Page 30 of The Broken Prince

She pulled me into a hug and squeezed me tight, her face at my chest. Fang slithered around my shoulders, wrapping us together like a string. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”

I released her. “You made the right decision.” I looked her over, seeing an immortal being who would enjoy all the fruits of life while others faded in what felt like seconds. “I knew you would.”

“Well, the decision was made for me.” Her eyes glanced at Kingsnake. “But I wouldn’t change it.”

“Good.” I gestured to the table for us to sit.

Fang slithered away, finding a comfortable spot on the couch next to a blanket where he could curl into a ball and rest.

We all sat together at the table again, and everyone helped themselves to the booze. Larisa and Clara opened a bottle of wine, while my brothers and I went straight for the stuff that burned.

When I left, my brothers were both single men, and now they were paired off, while I remained alone. “How’s Father?” I already knew the answer, could picture his reaction when he’d realized I wouldn’t be returning, but I still wanted the details.

Kingsnake took a drink before he answered. “Disappointed that I returned and you didn’t. Very disappointed.” He looked into his glass, like it was a sore subject he’d rather not elaborate on. “A lot has happened since we spoke. We defeated King Elrohir in battle, and then we formed a truce with the Ethereal, which was essential to winning the war against the Werewolf King.”

“The Werewolf King?” I asked. “I wasn’t gone that long.”

“He staged a coup with the Kingdoms and took over,” Kingsnake said. “We were too distracted with the Ethereal to notice.”

“And a truce with the Ethereal? In what world would we ever regard them as allies rather than foes?” I’d hated the Ethereal since the beginning, never forgot the endless sieges, their obsession with eradicating us from the world.

“They betrayed their king in exchange for peace,” Kingsnake said. “We took that offer.”

I looked away from my brother, annoyed by the decision. “I doubt Father approved.”

“He didn’t,” Kingsnake said. “Not one bit.”

“And he was right for disapproving,” I said bitterly. “For an immortal being who’s experienced several lifetimes, your memory is poor…”

Kingsnake glanced at Cobra. A silent conversation happened between them.

I crossed my arms and sank into the chair. “Are you men or schoolchildren?”

Kingsnake swirled his glass before he released a sigh. “We discovered the reason behind the Ethereal’s immortality, and while it was disgusting, most of their population was unaware of the practice. They destroyed their source of power, and some chose to join us in immortality, while others chose to embrace a mortal life.”

My eyes shifted back to Clara and narrowed. “That’s why I don’t recognize you.”

She gave a nod.

I looked at Cobra. “You married an Ethereal?”

“She’s a Cobra Vampire, Aurelias,” Cobra said coldly. “As you can perfectly see.”

I turned back to Kingsnake. “Father didn’t approve of this.”

“We didn’t give him a choice but to approve,” Kingsnake said. “He’s finally accepted the decision—and you need to accept it too.”

A small smile moved to my lips, being ganged up on by my brothers like we were boys. “What happened to the Kingdoms?”

“Father is the King of the Kingdoms,” Cobra said. “He’s the king of vampires. He’s the king of everything.”

I gave a slow nod. “Now I understand why he’s come around.” That meant I was the Prince of the Kingdoms, that I would rule over the entire continent in the unlikely event of his death. That power would be transferred to me.

We sat in silence for a while as I took in all this information. Once I returned to my lands, life would be very different. “How’s Viper?”

“He survived the battle,” Kingsnake said. “I almost didn’t.”

I looked at him again.