A beam of sunlight streamed in my bedroom window. Birds chirped happily outside. Getting out of bed, I drifted to the open window. The late-summer breeze blew in, kissing my skin. There was a hint of chill mixed with the warmth.

Only a month left until fall, then the harvest began a few weeks after.

I glanced to my small garden and smiled at seeing Kieran studying each vegetable and herb. His brows were drawn and he looked so lost.

Spinning around, I gathered my change of clothes and rushed to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I dressed and then exited the back door to the garden. Kieran lifted his head and rewarded me with his brilliant, knee-weakening smile.

He stood from where he crouched in front of the tomatoes and advanced to me. “Morning. I was going to surprise you with breakfast.” He frowned and looked back at the garden. “I’m not sure what everything is. I mean I know what tomatoes are.”

I took the basket he carried and patted his cheek. “Go wash up, I’ll make breakfast.”

A low growl sounded, making me narrow my gaze at him. He shook his head. “That defeats the purpose of me making you breakfast.”

“And very sweet of you. In this case it is the thought that counts. When was the last time you cooked?”

He averted his gaze. “Never. But I’ve watched others do it.”

He was too cute. My heart grew and for the first time in what seemed forever, I felt at ease. Protected. “Go, I’ll gather what we need and I’ll teach you. That way you can do it without burning down my home.”

After he hesitated for a few moments, he went inside. The smile that formed on my lips since waking up to see he was still there widened. My heart filled. Yet, there was a dread that my new-found joy wouldn’t last.

I pushed it away and gathered the veggies and herbs I needed, then crossed the yard to the chicken pen, which was a fenced in section of the yard with a small shed where the chickens laid their eggs.

I stuck my head inside the shed. A few eggs lay in one of the nests. After I entered and bent to collect the eggs, the door slammed shut behind me. I jumped up and whirled around, letting out a squeal at the same time. My heart pounded in my ears.

From behind, strong arms wound around me and I was pulled against someone. When he spoke, I sagged in relief. “Is that really you, Ash?”

Elion.

“Yes.” I turned in his arms, tears of joy streaming down my face. As the youngest prince, he was only a year older than me.

His smiled wide. “Jonah can live for a little while longer.” He hugged me tighter. “We were supposed to run away together. You left me.”

A laugh rushed out on a breath. “I couldn’t stay any longer. Besides, I never knew if you were just telling me those things to make me feel better.”

He drew back and studied my face. His brows dipped. “Of course, I meant every word I ever spoke to you. Do you know how it is to be the youngest son to an insane king?”

“Better than being the servant step-child.”

I meant my words to be light. Instead they came out bitter and cold. Elion pursed his lips and angry lines formed on his forehead. “I’m not without my scars.” In a blink, his mood lightened and he cupped my chin and moved it side to side, as if checking for something. “Making sure that vampire hadn’t bit you.”

I laughed and shoved at him. “Kieran wouldn’t.” I paused, then added, “Unless I asked him to.”

Elion smirked before his gaze flicked to the door. I glanced over my shoulder to see Kieran standing there. Suddenly I felt awkward, like I’d been caught cheating or something.

That was crazy. Elion and I were friends. Of course, he flirted and I played along. It didn’t mean anything. At least I wasn’t sure if he returned the feelings I held for him.

Then why did I feel guilty?

Elion touched my cheek, drawing my attention back to him. “Let’s go to the house. I want to see the vamp cook.”

He waggled his brows and I laughed. From the doorway, Kieran snorted. “You’re going to learn to cook, too. She’s no one’s servant.”

Elion rolled his eyes. “No shit. Once Daddy Dearest is dead, she’ll never have to run again.” He looped an arm around my waist and hugged me tight, again. “We’ll keep you safe, Ash.”

Frowning, I glanced to Kieran, who watched us carefully. There was desire in his green depths. There was also a sense of joy and pride surrounding him. He said I was his mate, yet the sight of me in Elion’s arms didn’t bother him.

I focused back on Elion, then his words sank in. Once Daddy Dearest was dead…

“You plan to kill the king?”

The guys didn’t answer me until we were secure inside my cottage, with the windows closed and locked and drapes drawn.

My suspicions grew. They were being too careful, like they weren’t taking the chance of being followed. My hands shook and I fisted them at my sides. Now wasn’t the time to fall apart.

Elion stood next to the living room window, arms fold over his broad chest. His blond hair covered his ears. He looked more like their mother, from the pictures I’d seen, than his brothers. Yet they all had different shades of blue eyes. I let my gaze travel over him, drinking him in. When had he gotten so…buff? He noticed me staring and winked at me before saying, “That’s the plan, or at least Conell’s plan.”

Huh? Oh, killing the king. I was all for the plan, except that fact that the guys could die in the process. “I hope it is a well thought out plan and not a charge in and get yourselves killed kind of plan.”

“Conell is a strategist. He doesn’t do anything without extensive planning,” Kieran said and held out a hand. “Come here.”

I sighed and drifted to him. “Is that the whole plan?”

“There are minor things that will fall into place as a result. There may be some resistance.” Kieran kissed my forehead.

Elion added, “We started gathering information a few months before you left. At first, we didn’t think we’d needed to bring you into it, just get you out and come to you when it was over. Then I remembered something you told me the last night I slept in your room.”

A pained expression crossed over his features. I vaguely recalled that night. It was the worst beating I’d ever received. Elion stole pain meds from the healer and gave them to me. I hated taking pills, but the pain was too much. “I told you how my mom died.”

Elion gave a short nod. “You told me my father kept a journal, that you read it and it detailed how he poisoned not only your mom, but mine as well.”

He fell silent and Kieran finished. “When Eli told Conell and the rest of us about it, Con was more determined than ever to find the journal and have the king removed from the throne.”

I glanced from Kieran to Elion. “Do you have the journal?” The diary was enough evidence to not only remove the king from power, but to sentence him to death.

“No,” Elion said. “It wasn’t where you said you found it.”

“He must have moved it.” Gods, I hoped he didn’t destroy it.

“He either moved it or destroyed it.” Kieran spoke my thoughts. When I looked up into his eyes, he frowned. “There is another way to expose him, but I hate that plan.”

“Me, too.” Elion crossed the room to stand behind me. He ran his hand through my blonde hair, then let his finger travel down my spine. “We will keep you safe at all costs.”

I held Kieran’s gaze. Confusion and curiosity swirled in my mind. “Kieran says I’m his mate.”

“Yep.” Elion stepped closer. I felt his heat at my back. Desire pooled in my core. Then he pressed his lips to my ear and whispered, “So am I.”

“What?” The one word question came out as a breathy whisper.

“I’m also Kie’s mate. So that makes me yours as well.” He brushed my hair from my neck and kissed the curve that connected it to my shoulders. A groan escaped from me.

Was that why they risked everything to friend me and protect me?

Kieran lifted my chin with his fingers. “I need to go hunt. The others will be here soon, then we train and prepare for a fight.”

Then he left.

I sagged into Elion. “What’s going to happen?”

He turned me to face him. His sensual mouth lifted in a one-sided smirk. “There will be some spying, a kick-ass battle where the king is killed, and a ball. But not necessarily in that order.”

Even though his tone was light and playful, I sensed a darkness within him. One that had always been there. I understood it. It was the same I carried. A result of years of abuse from a man that was supposed to protect and love us.

“What happens after the king is dead?”

Elion’s smirk turned into a full, beautifully wicked smile. “Conell becomes King and the six of us live happily ever after.”

“The six of us?”

“I see the vampire has withheld information. The five of us have agreed to share you.”