Prince of Fate (Lions of Pride Island Book 2)

C
opyright
© 2016 by Terry Bolryder

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

H
i readers
! Thanks to everyone who asked for Cain’s sexy story. As a big thanks for supporting me, I’ve included a sexy bonus read at the back for when you’ve finished. It’s the first in my tiger shifter series, and it’ll be free with this book for the first week of release!

Keep in mind that since there is a bonus book, Cain’s story will finish approximately half way through, so don’t be confused. Have fun with Cain and Brenna’s story and your free read!

Big thanks,

Terry

“
W
hat on earth
are you doing here?” Brenna asked, staring in slack-jawed shock at the man standing on the small porch of her grandparents’ old house.

He was a man easily recognized by many, especially on the the mainland. And though he’d been gone from the island a long time, she suspected a lot of people remembered him from there as well.

Cain Hunt. One of the royal family, a prince to be precise, though he didn’t look very princely right now. His long blond hair flowed in shaggy layers to his shoulders, looking much like a lion’s mane. A piercing glittered from one ear, and his face bore a five-o’clock shadow. He was wearing leather pants, probably a habit from his motorcycle riding, and a biker jacket on top of that, worn and beat up from many falls.

He was one of the best stuntmen in the world, always into a new extreme sport, always excelling with that big, incredible body, flying through the air on his bike, hair streaming behind him as the crowd screamed and melted in their chairs.

But to her, he was just a childhood friend who’d disappeared and never come back.

“And why right now? Why, after all these years?” She put her hands in her curly hair and pulled it back nervously, twisting it into a bun as she always did when stressed. She paced in the doorway, throwing up her hands, her heart beating wildly as he stayed there staring silently.

“It’s been years, Cain. Years. Do you know how much I looked for you? You just disappeared. And then I have to watch you on TV, every year doing some stupid new stunt, risking your life—”

“So you’ve watched me?” he asked in a low, amused voice.

That stopped her short.

She gritted her teeth together, folding her arms over her chubby form. He was so tall, so handsome. He’d been handsome at fourteen, too, totally crush-worthy with his tall body and overprotective nature of those around him. Now he was devastating.

But that didn’t mean she was going to forget everything and fall at his feet and worship like his fans did.

“I’ve watched you be an idiot,” she said. “You know this island, this country, is depending on you. That and the shifter world.” Her grandparents had worked with the royal family, and as a result, she’d grown up knowing more about them than most. Not to mention her dad had been a friend of Cain’s growing up, and after he’d lost his life in an accident, Cain’s dad had wanted to keep an eye on them.

She could barely remember her dad, but she did remember the twice yearly trips from Cain’s family. Those were always fun.

And then there was that one summer where everything changed.

“It’s been too long,” she said. “I can’t imagine why you’re coming back now.”

“Can’t you?” he asked, raising an eyebrow in a way that sent a chill over her.

This wasn’t the Cain she remembered at all. He took a step forward, backing her against the closed door. So big. So tall. His gigantic pecs pressed close to her at eye level. Why did she have to be so short for a pureblooded lioness?

“I think you’d be able to guess,” he said. “What would bring me here, I mean.”

“I can’t,” she said. “We were friends as kids, but apparently, that meant nothing, because—”

She was cut off because he reached around the back of her head and pulled her up against his hard body for a passionate kiss, his lips sweeping over hers possessively as her entire body heated in response.

Cain was kissing her. Cain. Was. Kissing
her
. Her mind went blank as lust washed through her, pure womanly response to his touch, to his supposed ownership.

His tongue twisted against hers, playing masterfully as his other hand wound around to cup her hips, then give her ass a gentle squeeze. She squeaked and pulled back, and he grinned.

“Can you guess now?” he asked, smirking, looking like a fallen angel as he leaned on one hand against the door. His expression said he already thought he’d won. Well, even if he had made her instantly wet and weak in the knees with one kiss, it didn’t change that she barely knew him anymore and he was some kind of daredevil maniac.

It was too late for them, anyway. Perhaps she’d just been a stupid kid when she’d thought they would work out together. She planted both hands on his chest and pushed hard against him. He stumbled back and then stepped down the stairs, staring up at her in bafflement.

Just his stare made her heat up. He had those intense green eyes that just pierced her. She wondered if everyone felt that unnerved under that golden-green gaze.

“The chemistry between us is even better than I’d imagined,” he said. “I guess the Oracle made a good pick after all.”

Her heart sank and anger thudded through her, raising to a dull roar in her mind as she took a step down toward him. “Excuse me?”

“You know I have to mate whoever the Oracle chooses. She picked you. I mean, don’t worry. I don’t plan to do ruler stuff on the island. That’ll be mostly Axel. But I have to mate, at least in name. We were friends, so you’ll do as well as any.”

She was speechless at his arrogance. At his hurtful words that so contrasted with the passionate, thoughtful way he’d kissed her. Like he’d missed her. Like he craved her.

She didn’t buy any of his bullshit about only being okay with this because of the Oracle. But just the fact that he’d said it made her want to find a vase to slam over his head.

“I wouldn’t be your mate if you were the last person in the world!” she snapped, stepping back to her door, opening it and shutting it behind her.

She heard nothing from behind the door, and then she went to the window and peeked to see him striding off angrily, hands in his pockets.

A part of her twinged in pain at him leaving. But this time she was in control of it. If he’d thought he could just walk into her life again for his own purposes after avoiding her for years despite her attempts to contact him, he had another thing coming.

She sat at the old, hand-carved table her grandmother loved.

“Who was that, hon?” her grandmother’s voice called down.

“No one, Bee,” she said. “They’re gone now.”

“Sounded familiar somehow,” Bee called down.

Brenna sighed. Sometimes her grandmother’s hearing wasn’t the greatest; other times it was far too sharp.

She was about to start seeing about making lunch and taking it up to Bee, when a knock sounded on the door again.

She groaned. Cain again? She strode to the door to give him a piece of her mind. How dare he show up, kiss her, tell her she had to go along with something that would purely benefit him, and then come back after she’d explicitly told him to leave.

She yanked the door open, all ready to yell at him, and stopped in fear when she saw who was at the door.

“Hey, Brenna,” the man said silkily. He wore a grey suit and had a tall, lanky build and dark, oily hair slicked back on his head. Probably in his fifties.

She bit her lip, anger and fear moving through her. She wouldn’t let him see her sweat. In the excitement Cain had caused, she’d forgotten it wasn’t safe to just open the door. She hadn’t seen Barker in some time, but that didn’t mean he’d given up on her.

Just the way he looked at her made her skin crawl. But he’d helped pay for Oxford’s medical bills without her knowledge, and now he used the excuse that she owed him to come see her from time to time, trying to press his suit as mate.

“What are you doing here?” she asked. “If you don’t stop, I’m going to report you for harassment.”

He took a step forward, backing her into the house. “I heard what happened with the Oracle. News spread fast. I’m here to stake my claim before the stupid prince shows up.”

“Too late,” she said impulsively. “He already showed up. And he’s coming back, and if you don’t get out—”

“I don’t see him around.” Barker interrupted, pushing his way into the house.

She wanted to fight him, but she didn’t want to make a loud commotion and bring Bee down. She was enjoying her sewing time upstairs, and her health had been bad since Oxford had died. If she knew the kind of trouble they were in with Barker, she’d probably be at risk for a heart attack.

Barker leaned against the door with arms folded, looking her over creepily. “Come on, Brenna,” he said. “You know we’d be good.”

“Maybe if you were twenty years younger and not a douche,” she muttered.

“What was that?” he asked, stepping closer.

“Nothing,” she quipped.

Barker looked upstairs, and understanding lit his pale-gray eyes. “Ah, precious Bee is upstairs. Should I pay my respects?”

She shook her head hard. In a town this small, someone as rich and threatening as Barker could have a lot of sway. “We’re going to pay you soon.” It was just that she’d had to interrupt her schooling to come back and take care of her grandparents, and that sort of put a damper on earning income. She was still recovering from losing her grandpa. She didn’t need this shit.

He slowly backed her into the wall, putting up a finger to tell her to be quiet as he pressed his body into hers. She squirmed at the unpleasant feel of it. How different it was from Cain. She hated Cain in the moment; that was true. But she was still attracted to him and knew, deep down, there had to be the good person she once knew in there somewhere.

She didn’t know if this guy had ever been good in his life. Even as a kid, he’d probably gone around knocking other kids’ lollypops in the dirt.

He reached up to stroke her cheek, and she leaned back, sneering.

“You know I said there’s no need for any payment. Not when we’re going to be family.”

She ground her teeth together, wanting to scream, to knee him in the crotch, to do anything but be powerless in this position. Just as his greasy lips came closer to hers, the door slammed open.

Cain appeared on the threshold, looking pissed. “I go away like you asked, and you let in this loser? Is this who you want instead of…” His rant trailed off as his angry green eyes took in the scene, Barker’s hands on her shoulders. “Let her the fuck go,” he demanded darkly, striding forward.

Barker backed off smoothly, clearly not any match for the giant, angry, leather-wearing, pierced nightmare striding toward him.

Cain placed himself between Brenna and her attacker, and a wave of warm security went through her. One she hadn’t felt since she’d last seen him.

Sure, he’d only been fourteen then. But for a thirteen-year-old girl with a crush, having a guy like that on your side was enough to feel safe.

She was glad, no matter what else went on between them, he seemed willing to stand up for her.

“She is mine,” Cain said, making the blood drain from her face as she resisted the urge to put a palm over it. “Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you for putting your hands on her.”

Barker’s eyes flashed with anger, his thin hands twisting into fists, but a smooth smile touched his lips. He clearly knew he’d lose in a fight, so he’d try other sneakier tactics. “I had no idea, Your Highness.”

“Well, you do now, so get out of here, your
lowness
,” Cain barked, taking a threatening step forward, raising a meaty fist.

Barker looked like he was about to pee himself and nearly tripped over his feet stumbling out the front door.

But from the angry look he gave her as he went, Brenna had the idea he’d be back. He was always back. And he could bring men to back him next time if needed.

She sighed and looked up at Cain’s wide back, still blocking her view of most of the room.

He turned to her with concern in his green eyes, unintentionally backing her into the same wall Barker had. When she hesitantly looked up at him, he stepped back, hands raised.

She looked over at the door. The hinges were broken, splintered, from his rapid entrance.

He ran a hand through his hair. “Uh. I’ll fix it.”

“Damn right you will,” she said, striding past him to examine it. Bee’s sewing machine sounded loudly upstairs, explaining why the older woman hadn’t heard the commotion.

Cain looked in the direction of the sound. “Bee home? What about Ox?”

Her eyes fell. What should she tell him? She was mad at Cain but had no desire to hurt him with the truth.

“Where is Oxford?” Cain asked flatly.

“He died,” she said. “Last year.”

Pain flashed over Cain’s face, and he turned away for a second. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” she said. Though it wasn’t. “Death happens to us all someday.”

“Doesn’t make it easier,” he said.

“You would know,” she said, referring to his father’s death that had happened years ago. Many people hadn’t even known at the time. She had and had tried to reach out. But Cain had never reached back.

Until now. And only because he needed something.

“What do you want, Cain?” she asked. “Because I’m not going to mate you.”

“Who was that maniac?” Cain asked. “He isn’t one of the rival family’s heirs, so he has no reason to be here.”

“Oh, I agree, but he…” She trailed off. “What do you mean rival heirs? They
would
have a reason to be here?”

He nodded. “I don’t know how many discontents are left, but yeah. They can challenge me for you. Or come for you if I don’t. Just how it works.”

Her jaw dropped. “I’m not some sort of lottery prize.”

“Actually, you are,” he said, grinning with one side of his mouth, until he saw she was angry. “Look, I’m sorry I wasn’t around. But I can’t change that. What I
can
change is I’m not leaving now. Not after what I just saw.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but he just shook his head, cutting her off.

“Clearly, I’ve let you down, but not anymore. You can mate me or not, but I’m staying until I know you’re safe.”

She felt her jaw go slack again. He was a force of nature, doing whatever he wanted no matter what.

“You can’t,” she said. “It’s not—”

“It’s not up for discussion,” he said. “I’m not leaving. Not until you’re safe. So you’ll just have to put up with me until then.”

She swallowed. He had a point. She needed help. She couldn’t do it alone anymore, not with Barker on her tail and now potentially even more men. Not if she wanted to keep Bee safe, too. And she owed Bee everything.