnet shrugged. “I’m not well-versed in shifter magic. But perhaps you are not the only thing she’s not ready to accept, my king. It’s possible the bond may bring her other form to the surface.”

“Tiger,” he murmured. “If she’s my mate, then she’ll be a tiger like me.”

Sonnet waved a hand. “The point stands.”

He swallowed hard, looking past his friends to the sky outside where a bird flew in lazy circles amid the clouds. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t force her to accept the bond, or to even acknowledge it.”

“But you can’t let yourself succumb to the curse either,” Gabriel said, voice stern and Wren didn’t know how to respond. Neah, from all that he’d observed, was strong of conviction and loyalty. If he asked this of her… She might agree only out of duty and that felt untenable to him.

“Perhaps we should make plans,” Wren said slowly. “I cannot and will not force this upon her. We keep the curse to ourselves, for now. If she chooses this, it should be of her own free will and not out of a sense of misplaced duty.”

“But Wren, the kingdom?—”

“Will survive,” he said gruffly, standing up and resuming his pacing. “We will make provisions so that things are taken care of if the worst does come to pass.”

None of them looked particularly happy with the plan, and Wren couldn’t say that he blamed them.

“So what I’m hearing is, you need us to help you woo Neah?” Gabriel smirked. “Easy.” Wren raised a brow and his friend continued. “Well, obviously you’ve got the power and station. You’re a tiger shifter which is pretty impressive. If none of that does it for her, just take off your shirt.”

Sonnet was staring at Gabe with fascination.

“It is truly enlightening seeing how your mind works. That is what you think women care about? A pretty crown, some claws, and a few muscles?” Sonnet rolled her eyes as Gabe spluttered.

“The odds are in your favour, my king. At the end of the day, if Neah is truly your mate she will be drawn to you. Spend time with her. Get to know her. Let her soul do the rest.”

Skye looked as doubtful as Wren felt. “Let her soul —” Skye shook his head. “Lunar witches,” he said disdainfully. “She’s your mate,” he said to Wren, “show her.”

“I may be a lunar witch ,” Sonnet said with a sneer, “but I’m also a woman, in case you forgot.”

“I didn’t forget,” Skye growled and Gabriel watched them with a sense of satisfaction that was mystifying for Wren. “But the hunt approaches and it’s the perfect opportunity for you to bait her instincts. If her mind is the problem, then let her body make the decisions until her mind catches up.”

Maybe he was just tired and frustrated, but it felt like what Skye was suggesting actually made sense.

Sonnet clearly disagreed, muttering under her breath about the foolishness of men, but Wren liked this plan—what happened during the hunt was blessed by the Goddess herself.

It would allow Neah the perfect excuse to give in to the pull between them.

It wasn’t one sided, that much he knew. He’d felt the way she’d responded beneath him, the way her mouth and hands had grasped at him like she couldn’t get enough.

“This could work,” he said slowly and Skye nodded, pleased.

“Imbeciles,” Sonnet muttered and Gabriel watched the group with a smile on his face.

“See? Teamwork,” he said and Sonnet rolled her eyes.