Page 27 of Stolen


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I needed her to fight for the throne, and to save my people from the tyranny of the Mouse Queen. Falling in love with her was the last thing either of us needed. The Nutcracker Guard thought bonding with her as consorts was the way to get her on their sides.

She didn't need to be loved or love in return, she simply needed a crown and a good fucking. With the four dangling around her neck and the one I'd stolen, she'd be the most powerful princess of the Land of Spirit and Magic this realm had ever seen.

Seven crowns would be better, but five would have to do.

We were just coming over the edge of the Christmas Tree Forest and Clara pointed down. "Look, is... is that Fritz running through the snow?"

I always knew some of the Queen's loyal mice were in my army. They'd pledged fealty to her under coercion just as I had. When I'd sent the mouse army to attack the SugarPlum Court, I knew some were on a special assignment to find the queen's pet and return him.

While they were loyal to her, they were still under my command, and I could see and feel their thoughts. Even if I couldn't control them, she couldn't hide their mission from me.

Clara pointed again. "It is him, and he's got my marzipan pixies in a cage. We have to stop him."

A day ago, the queen couldn't care less about this wayward prince. He'd proven to be nothing but a spoiled brat with no magical talent hidden within. Nothing like Clara's natural ability. But still, he was of the Steel Tree Court and his blood was just as hers. Powerful to someone who knew how to wield it.

If she wanted him back now, well, I didn't want to consider the consequences. If we stopped and tried to get him, I would have to fight my own army. If we didn't, it became a race to see who could learn to utilize the lost magic.

I wouldn't hurt any of my own people. Ever. I was simply going to have to bet that I had a better shot at accessing Clara's magic with the broken pieces of the crown and the connection I would forge with her. If that didn't work, I'd convince her by letting her see the dire circumstances of the Land of Animals firsthand.

"No, your pixies will have to be one more sacrifice in this war. We can't let your brother even see us."

"What? No. We have to save them." Clara struggled to move away from me, but I wasn't letting her anywhere near the edge of the sleigh where she could fall.

I wrapped my arm around her and let her squirm and even punch me in the chest. None of that hurt me. The tears pooling at her lashes tore me to pieces.I'd survived worse.

"They're my friends. I have to help them."

I directed the reindeer to turn away from Fritz's path toward the Land of Animals. We could circle the outer edge of the forest to get to the place we could slip into her land. Until then I'd have to mouse up and ignore her tears. "You'll help them and everyone else in this forsaken realm when you usurp the Mouse Queen."

Clara looked up at me and those tears fell, forming icicle trails on her cheeks. "You've got the wrong girl."

THE LAND OF SPIRIT, MAGIC, AND DESTRUCTION

CLARA

Konig was nothing that I'd thought he would be.

Dark and handsome, sure. Lustful and made my belly go all a flutter. Yep.

An asshole who would hurt those closest to me or let them be harmed. That I hadn't seen coming.

Which was really stupid of me. He'd been trying to kidnap me from the moment we met. Him with a sword in his hand and doing his best to kill my protector. What in the hell was wrong with me? I couldn't believe I'd been so stupid and so incredibly wrong about him.

Or that I'd thought I could save him.

All he cared about was usurping the Mouse Queen. Why couldn't any of them see that I couldn't do that. I wasn't the Vivandiere. They needed a real warrior, a woman who could lead them in battle.

All I knew how to do was dance and my newly acquired wanton skill of having sex with men I'd met only a few days ago. Maybe Fritz was right, and I was just a whore.

No. Nope. Absolutely not. It didn't matter that I hadn't known Leb, Zucker, or Tau for exceedingly long, we were destined to be together. I had a deep and meaningful connection with each of them. We were in love.

L.

O.

V.

E.