Read Ever Night for Free Online Page A

Surely
he
wasn’t that irritating. “And yet you never breathed a word about her.”
    â€œHe must have feared one of us would steal her away,” Jasha said with a mystery-solved nod.
    Before Vasili could form a reply, not that he knew what to say, they turned to each other, cutting him from the conversation.
    â€œNo wonder he raced from the warm, dry palace to get here. He missed his woman,” Grigori said, then cooed mockingly. “The poor baby.”
    Jasha stroked his stubbled chin with two fingers. “She must be hideous if he feels he must hide her away like this. Or perhaps she’s too precious for our
poor baby
to share.”
    Vasili felt privileged. No one else ever saw them like this, relaxed and teasing. To the rest of the world, Grigori was a snarling beast, too savage to handle, and Jasha was quiet and withdrawn. They saved their charm for him, as if he were special to them, and he was glad. They were the most important part of his life. Therefore, he didn’t mind their teasing. Much.
    â€œSo, what are you doing here?” he asked, inserting himself back into their chatter.
    They chortled.
    â€œWe must find him someone new,” Grigori continued to Jasha. “This one obviously didn’t work him from his yearlong temper.”
    More stroking of that chin. “We’ve tried, placing female after female in front of him. He sends them away in tears.”
    â€œI asked you a question,” he said on a sigh.
    And still they continued.
    â€œPerhaps we should ask around,” Jasha said. “Find out what others know about this Rose. Where she lives, why she leaves her man in a bad mood.”
    Grigori massaged the back of his neck. “And we should instruct her on the proper way to treat a king. I do my best instructing naked.”
    Oh, no, no, no.
He couldn’t have them asking others about her. And he couldn’t even contemplate Rose and Grigori in bed. Not without foaming at the mouth. “Why. Are. You. Here?”
    Finally. They focused on him. To his irritation, both flashed him unrepentant grins.
    â€œWe heard of the ambush,” his brother said, slapping
him
on the back now. “We came to offer you our aid.”
    â€œAs if I can’t handle a few enemy soldiers on my own.” Greer, the king of the neighboring realm, wanted possession of Vasili’s, and constantly struck at random times, in random ways, before scattering with the wind. “I sent the men back to their leader. Minus their heads.”
    â€œPerhaps that’s why he failed to satisfy his Rose,” Grigori said to Jasha. “She was too frightened of him to enjoy him.”
    â€œSurely not. That would mean she rejected him, and my brother will be the first to tell you how irresistible he is.”
    Enough.
“Let’s return to the palace. I’m in need of dinner and a bath.” And a woman, damn his always aching body, but he couldn’t have one of those. Unless Rose returned.
    Too young, damn it!
She’d lived nineteen years. He’d lived thirty-three. Until twelve months ago, she’d been his fearful little mouse. He’d been a lion his entire life.
    Part of him wished he could have followed her to her world, though, where he could have her without (much) worry. No one to disturb them, no one to threaten her, no painful past to remember. He hated that part of himself. This was his home. He wouldn’t leave for any reason.
    â€œLook at you. So serious all of a sudden,” Jasha said. “You’re right, Vash. It’s time to return to the palace and feed you. I want my impious, pain-in-the-ass brother back.”
    He snorted, but allowed the men to lead him outside, puddles splashing at his feet. As the rain continued to pour from the darkened sky, he mounted his horse. Many Monstrea and human guards waited nearby, acting as his protection as he’d ordered, ensuring that no one entered—or