The Forgotten Prince (Shifter Rebellion, 3) (4 page)

Amaden laughed and waved a hand around
at the room. “We’re stared at—viewed as freaks. We’re undesirable.
If you want the mind scrambler, just say so. Don’t tempt us with
things not meant to be.”

“
The oracle says he will
need you three. I only share what was said. I didn’t say it to
tempt you into helping me. Drayden says you are upright,
respectable males, and I would hope you would be willing to help
either way.”

Prince Agarri stared into Amaden’s
eyes, as if imploring him to help.

“
And what of King
Stugaati? Do you think him lost? You talk as if you will rule once
we win,” Ryllan asked.

Prince Agarri’s face darkened
slightly. “We have news that my father might have helped the
Xakarrians and may even lead them now. He can no longer be
considered an ally.”

“
Our king did this?”
Amaden asked, rage filling him. “Why?”

“
I can’t begin to think
what goes on in my father’s head. I know he was paranoid near the
end and feared others taking his power.”

“
And the male who is
wiping memories made sure no one knew it was the king,” Greylin
added. “Without him, the king could be exposed, if he truly is
behind this.”

“
If we can gain the trust
of this male, it could give us all the power we need to win this
war as well,” Prince Agarri added. “Our people would be free of
Xakarrian rule.”

Amaden cast a glance to his brothers,
checking to see if they were willing. Once they both nodded his
way, he turned to the prince. “We will get this male for you, but
not because of the oracle’s claims. We will get him because you
asked us.”

Prince Agarri smiled and lifted his
mug of ale. “Then I wish the three of you luck.”

All four of them lifted a mug and
clinked them together before they took a hearty draught.

Prince Agarri stood, his food
untouched. “Find Drayden and me in the morning. I will give you
information to help you gain access to the castle. Drayden will
help set your course.”

Amaden nodded at the prince, peeking
from the corner of his eye as the male stepped away. Prince Agarri
spun around and returned. “I almost forgot. The Oracle claims this
male is my twin. If he’s correct, you three will be my brother’s
mates. Treat him with kindness. He hasn’t seen much in this
world.”

Amaden felt as if he’d
been punched in the gut.
Agarri’s
twin?

Chapter Five

Aleth sat on the window ledge, looking
out through the bars at the city whose streets he’d once begged in
just a few short years ago. The sun was setting, casting a golden
glow over the light-colored bricks of the buildings. It all looked
so serene and beautiful from where he stood, far away from the
turmoil and suffering the Xakarrians were inflicting thanks to his
father.

How odd he wished to be back there.
Starving down there was better than being imprisoned, any
day.

He looked down at the gossamer robes
he now wore, their elegant threads woven by expert craftsmen. On
the table beside his luxurious bed, a bowl of fresh fruit rested,
ready for him at a moment’s notice of hunger. The silver gauntlet
that covered his deformed hand hid his imperfection, crafted by the
king’s own blacksmith. He was the picture of royalty, even though
he’d been raised a beggar.

He wanted for nothing, besides his
freedom. He should appreciate the blessings of a full belly and a
warm bed, but he couldn’t, knowing what his father had forced him
to do.

Aleth rose and crossed the room,
gazing at himself in the mirror hanging over an antique chest that
held more robes just as exquisite as the one he now wore. He saw a
stranger staring back at him. He looked just like the paintings of
Prince Agarri he’d witnessed in the king’s study. His heavy, waved
hair shone with health and hung low, past his hips.

He’d been a dirty, filthy beggar. He
still didn’t see himself when he looked into the mirror. All he did
see was his supposed brother who’d lived in the castle all his
life, with the love of his parents.

Agarri
. Stugaati still searched for his true son, the one he
loved.

The king didn’t love Aleth.

Stugaati wanted him for his power,
imprisoning him in these rooms most of his day. Aleth had attempted
escape on several occasions, but he didn’t have the power to wipe
the minds of more than one or two at a time. The guards had
eventually overpowered him and put him back in his gilded
cage.

The room darkened more as the minutes
passed, but Aleth couldn’t bring himself to light the oil lamps.
Darkness suited his mood.

A rumbling sounded in one corner of
Aleth’s room. He walked closer and saw the very walls trembling,
the stones jostling slightly. When the wall began to open up, he
jumped back, afraid.

Moments later, an overly large male
exited the newly formed hole, which appeared to be a door of some
sort. A secret passage? Aleth stared at the opening and knew he saw
his freedom before him. If he could get past the giant.

Another two males exited the passage
and stepped into Aleth’s rooms, these two smaller than the first,
but just as unusual. One had a head full of white hair, while the
other’s eyes glowed green instead of lavender like other
shifters.

After so many years of being hidden
away from the world, Aleth felt suddenly vulnerable. Even though
he’d hated his prison, he was safe there. The three strong males
who walked in didn’t make Aleth feel safe at all.

Excitement coursed through his body
along with fear. His breathing shallowed, and his heart started to
race as he took in their large, muscled bodies. These were not
regular shifters, not the ones he was used to seeing. All three
were handsome in their own interesting ways.

It wasn’t as if he’d never seen
another male before, but a dark need grew within him as he looked
at them. His cock stiffened and all Aleth could think about was
offering himself up to the males, as some kind of sexual tribute.
Aleth pushed the idea from his head, knowing it was insane to think
it, but the many years of loneliness weighed on him. His past few
years had only heightened his solitude. He only saw guards now or
those he was forced to harm.

Aleth sensed a connection to them, but
they were strangers. None of them looked familiar to him, yet he
felt an awareness, as if his very soul knew them. They were
warriors, he was sure of it. Exiled Kannomite warriors—an old tribe
of shifters whom he’d never met but only heard stories of. Aleth
had overheard the tales of their strength, power, … and sexual
prowess.

“
Who are you? What are you
doing here?” Aleth asked, breathless in anticipation. Need spiraled
in him and threatened to overtake him then and there. He wanted to
be touched. Not manhandled as the guard did on occasion.

The large one spoke, his voice deep.
“We are your rescue, Your Highness.”

Aleth startled. “My rescue? Who are
you?”

“
I am Amaden,” he said
before pointing to the one with white hair. “Greylin. And Ryllan.
We’ve been sent by Prince Agarri.”

Agarri?
“Why would he want to rescue
me
?”

“
He wishes to free his
people and thinks you’re the key,” Amaden said. “And he has only
just learned he has a brother. He wants to ensure your
safety.”

“
So I’m to be used again
so my brother can have power?” Aleth asked with a laugh. Agarri had
been born to this world. He would want to have what was his back.
And where would that leave Aleth? Back on the streets, begging for
food and sleeping in a hovel. Or dead. “I think not. Leave before I
call the guards and alert them of your presence.”

Amaden stepped closer, the
heat from his body seeping into Aleth’s.
My gods, he is large
. Aleth’s cock
began to thicken more just thinking about being taken by a male
such as that.

Aleth needed to focus on his own
salvation, not his body’s weakness.

“
You don’t want to do
that, little prince,” the warrior said sternly.

Aleth’s heart began to beat harder.
“Or what?”

As soon as the toying words were out
of his mouth, he nearly choked on them. Was he … flirting? Aleth
had never flirted in his life, yet the desire starting to build in
his chest made him want to push the warrior to react.

Maybe he
could
use his weakness,
to confuse the enemy.

They were the enemy? Weren’t
they?

“
Or I’ll make sure to keep
you quiet. With any means possible.”

A shiver raced down Aleth’s spine.
What means would the beast use? Aleth’s breath came in short pants
as he looked up at the male’s hard face. Amaden looked battle
toughened. A scar ran down across one eye. It gave his face more
character. And Aleth thought he saw a glimpse of a torn ear under
the male’s shaggy hair. Amaden wasn’t perfect, not one who looked
just like all the others. Many shifters all looked the same to
Aleth.

Amaden stood out.

As did the other two. Aleth liked that
they were strange, freaks … just like him.

A smile played over Aleth’s lips as he
considered baiting them just to see how they’d respond. He spun on
his heel and ran toward the outer door, not planning to alert the
guards at all. Aleth wanted to see what the monster would do to
him.

He wasn’t shocked when Amaden grabbed
him from behind and threw him over a shoulder, but when he was
dropped onto the bed, a shocked cry rent from his lips. His robes
shifted, almost giving the three a peek at his long, curved cock.
Amaden climbed atop him and pressed his body against Aleth’s. The
male was just as hard as Aleth was.

The need in his chest made it hard to
breathe, as did the large male body above him. Aleth struggled to
remember he was only toying with the males. He needed to escape and
these three had opened an opportunity for just that. Aleth needed
escape, not a rampant fucking.

But the thought of a good, long
fucking sounded awfully intriguing.

Aleth smiled up at Amaden, trying to
hide his inexperience and fear. “What do you think you’re doing?
This doesn’t look like a rescue. It looks like a ravishing.” Aleth
rolled his hips, making his cock run against Amaden’s. “Are you
going to ravish me, Amaden?”

Please touch me,
Amaden.

The warrior stiffened against Aleth,
making Aleth’s blood boil a little hotter. He lowered his face
until it was inches from Aleth’s, their lips a mere whisper away
from one another. Aleth’s lips parted slightly, on instinct, and he
wondered what Amaden would taste like.

The minutes seemed to drag on and the
beast never closed the gap, so Aleth slowly lifted. He needed to
know the feel of Amaden’s lips on his.

Amaden growled down at Aleth before
lifting off him a little. Aleth frowned, the play not going as he’d
hoped. He’d been robbed of his kiss, and the disappointment
stung.

But then, Aleth didn’t have experience
in seducing males into his bed. Maybe he’d done something
wrong.

Did he expect the three of them to
jump atop him right then and there and have their wicked way with
him? Aleth trembled at the thought but also knew it was ludicrous.
If they were in fact there for a rescue, they’d be soon on their
way, not giving in to baser needs.

“
We don’t have time for
this, Amaden,” the one called Greylin said, echoing Aleth’s
thoughts. “We have precious little time to get out of here before
we’re caught.”

“
Yes, Amaden. Hurry and
leave,” Aleth cooed, trying to hide the pain of losing that
kiss.

Amaden grabbed Aleth’s
chin in one massive hand. The warrior’s callused skin was rough
against his face. “You’ll come with us, and you’ll be quiet. Or
I
will
make you
pay. Do you understand me, little prince?”

Aleth stared up into the male’s eyes
and instinctively knew Amaden wouldn’t hurt him, no matter the
bluster or the growl. He also realized the warriors wouldn’t be
swayed from their task. “I understand you.”

Amaden climbed off the bed and jerked
Aleth to his feet, grasping the silver gauntlet on his arm. The
sheath slid off, displaying Aleth’s disfigured hand.

Shame filled Aleth as all three
paused, staring at his affliction. Aleth yanked the gauntlet from
Amaden’s hand and re-covered the near-useless appendage. “What are
you staring at?” he snapped at the three, old emotions rising to
the top and dousing his attraction. “As if the three of you have
any reason to stare.”

Amaden’s jaws clenched, and Aleth
immediately felt remorse for what he’d said. He wanted the words to
disappear. He also wanted the look in their eyes to disappear. He’d
wounded them. As he lifted one glowing hand to wipe the memory
away, Amaden captured his wrist in a painful clench.

“
We’ve already been warned
of your power, little prince. You’ll not have your way with our
minds,” Amaden snapped before binding his wrists and covering his
hands with a metal trap.