Page 58 of Glass Hearts

Birds bicker in the distance, the sun beaming in, warming my skin as I awake from a heavy, dreamless sleep. Slowly, I sit up, inhaling and breathing out, the memories of the past forty-eight hours crashing back into me.

My heart breaks at the image of Lo’s beautiful strawberry blonde hair in the hands of that vile man, Victor. How traumatic it probably felt for Elora, and how I wasn’t there for her. We had always protected each other, yet I ran when I should have made sure she was with me. Guilt sours my stomach.

But then she wouldn’t have been here to wake my princes, and selfishly, I am so grateful she could help them come back to me.

“Good morning, Duchess,” Gray whispers to my side. Koi is on my other side, his arm still wrapped around me. Archer sleeps on the end, and Sy is next to Gray. The monstrous bed fits us all perfectly.

“Gray!” I twist over to kiss him and check his wound. “Don’t you ever do that again! I-I thought I had lost you.” Tears well up in my eyes.

“Shh, don’t cry, my love. I won’t apologize for getting stabbed in your place. I would do it again in a heartbeat. So get used to it.” He winks as I playfully slap his chest, avoiding the area he was stabbed. I hear Sylas and Archer rustling awake.

“Good morning, Princess,” Archer says sleepily while grabbing my ankle, kissing it tenderly. “I will send for breakfast.”

“No- wait!” Koi wakes with a yawn. All four of my princes look to me expectantly. “I have some things to say.”

“Go ahead, Vixen. We are all ears,” Sylas grins at me. I blow out a breath. Openness has never been my strong suit, but I almost lost the chance already with Grayer, making me realize just how close I was to losing them.

“I love you all. Grayer, you loved me before even knowing me. You believed in us when we were all still fighting our attraction to each other. Fighting for me from the start. Koi, I love your big, kind heart. You have always made sure to brighten my day. Sylas, you have been my steady rock- no pun intended.” He lets out a chuckle, which makes me smile through the tears.

“I feel safe when I am with you. Archer, I know I can lean on you and trust that you will always look out for me. I-I just still can’t believe you all love me.

And I hope you all don’t change your minds about being with me…

because if so, I might need to sic Max on you. ”

“Oh, we will definitely not be getting rid of you, Sunshine.” Koi pulls me in from behind, laying lots of kisses in my hair and on my neck. “If anything, you will beg for us to give you space.”

“We are yours, Vixen. We have been since the day you strutted into the ballroom like the Queen you are. Some of us had just been too blind to see, and we will need to make up for that lost time.”

A knock interrupts us as we all hear Bri through the door.

“You all better be wearing clothes; we are coming in! I am with Mother with breakfast!”

“Come in!” I get out of bed to meet Bri. As soon as Bri sets down the tray, I give her an enormous hug.

“Ella, fuck, I am so sorry I couldn’t protect Lo. I tried, but by the time I saw the portal, it was too late; they were already gone.” Bri cries on my shoulder.

“It’s okay, friend. It is not your fault. You did everything you could. If you are to blame, then so am I for running away. We are going to get her back. Thank you for all your help. I am so grateful to call you my friend.”

As we continue to hug and cry, I hear Margie scolding the boys for being stupid in drinking that spelled drink that led to their demise. “I never trusted that Hendrickson fellow once he came back from vacation. I knew something was different! My Alec even said he seemed strange.”

“Yes, Margie, we really should have listened to your concerns years ago,” Archer says, kissing her cheek.

“I wonder what happened to the original Hendrickson?” Koi asks.

“I have a feeling he met his end at Victor’s hands. We will have to contact his remaining family in condolences,” Sylas ponders. I nod grimly, even more disturbed at how far Bernice and Victor’s conniving went. How many innocent people have been caught up in their villainous plans?

Part of me wants to blame myself; if I had known earlier, I could have stopped them before they reached the castle.

Yet I wonder if that is another reason Bernice allocated me to the shed.

She knew I was my father’s daughter and I would not stand for the injustice.

How many evenings had they planned on conquering Velora while I was absent from the townhouse?

Bernice is now gone from the world; she can no longer torment me.

I feel as though I should feel at least a bit saddened, yet I can’t seem to muster any feelings of sorrow or guilt.

Then there are the Quadias who we still have to deal with.

Losing a parent, even one so vile, is heartbreaking.

Bernice, for all her faults, loved her daughters.

“I suppose we will have to figure out what to do with the Quadia’s. I don’t think we can kill them, nor do I think they deserve to be in prison for the rest of their lives. They may have known about the nefarious plan their mother had. But they were just as much Bernice’s pawns as everyone else.”

“Oh! I am on that as well, Ella.” Bri smiles as she interjects, topping up her coffee and mine.

“We could really use some help around the castle. And what a way for them to make penance than to work for us, like they made you do all those years. I was talking with the mercenaries last night, and I came up with a plan. Sorry, Sy, I know you like to be the bossy pants, but I figured you would want more time with your gal. Anyway, to ensure they stay in the castle and do their duties without evil plans of their own, Elliah is going to make an ankle device imbued with magic that tracks them and listens to them. They are currently at the workshop working on it. I did sort of give them access to all the spell ingredients… sorry.”

“Really, Bri? I have a feeling those bastards will use all our expensive ingredients and materials for other purposes.” Archer sighs. “But thank you for taking that on. I think it’s a great idea. Ella, are you okay with that?”

“That’s perfect, thank you, Bri.” I squeeze her hand in thanks.

“Well, now that has been determined, I think it’s best if we give their royal highnesses some time with their fair lady.” Bri winks at me, kissing my cheek before she ushers her mother out of the room.

“Fine, alright. But I still have more of a tongue-lashing for you four for putting yourselves in harm’s way!” Margie curses at the princes as she leaves with Bri, both bringing the empty plates and cups from breakfast.

Grayer tries to get up, but before he can, I place my hand on his chest and push him back down to the bed.

“Oh no, you don’t! Councilman Thibaut instructed us to keep you in bed for at least twenty-four hours or until he can come check on your wounds.”

“Duchess, I feel fine. Really. And I neeeeed you.” He grabs my hand and kisses it. Sending me another devilish wink my way.

“Nope. You need to rest.” Then, I get my own devilish idea as I look to the other princes, the same heat in their eyes. “Anyway, you have been ever so naughty, my dark prince. Taking a dagger for me.”

“So I must be rewarded, yes? Why does your tone make me feel like it is going to be a punishment, Duchess…” His brow furrows.

I lean down to kiss him. Lifting my mouth to his ear, I whisper, “Don’t you ever go and get yourself killed. I cannot live without you. You will get your reward, but I don’t want to encourage you getting yourself hurt. So first, I must punish you.”

I feel his erection harden as he groans.

I pad over towards Koi, who is on one of the couches. Before straddling his hips, I remove my sleep shorts and top. I hear all four of my princes groaning in unison and a few ‘fuuuck’s.’

I will never tire of hearing how desirable they find me.

Koi pulls me in closer, palming my breast as he kisses me deeply.

“Are you sure, Sunshine? You don’t need any more rest?”

“Nope,” I say, breathless and already aching, “I need to be fucked. Hard. By three of my boyfriends… while my fourth watches from the bed.”

Koi chuckles low in his throat, the sound all heat and promise. With effortless strength, he scoops me into his arms, never breaking eye contact as he strips off his lounge pants with one hand with his gaze searing and possessive.

“Your wish,” he murmurs against my mouth, “is my command, Sunshine.”

Behind us, I catch a blur of movement. Archer and Sylas shedding their clothes in tandem, eyes already dark with desire.

Koi sets me down back on the couch like I’m something precious and rare.

He drops to his knees, spreading my thighs wide, anchoring my hips with his strong grip before dragging his tongue from my ass to my clit in one long, devastating stroke.

My body bows. A gasp tears from my lips as molten heat blooms low in my belly.

The position—half on the couch, hips lifted for him, legs trembling and wide—is exposing in a way that feels utterly shameless.

Koi laps at me with reverence and hunger, each flick and swirl of his tongue calculated to unravel me.

“Fuck, such a good girl,” Sylas groans, his voice thick with arousal. He leans over the back of the couch, capturing my mouth in a deep kiss that steals what little breath I have left. “Letting Koi get you ready like that… You look like a dream.”

Archer is beside me now, one hand palming my breast while the other captures the other nipple between his lips, drawing a strangled moan from my throat. It’s tantalizing, an exhilarating wave of ecstasy caressing every point of my body with their attention.

How I ever thought one man would be enough… I was a fool.

“Come on Koi’s face, darling,” Archer whispers in my ear, the heat of his breath and the command in his tone unraveling what’s left of my restraint.