My uncle’s small eyes widen, and then a deafening quiet falls over the throne room. Then he breaks into raucous laughter, and soon enough, his sheep follow him.
“You can’t be serious. You want to help a bunch ofhumans? Who cares? They deserve what’s coming to them, and you know it. I saw it for years when you had us all banished there, sweet nephew of mine, and if you ask me, the humans are beyond saving. Beyond redemption. They are slowly destroying their world, and now they must face the consequences.”
I go to reply, but Belle pushes me aside, and the look in her hazel eyes could set the world ablaze. “You’re wrong. There are some good humans still, and they can be saved.”
The courtroom stills at her sudden announcement. They would have sensed her presence already, but to see a human woman acting so bold, defiant, is a sight to behold indeed.
They’re usually nothing but breeding stock. No more different from cattle, and cattle doesn’t speak. It doesn’t have a voice.
The court doesn’t know what to make of her. Madoc purrs behind me appreciatively, and I hear Grey telling him to keep it together.
Finally, a placated smirk crosses my uncle’s snout, and now he gives Belle an appreciative glance of his own. “My, a spunky one. I see why you all like her so much, dear nephews, but if you don’t get a better handle on your mate, I won’t hesitate to kill her.”
Madoc snaps his teeth, but I stretch my arm out, holding him back. Guards point their swords at him.
At least Belle doesn’t look the least perturbed. She continues to give my uncle that defiant look, and I’ll admit, she has never looked so beautiful. She really is a fiery minx.
The look my uncle gives her next almost makes me want to stick a knife in his chest, but I maintain my decorum. I’m the oldest and the strongest. My brothers look up to me, and I have to be a good example for them.
It’s been that way ever since we were spawn. I was ten when Madoc was born and eight when Nero arrived. Grey is four years my junior, so I have to be the ‘grown up’.
In human terms, I’m equivalent to the age of thirty-five. That would make Grey thirty-one, Nero, twenty-seven, and Madoc, twenty-five. Yet adults we may be, our uncle stills regards us like were sniveling little boys.
He’s still pissed about the time I beat him at a duel at age twelve. What can I say? I’m my father’s son.
Uncle scoffs. “Are you, female, one of these ‘good’ humans?”
Belle pushes out her chest, and I wish she wouldn’t. Every monster gazes at her breasts, but once again my mate doesn’t look the least perturbed. She has no idea what she is up against.
“Yes. The same as my father too, and a number of people I know. None of them deserve to suffer. Besides, you and your people would only suffer as a result too. Our darkness is throwing your world into chaos.”
He taps his fingers against the arm of the throne again. “That so, female?”
Belle breathes air in through her nose. “Yes. And the name is Belle. Women do have names, you know.”
My uncle sneers at her insolence. Then his eyes flick toward Alice. She gasps, hiding behind Madoc, and it appears she’s lost all fear for my baby brother at last.
She’s finally discovered that there are worse monsters in this world after all. Ones who wouldn’t hesitate to use her.
A smirk stretches my uncle’s lips. “Then I give you a wager,Belle.If you can prove to me that humans are truly worth saving, then I offer you my help. If not, then I turn a blind eye, and... I get to keepher...”
He points at Alice. She whimpers, and Madoc takes it upon himself to protect her like some big brother. He bares his teeth at our king.
Our uncle chuckles. “I always loved a blonde, and this one’s going to be a beauty in several years. I will add her to mycollection.Rather foolish of you all to bring an unclaimed woman into this den of vipers.”
Den of vipers? That truly is what this place is. It’s no place for a young girl.
Belle gazes at Alice, and her eyes waver as she fears for the younger female. But then she turns to our uncle, and my heart almost explodes as a sexy smirk crosses her face.
“Bring it on.”
Chapter eleven
Belle
Well,Iprettymuchjust threw Alice to the wolves, and after I promised I would keep her safe and return her home.
The poor girl cries, dropping to her knees, and it takes everything in me not to break down and cry along with her. This sucks. I really wish the king didn’t have to bring her into this; she is innocent and doesn’t deserve any of the shit that’s about to be thrown her way, but I know I can fight for her honor.