Page 41 of Princess Redeemed

“You’re kidding me, right?You’re protecting the fucking demon king?”

Rogan can’t speak to me in wolf form, but usually I’ve been able to tell what he’s thinking.

Now?Not a clue.Why would he stop me from killing the bane of my existence?Of my sister’s existence?

But that’s the last thought I have, because when I inhale…

Oh, God…

His blood.

The alluring scent is ten times stronger when he’s in wolf form.Or perhaps it’s the child in my body strengthening my sense of smell.

Whatever it is?—

I scramble quickly to my feet, my fangs still long and sharp and ready.I tackle the wolf, sinking my teeth through his thick fur and into his neck.

Rogan stays steady, lying on the ground, letting me feed.

The elixir is earthy and herbaceous, as if I’m feeding not from Rogan but from the ground itself.Taking my strength from something more profound than another being.

I feed and feed and feed, and the ache in my abdomen subsides.

When my child and I are both sated, I release Rogan, and within another moment, he’s naked and fully human.

He stands, his muscles large and taut.

“You can’t kill him, princess,” he growls, his voice not yet his own.

“Why the hell not?”

“Because your mother will never forgive you.”This from Richard.“And I don’t relish the sight of your bare ass, wolf.”

“Fuck off,” Rogan says without turning toward my stepfather.Then to me, “But he’s right.The demons want to dethrone him.”

I drop my jaw.“A mutiny?”

“Yes.And they think you and I are the key.But we can’t be, Hannah.We can’t be.”

“What’s going on?”I demand.“With the war?The ether?What is the ether, Rogan?Are we there now?”

Rogan shakes his head.“There’s much I still don’t understand about the ether.Things my father should have told me before he died, but he didn’t get the chance.But”—he gestures backward, toward Richard—“he knows.And so does your father.”

I grab my hair with both hands.“Too much information.The ether.I need to know.But first…” I glare at Richard.“Why do the demons want to dethrone you?What the fuck have you done to them?”

“I’ve done nothing,” he says, his eyes glowing red.“But they consider my love for your mother a weakness.”

I shake my head.“Good.I’m happy to help the demons along in their mutiny.”

“No.”Rogan steps in front of me.“Don’t.It’s what hewantsyou to do.”

“He wants me to kill him?”

“Don’t you see?He’ll do anything to keep your mother from coming back to you.Anything.”

“But my mother waswithme.She was with me at my place in Chicago.”

Rogan reaches toward me, touches my cheek.