ALEXIA
Different warriors approached us as we descended, my dad tried making light conversation but I simply ignored him until he walked away mirroring the heavy thrum in my blood. My thighs still felt sticky, my skin tingling with the ghost of Jackson's mouth. I refused to look at him. I stared at the environment filled with various warriors and beautiful flowers sprawling, fog-drenched estate below the fortress of stone and secrets that we had been exiled from years ago.
A beautiful young female with brown hair and brown eyes comes in, she stood a bit far from us and waved at me in excitement.
"Move," Jackson commanded, his voice back to that icy, authoritative clip. The predator who had just tasted me was gone, replaced by the prince.
I stood, my legs feeling like lead. As the cabin door hissed open and the stairs lowered, the scent of damp earth and pine hit me-and then, the pheromones as there's brief movement within me with my wolf. It was like walking into a wall of pure, unadulterated power.
They were waiting at the bottom of the ramp.
Jaden stood to the left, his lean, athletic frame draped in a charcoal suit that looked far too restrictive for the wildness in his eyes. He was the youngest, the most volatile, and as my gaze met his, my breath hitched. A sharp, stinging heat ignited in my chest. My body yearned for his touch, mocking me even as his scent made my head swim.
Next to him was Jermaine. The eldest. The strategist. He stood perfectly still, arms crossed over a chest that seemed broader than I remembered. He didn't smirk like Jackson or burn like Jaden; he watched with a cold, terrifying intensity. The moment his eyes locked onto mine, my knees buckled slightly. A deep, pulsing ache settled in my core, a primal response I couldn't suppress but then a very curvy and busty blonde was watching me in disdain.
"Look at her," Jaden murmured, his voice carrying effortlessly in the crisp air. "She looks even more delicious when she's terrified."
"She's pale," Jermaine noted, his voice a deep baritone that vibrated through the soles of my shoes. "Jackson, you've exhausted her."
"She needed to be reminded of her place," Jackson said, stepping up behind me. He placed a heavy hand on the small of my back, his thumb grazing the skin just above my waistband. I shivered, my skin prickling with a mixture of arousal and sheer indignation.
"I am standing right here," I snapped, though my voice lacked its usual bite. "Stop talking about me like I'm a piece of property." M
A warrior laughed quietly with another friendly female who waved excitedly at me.
Jaden let out a sharp, barking laugh and moved forward, closing the distance in a blur of motion. He stopped inches from me, his smell of musk and rain overwhelming my senses. He leaned down, his nose brushing against my temple. "But you are, Alexia. You'll be our favourite little toy."
I opened my mouth to make a retort, but the words died as a sharp, high-pitched voice sliced through the tension.
"My baby is finally back"
I stiffened. Coming down the stone steps of the main house were Marissa and Queen Hailey. My godmother. She looked exactly as she had five years ago-impeccable, blonde, and radiating a coldness that could freeze the sun. She had been my friend first before being my stepmother, and it was she who had agreed with the seer and convinced Hailey to send me away.
"Marissa," I said, my voice flat.
She stopped at the edge of the gravel, her eyes raking over me with longing as she hugged me tightly. Truthfully, I had missed them.
"I exhaled and hugged her back. She turned her gaze to the three men surrounding me, her expression shifting to one of practised deference. "I trust the boys handled your... retrieval... adequately?"
"She's here, isn't she? So glad you all finally remembered us at last." Jermaine said, not even looking at her. His focus remained entirely on me.
Marissa smiled softly.
"Hailey is waiting in the drawing room," Marissa said, her tone light. "Kindly avoid pissing her off, she's in a bad mood."
"Careful, Marissa," Jaden whispered, his eyes flashing a dangerous amber. "You're talking about our mate."
The word hit the air like a physical weight. Marissa's face thinned, her eyes darting between the four of us. She hadn't known. She thought I was just being brought back to be punished, not claimed.
Jackson's grip on my waist tightened, pulling me flush against his side. "Inside. Now."
As they led me toward the house, Jermaine on one side and Jaden on the other, I felt like a lamb being ushered into a den. My body was a traitor, vibrating with the proximity of the three brothers, even as my mind screamed for an exit. I glanced back at Marissa, who was watching us with a look of pure, unadulterated confusion while she chatted softly with the brown-eyed female who was an exact replica of the three brothers.
I was back in the cage, and this time, the bars were made of flesh and bone.
An old man walked slowly behind her slowly and Marissa cleared her throat " They're finally back Isaiah."
He nodded "Let's meet with the queen of all now."
The doors of the drawing room opened and on two seats were the queen and the king, Hailey looked just as beautiful as she was when I left the kingdom. I slowly exhaled and walked up to her and hugged her fiercely yet there was a new level of coldness in her. "Welcome back Alexia." She greeted softly and moved me back while King Ryan smiled and nodded at me.
She looked at the boys and smiled at them "Welcome home boys. I've missed you so bad." Jaden scoffed immediately at that statement " You missed us so bad, you gave us up for eighteen years."
"Hello, sons." The boys are warmer with their dad unlike the queen. Isaiah cleared his throat "The vision shows that she is the fated mate to your three sons with a terrifying power locked away but will be brought back the moment she is fully mated."
Jaden shrugged nonchalantly "So we needed to leave and be put through hell for eighteen years just for this?"
"You might have your reservations with the fact that you were sent away but if you disrespect me again. I will punish you." Logan walked in and cleared his throat "The Queen of Fae is here and says she needs to see you urgently my queen. "
