Page 4 of House of Demons and Bones (Shades of Ruin and Magic #5)

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Sy

B arbie’s heart tripped, her two-toned eyes going wide. Her greedy hand froze halfway to another cake.

She stared at the chaos prince, stunned. “What?”

“I fucked you and I loved every second of it,” he said.

“Why would you say things like that?” she hissed.

Dumbass, I sighed. He’s not trying to shock you—he’s making a commitment. After watching me fuck all these years, you still don’t get it.

Some things just couldn’t be taught. While I rolled with changes, Barbie dug her heels in against them. The world wasn’t going to wait for her.

The chaos prince’s eyes blazed into hers—ours—and damn if I didn’t feel that heat. I would’ve melted right there if my sugar Rowan wasn’t anchoring me. His gaze stayed fixed on our face too. He wasn’t looking at Barbie—he was seeing straight through to me.

“Still denying what’s between us, little scorpion?” Killian purred.

“But—” Barbie stumbled, lost for words before her jaw set. “What’s between us? Huh? Last I checked, you were tangled up with your betrothed and her ward.”

“Never tangled with them like you imagined,” he said. “And today you’ll get the whole truth. No tricks. No lies. I’m laying it all out with Rowan as our witness. I wish Cade were here, but we can’t risk telling my other brothers. Ready for the hard facts, little scorpion?”

Rowan glanced between Barbie and Killian, unfazed.

“I saw you kiss her in the CrimsonTide dungeon,” he said. “It didn’t surprise me that she could get around your bond with Queen Lilith, as no spells stick to Barbie. It’s none of my business if you want her more than your betrothed. I’ll keep quiet. But you came at me, ready to kill, when you thought I fucked her. I’ve never seen you lose your shit over anyone else. So, ask yourself, will you do everything in your power to keep her? How will you handle your powerful betrothed? She can’t be humiliated, and Barbie won’t settle for being your fucking side piece. She deserves better, and I’ll back her, for Sy’s sake.”

My man is a rock. I grinned. He’s got our backs.

Killian swallowed, a riot of emotions flashing through his storm-blue eyes. “Barbie can override my forced bond with Lilith, but not because she can nullify spells. She’s my fated mate. Never thought it’d happen, but my true mate found me.”

Barbie blinked so hard it hurt our eyes. I wasn’t shocked, but Barbie froze, gaping at Killian.

“Say that again?” she croaked.

I already told you he’s your mate. I groaned.

You also told me to fuck Cade, she shot back.

Yeah, if you couldn’t fuck Killian, then Cade would do, I said. I just wanted to cushion your fall.

Rowan stared at the chaos prince, shock finally cracking his cool.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” he asked.

Killian’s gaze stayed locked on Barbie, hunger and need searing his eyes, and energy flowed between them. He caught her sugar-dusted fingers between his palms, and she tried to pull away half-heartedly. That was Barbie—always pretentious and immature while I was the opposite. Then she went still in his embrace, her heart thundering too hard for me to feel my own pulse.

Her body burned hot for him, but it wasn’t the mating heat. Truth blazed through her mind, fierce enough to sting.

I’m his mate, she repeated. I’m really his true mate.

Of course, dummy, I said.

Barbie needed the hard truth to slap her right in her stubborn chubby face before she’d see it.

We’d found our fated mates. Even though I didn’t get my moment with mine, I wouldn’t ruin Barbie’s. My heart had enough space for her happiness. Besides, once we got out of here, the rest of the night belonged to Rowan and me.

“Haven’t you felt it, little scorpion?” Killian’s voice dropped lower as he stroked her cheek. Electric tingles raced across her flesh, raising goosebumps on mine. His touch always affected her this way.

“This thing between us?” she asked, lifting her chin while curling her toes, fighting back a moan of pleasure. “It’s just lust.”

“Is it?” he purred, a dark, amused smile ghosting his lips.

“It’ll pass,” she said, but I knew better.

Her body was always attuned to his—the way true mates were. When he revealed their connection, the amber light in her mind had blazed to life. Everything had clicked into place since then. The chaos prince’s dragon would never have triggered the mating heat unless she was meant to be theirs.

My idiot soul-sister was flame to his frost, and he was ice to her dark fire. Once she accepted what she had with Killian, their true mating bond would shatter the demon queen’s false bond with the chaos heir. Her heart had figured it out, yet her mind stumbled along behind.

“Will it?” Killian asked, his voice rich with knowing.

Rowan watched them. He hated these games, saw them as a waste of time, and waited impatiently for me to return to him.

“Aren’t you still engaged?” Barbie challenged, her eyes sharpening like a lioness sighting her prey. “Getting married right after graduation?”

Her cutting words slammed the gritty facts back in our faces. The chaos prince had known Barbie was his true mate, yet he’d chosen his betrothed anyway, even tried to make the other woman happy. I pulled my lips back and growled threateningly.

He screwed up, all right? I offered, dipping into my well of wisdom. Playing life coach to Barbie made me feel better about myself. He’s young and stupid. We’re young too. But if you shut yourself off from this opportunity, you’ll end up growing old alone.

Her childhood in our father’s clutches had scarred her deeply. She buried those years of terror and refused to look back, but nightmares clawed their way up every night.

I don’t want you to grow old alone, I added.

Killian’s blue eyes darkened at the mention of his betrothed. At his hesitation, Barbie yanked her hand from his grasp, though her body protested the loss of contact, and I wasn’t happy about it either. She let ice fill her mismatched eyes, forcing me to wipe away the frost to look out.

“You’ll learn my truth, little scorpion, before you sting me again,” Killian said.

Rowan laid his elbows on the table and interlaced his fingers, now that the tension from his duel with the chaos prince had melted away.

“We fought over our true mates who happen to share one body,” he said. “I can forgive you for trying to kill me, as I tried to end you too when I thought you’d defiled Sy. I just never thought an asshole like you would have a fated mate.”

“I held back,” Killian said. “Part of me remembered you’re my brother.”

“Through all that madness,” Rowan said, “neither of us fought at full strength, even consumed by jealous rage. The bonds between us heirs run deep. Now our true mates have found us, unfortunately in one body, we’ll need to sort it out. You shared your secret, so here’s my confession. My little monster already knows, and now you will too.”

Killian arched an eyebrow, waiting.

Rowan let out a ragged breath. “I’m a bastard.”

Killian shrugged. “Obviously. Always have been.”

Rowan glared at him. “I’m not the king’s true son. If he discovers it, he’ll strip everything from me—my title, my heritage, all of it. Best case? He’ll exile me. Worst case? Death. Either way, I become nothing.”

The fae king’s cruelty was legendary. That was why I kept pushing my love to strike first and claim the throne for himself.

Tell my sugar he’ll always have me, prince or pauper, I said. Besides, he owns shares in Killian’s human companies. We won’t be poor.

Tell him later yourself, Barbie said. I’m not derailing this conversation.

“Don’t be so dramatic, Prince Rowan.” Killian smirked. “I’ve known for years you weren’t King Emyr’s blood.”

“How?” Rowan growled. “Did you spy on me?”

“Yes,” Killian said.

“How dare you?”

“Well.” Killian shrugged. “You have your own spies. Don’t pretend like I’m the only one who’s paranoid. I make it my business to know every dirty secret. But I’ve kept yours. Don’t worry about my mate. She hoards secrets better than a dragon. Besides, even if King Emyr discovers the truth, you’re still one of us. Your birth won’t change that.”

My sugar sucked in a breath. He hadn’t expected this from the chaos prince.

“You can’t stop him if he tries to kill me,” Rowan said. “You aren’t a king.”

“No one touches you or any of us,” Killian said. “Any king who tries will have to get through me first. And they won’t succeed. It’s not only me who outpowers them all. Together, we heirs are unstoppable.”

We wouldn’t make empty promises, but we knew where we stood. We protected each other’s interests. And between us, Barbie and I packed serious power. We’d throw in our lot with the heirs.

“I can take the throne whenever I want,” Killian added, his tone lazy. “The court’s been ready to toss my father aside for years. I held back because of Lilith. I wouldn’t want her to gain more power through our alliance. But now”—his knuckles brushed Barbie’s cheekbone, and she didn’t pull away but gazed up at him through her lush lashes, her lips parted in desire—“things are different. I’ve found my true mate, and I’ll protect her with my last breath.”

Barbie didn’t swoon at the chaos prince’s declaration or get misty-eyed like me, as she loved to play the role of a hardass, but warmth flooded her chest and heat pulsed in her veins. Not that she’d ever admit it.

“Just like I’ll do anything to protect Sy,” Rowan swore. “And that protection extends to Barbie.”

Gratitude bloomed in me. He’d been protecting Barbie even before he knew our secret. “I can’t afford weakness, not when so much is at stake.” His silver gaze cut through Barbie, searching for me. “I may be an imposter, but this stays here.” He turned to Killian. “Who else knows?”

“One of my men,” Killian said. “Not saying who.”

It had to be Cassius, the Silent Blade. He made me shiver, but Barbie liked him—ever since he’d nearly gutted the chaos royal guards for trying to take her blanket in the dungeon.

“Think I’d have him killed?” Rowan asked.

Killian’s cold smile didn’t reach his eyes. “My men can handle themselves.” He tapped the armchair, danger radiating off him. “We’re good as long as you don’t try to claim my woman.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Rowan said. “I only want my own woman. It’s not my fault she shares space with Barbie. Everyone knows you’re paranoid, but you’re getting fucking worse.” He turned to Barbie. “Let Sy out. I want to make sure she’s all right.”

Let me take over. I tugged at Barbie. My prince wants to make sure I’m all right.

“Back off,” Killian barked. “I’m not done with Barbie.”

“Yeah? Now you big boys decide who comes out to play?” Barbie sneered.

Rowan sighed. “This body-sharing thing is getting very inconvenient. Sy shouldn’t live like this.”

“Really?” Barbie said. “She was fine before you showed up. We’ve managed it for twenty-one years.”

She drained her coffee, slammed the mug down, and reached for the bottle of whiskey. Killian snatched it first.

“It’s too strong for you, little scorpion,” he said.

“Even poison can’t touch me,” she bragged and glared.

He sighed, poured two fingers, and handed it over to her. “You won’t like it. You love sweets.”

Barbie knocked it back, then coughed and cursed. Killian seized his chance to pat her back and pull her into his arms, but she shrugged him off. He only smiled. The chemistry between them crackled, growing stronger with every denial.

“We need a plan going forward,” Rowan said. “Regular meetings, the four of us, so there’ll be no fucking misunderstandings.”

I perked up, loving the sound of the four of us, like some exclusive club. I didn’t sob in joy though, as Barbie had banned my happy tears.

“Future meetings are on the menu, but now I need some alone time with my mate.” Killian waved Rowan off. “You head back to the academy and explain the duel to the heirs. Those assholes are probably tearing my properties apart looking for us.”

“You started this fucking mess,” Rowan said. “You deal with it. I’m staying here with Sy.”

“This is my place,” Killian said. “And you’ve worn out your welcome.”

“Who wants to stay in this fucking cold place?” Rowan snorted and gave me a nod while talking to Sy. “Let’s go, little monster.”

Let’s depart with my sugar, I urged, but Barbie didn’t move her butt an inch.

“I’m not leaving these cakes.” She eyed the cheesecake. “Wonder why they call it New York cheesecake. Did New Yorkers invent it? Or is it the original recipe?” She took a huge bite and hummed. “Would you look up the history while I finish this?”

“Come feast at my house,” Rowan coaxed, and Killian’s eyes narrowed.

The chaos prince was ready to pounce if Barbie moved. I could grab control while they fought.

“Here’s the thing,” Barbie said, flashing Rowan a smirk. “One feast in front of me beats two promised elsewhere. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away if I wanted to stay.” She shot Killian a cocky look. “No dragon can keep me if I want to leave. Right now, I want to eat cakes.”

And I wanted to go with my sugar. Without a warning, I surged forward. So much for my promise not to usurp her—not that it mattered when she was such a bully. But Barbie shoved me back right away. She’d been waiting for it. We grappled for control, a mental tug-of-war that ended with me backing down, because what else could I do when she went full psycho?

I want my turn! I hissed in frustration. You can’t keep treating me like your damn sidekick. Those days are over!

You’ll have your turn. Just not now. She flicked her pinkie at me like I was an annoying bug. Killian and I have unfinished business. We need to hash things out, especially after he dropped that bomb about me being his…whatever. We’ll have to fix our broken trust, right here. Before I could protest, she waved a hand with a flourish. Look, Sy, if we don’t sort this mess out first, the four of us are going nowhere fast. You’ll be just as stuck as me.

Promise you’ll make it quick, I growled, giving her another shove. She retaliated with enough force to nearly knock me on my butt—because apparently, she couldn’t do anything without being extra about it.

Both heirs watched us intently as Barbie’s face tensed and her eyes flickered—sapphire and green to gold and back again—telltale signs of our power struggle.

“Were you two fighting just now?” Rowan’s concern warmed my blood.

“Don’t worry about it,” Barbie said with a shrug. “Sy wanted to leave with Prince Rowan, but I’m not going anywhere until I finish all the cakes.”

Killian grinned. “That’s my girl.”

“You shouldn’t bully Sy, Barbie!” Rowan seethed. “If cakes are the holdup, let me help you finish them.”

Rowan snatched a cake and devoured it in two bites. As he reached for another, Killian threw up a wall of darkness between him and the table.

“Those are for my mate,” the chaos prince said. “You don’t take food from her.”

Rowan called for his magic, and this time, it managed to push through in the dragon realm. His vines shot through the barrier, grabbed a cake, and hurled it straight into Killian’s face. The cake dropped, leaving his nose smeared with icing.

“Eat it then, asshole,” Rowan said.

Barbie stopped mid-bite to stare at Killian before bursting into laughter.

“Looking for another fight, Rowan?” Killian growled, not amused as he wiped his face with a napkin.

“Anytime,” Rowan said. “And make sure we finish it this time.”

Both heirs rose, squaring off for battle.

Barbie jumped up. “If you two fight again, you’ll trash everything Sy and I risked by sharing our dangerous secret.” She gave my sugar the evil eye. “Let me eat in peace. Sy gets her strength from what I consume too.”

Rowan and Killian sank back into their seats but kept glaring at each other.

“Sy is all yours later,” Barbie said.

“Just so you know, Barbie, I have a French chef,” Rowan said.

Barbie’s fork stopped halfway to her mouth.

“I have the best chef,” Killian countered. “I’ll hire three more just for you.”

Barbie’s face lit up. “I’ll eat at both houses. Maybe Cade will hear about this and join the competition.”

Rowan snorted. “Cade’s too cheap for top staff.”

Barbie sighed. “He keeps complaining about his tight budget. He asked me if I thought his job was easy, and I told him that I wouldn’t know since he’s the prince and the only job I had was an underpaid squire.”

“You should go now, Rowan,” Killian cut in. “Handle the heirs.”

“I’m not leaving without kissing Sy goodbye,” Rowan said.

My heart fluttered with hope and longing.

Let him kiss me before he departs, I urged Barbie. Don’t be a bitch.

“I’m sick and tired of fighting him.” Killian turned to Barbie with a weary sigh. “We probably have to give him what he wants so he’ll leave.”

Her mismatched eyes swirling, Barbie loosened her grip. I burst through the surface with a bang. Her golden curls vanished, and my twin white braids kissed my ankles. The mountain air hit my face, sharp and clean. I turned to my sugar with a fanged grin, dazing him with my wild beauty.

Killian dragged a hand over his face. “I can never get used to this shit.”

Before I could get my bearings—shifting always left me vulnerable for three full seconds—Rowan had pulled me into his embrace.

“Well, hello to you too, sugar.” I grinned.

He slanted his mouth over mine, and I instantly wrapped my arms around his neck, my torso stretching against him, my bountiful breasts pressing against his hard chest.

“I missed you, little monster,” he murmured against my lips.

It hadn’t been that long since Barbie and I shifted back and forth, but my sugar counted every second we were apart. I clung to him, showing that the feeling was mutual. I never thought I could feel this strongly for any male, but here I was. Barbie had warned me not to fall for my sugar, but it was already too late.

Falling felt light and oh so right.

If you do not take the risk, how can you find love? I lectured Barbie.

Fall for the wrong man, and you’re choosing between bad and worse, Barbie countered.

I choose to jump off that cliff on faith, and the falling is worth it because he catches me every time, I said. And why are you still so negative? You’ve found your fated mate. Think of the odds; not even one in a million will find their true mates. And Killian’s right here, looking at you like you’re his favorite dessert.

He’s not looking at me, Barbie said. I’m inside you. He’s counting down impatiently, about to tell Rowan the kissing game is over.

Rowan thrust his tongue through my eager lips, and I melted into his kiss. The tip of my tongue mated with his feverishly. His hardness pressed against me, burning through the thin fabric of my magical mini-gown, my latest party creation, and searing my flesh.

I hooked my leg around his hip and moaned into his mouth. We breathed each other in, hungry for each other and desperate for more.

Do me a favor, Barbie. Ask Killian to step away, I said. A quickie with my sugar will do us all good. I want to give him a nice parting gift to remember me by until my next shift.

Barbie’s mental eye-roll was practically audible. You can’t be this horny all the time, Sy. It’s unhealthy. You need professional help; this is becoming an addiction. I read about compulsive sexual behavior. Human social media is big on mental health these days.

“Quit it,” Killian barked. “You’ve been kissing for over five minutes, and I don’t see an end in sight.” He shook his head in disgust. “Who even kisses that long? Normal people take breaks to breathe!”

Who needed air when my sugar was my oxygen? Besides, he’d done the same with Barbie, kissing every inch of her.

“I want my Barbie back, and you need to go handle things, Rowan!” Killian shouted from beside us, and Barbie nudged me mentally to wrap it up.

I pulled back an inch, my eyes bright as I gazed at my lover, and he grabbed my hand, glancing at the spot where we’d stepped through, ready to drag me back through the portal. But there was no door. Killian was being petty and calculating, refusing to open the portal until Barbie took control. Barbie could also borrow the chaos prince’s magic and tear open the fabric between worlds, but I couldn’t. No bond with Killian meant no portal privilege.

“You’re a fucking cockblocker, just like Barbie,” Rowan grated.

“Thank you,” Killian said. “My little scorpion’s got some talent.”

“That wasn’t a compliment,” Rowan snapped. “Now I see why you two are true mates—same terrible attitude, same insufferable personality.”

“Feel better getting that off your chest? Good. Can we move on now?” Killian said. “The longer you stay here, the worse it gets out there. We don’t know what’s boiling over now when those heirs are involved. Don’t want to be too late and go back only to pick up the pieces, do you?”

I brushed one last kiss over my prince’s mouth. “See you later, sugar.”

Barbie licked at her lips as if she was the one getting kissed.

“You’ll spend the night with me,” Rowan said.

“Yes,” I promised, leaning into him for another kiss.

This is really taking too fucking long, Barbie bitched.

She yanked me back from my lover before our lips crashed again and surged forward. Dark light flashed in her wake as I tumbled down, and this falling was nothing like falling for my lover. This kind I could do without.

Rowan blinked at Barbie in surprise as she stood in my place, her hands planted on her hips. Killian moved like a flash to put himself between them.

“Sy, you okay?” my prince called.

Warmth bloomed in my chest at his caring and pulsed outward. He blinked again, feeling the wave of my feelings.

Barbie shrugged, already jogging toward the cake table.

“Have Sy meet me when you’re done with your cakes, Barbie!” Rowan said, then turned to Killian. Their truce held, but barely. “What am I supposed to tell the heirs?”

“Just make up something to get them off our backs,” Killian advised.

“I’m not a liar like you,” Rowan said. “The heirs have known me since we were kids. They’ll smell every lie from my mouth. Then the interrogation will never end.”

“Then rage at them. Blame everything on me and stomp out,” Killian instructed. “You can at least manage that, can’t you? Send them my way. I’ll handle it after I smooth my mate’s ruffled feathers.”

Barbie kept her face blank, but her heart still jumped and her pulse raced every time he called her his mate.

The air rippled, and a door appeared at the far end of the rooftop. Rowan strode toward it in his rough farmer’s clothes, abs and calves exposed, his icy beauty undimmed. Halfway there, he looked back at Barbie, catching my gaze as I peeked through her now-golden eyes.

“Little monster,” he said, feet dragging. “As soon as?—”

A wave of darkness and starlight slammed into him mid-sentence, catching him off guard and sweeping him straight into the portal.

“Assho—”

The portal sealed, slicing off his curse at Killian.

Just like that, he was on the other side while I was stuck here in Barbie. My heart clenched and ached. I missed him already, even though he’d barely left.