Four Heirs: A Reverse Harem Fantasy (The Rothhaven Trilogy Book 3) Read online

  Chapter 3

  Mariselle blinked her eyes open at the sound of a familiar voice.

  “Rise and shine, milady,” Shawna said, sounding chipper.

  Mariselle sat up and yawned, noticing early morning sunlight streaming in through the window. “Wow, I must have slept in.”

  “No worries, miss, it’s not that late.” Shawna rifled through Mariselle’s wardrobe in search of something for her to wear.

  Serina, Mariselle’s other maidservant, pushed back the draperies to let more light in. She sighed happily. “Oh, what a beautiful view you have.”

  Mariselle laughed. “Take a seat and enjoy the view. I don’t care if you want to gaze at Zackary’s property. I do it all the time. It really is relaxing.”

  Serina turned to look at Mariselle. “Oh, no, milady. I would be remiss if I spent my days here, gazing out your window.”

  “You make me laugh so,” Mariselle said, walking to Serina and grabbing her hands. “We’re friends, you can do whatever you want in here. Stop calling me miss and acting like you work for me. I’m just like you. A commoner. A farm-girl.”

  “Yes, but the kings fancy you,” Shawna remarked as she opened a small box containing jeweled hair pins and combs.

  Mariselle sighed. “I know, but…” she trailed off, not sure what to say. She knew Shawna was right, but she still wasn’t ready to accept that she was anything more than average.

  Turning away from the window, she sighed. As she headed toward the dressing table, she began to think long and hard about what seemed to be her lot in life. Why was she menstruating when no other woman in the land was? Tired of that question rolling around in her brain, she pulled the gown she’d worn the day before where it lay over the back of a chair, and let them help her get dressed.

  “I’m going down to breakfast. I’ll be back later, ladies.” And with that, she was gone, exiting her chamber and heading down the stairs in the hopes at least one of the kings would be joining her for the meal. She had missed staying in Zackary’s bed the night before, and hoped he would be down having his morning meal so she could see him again.

  “Good morning, gorgeous,” Zackary said, standing as Mariselle entered the dining hall. Mathias and Alexander also stood.

  Zackary kissed her hand before helping her to sit.

  “Porridge, milady?” the kitchen servant asked.

  She nodded. “Yes, Percy, that would be lovely, thank you.”

  He ladled some steaming porridge into her bowl. When she grasped her spoon to dig in, she looked up to see all three gorgeous kings staring at her. “What is it?”

  Mathias grinned at her. “You sleep in that gown?”

  She looked down and then back to him. “No, but I was hungry and didn’t want to wait for Shawna to pick out a dress. Because then she has to pick out all the accessories and shoes and all that. I’m starving.”

  He chuckled. “Okay.”

  “Didn’t know you boys even paid any mind to my garments, anyhow,” she murmured before lifting the spoon to her lips and blowing on the hot food.

  “We always notice what you do, what you wear, your moods… we are very in-tune with them,” Alexander commenting before spooning some porridge into his mouth. He did not break eye contact with her as he said it.

  Mariselle’s stomach did a little flip. Out of all the kings, Alexander’s eyes were her favorite. A cool icy-blue that betrayed the warmth she saw behind them. She glanced over to Zackary, who was smiling at her, his hazel-green eyes also beautiful. Then, she looked at Mathias. His aqua-colored eyes were exactly the same as they were when they were kids. Their color reminded her of the sea on a clear day.

  She cleared her throat. “So, boys, what are your plans for today?” Normally, she did not pay any mind to castle business, but the three were acting a bit funny and she wanted to get them to talk so she could feel some normalcy.

  “Griffin is on his way and should be here by nightfall,” Zackary commented.

  Mariselle grinned. “He is?” Her stomach did another flip.

  “Yes,” Mathias answered. “The four of us need to get this castle fortified, and then we will all work on the other three.”

  Mariselle’s brow furrowed and she set her spoon down. “I am probably speaking out of turn here, but why don’t the four of you just rebuild Castle Rothhaven? It makes no sense to have you all separated in the four corners of Syracuse. Don’t you miss one another when you’re apart?”

  Alexander wiped his mouth and beard on the cloth in his hand and then set it down. “It’s not that simple, Mariselle. To keep order in the country, we must have four kingdoms to watch over the people. Having one of us at the north, south, east, and west makes the most sense. That being said…” he trailed off, as if not wanting to continue.

  “What is it, Alex?” she implored.

  With a grimace, he replied, “There won’t be anyone to rule over in a couple decades if this curse isn’t broken.”

  “I know,” Mariselle whispered, picking up her spoon once more.

  Zackary reached over and squeezed her hand. “I have faith in you—in us. We’ll get this thing broken. I’ve decided to call on the wizard. I hadn’t wanted to, but this is getting out of hand. Gaylen will be here tomorrow night.”

  Mariselle gasped. “You found him? But he’s been so elusive.”

  He grinned. “Yes, love. He wasn’t easy to locate, but I did find him in the forest.”

  “That’s wonderful news. I sure hope he can help us. This dreadful curse needs to end. I’m growing weary of it.”

  “You aren’t the only one,” Mathias commented. “Townsfolk in the South Haven have been attempting to visit the castle all hours of the day and night, demanding I do something. I’ve conducted town meetings, ensuring them we are doing what we can, but in reality, I, personally, haven’t been doing a damn thing. What can I do? We have those who practice the magical arts in town, and I’ve consulted with them, but they are just as powerless as we are. That spell Angelique put on Syracuse was a doozy.”

  Alexander chuckled. “You can say that again, brother.”

  As Mathias looked over at Mariselle, he couldn’t help but remember his dream and the apparition he had seen last night. Then he glanced at his brothers. Had she really had sex with those two, plus Griffin? In his mind, this was odd, but then he was reminded of the curse. This had nothing to do with morals, or love… it was a desperate attempt at a means to an end. Surely her menstruating was some sign.

  The beautiful ghost had sounded almost desperate when she’d told him he must lay with her.

  But… how did that work? He just knocks on her door late at night and asks her to get naked so they could fuck? No… that wasn’t how Mathias could do it. He wasn’t like that. Besides… he was horrible with women. No game whatsoever. Furthermore, didn’t she spend most her nights in Zackary’s bed? Was he just going to share? Give Mathias a shot at trying to impregnate the beautiful redhead?

  Suppressing a sigh, he finished his breakfast while his brothers talked about the reinforcements they wanted to do to the West Haven castle, and tried not to have sexual thoughts about Mariselle in the process.

  The sun was beginning to set, and Mariselle was alone out by the stables, petting Samson, her favorite horse. “I’ll take you for a ride tomorrow,” she cooed to the animal.

  “Would you like to brush him?”

  Mariselle turned around and saw one of the female stable-hands approaching with a smile on her face.

  “Sure, that would be lovely, thank you.” Mariselle took the proffered brush and began running it through his mane.

  “He loves getting stroked like that,” she commented as she watched Mariselle brush the animal’s mane and coat.

  “I’m sure they all do,” Mariselle replied, not looking at the stable-hand whose name she couldn’t recall. There was something that had always rubbed her wrong about the pretty brunette, but she tried to push it out of her mind. She didn’t like the way she looked at
Zackary, but realized there was nothing to be jealous of. Zackary was gorgeous and friendly, and any woman would want to be in his bed. She remembered Emily, from Alexander’s haven, who had been just as flirty with the sexy blond king.

  But, for now, she was the one who warmed Zackary’s bed. For the next week or so, anyway, until she knew her menses would come. Then, she wasn’t sure what would become of her. She desperately wanted to stay at the West Haven. She was comfortable there, and had friends, and of course Zackary. She even loved the castle staff, especially Shawna’s husband Oscar. He was such a good cook and it made Mariselle happy to see Shawna reunited with him last month.

  That hadn’t stopped her from wanting to warm up to Alexander, though. After dinner earlier, Alexander had walked her through the courtyard and out toward the stables, and just being in the courtyard with him reminded her of her first time with him at the North Haven. How she’d gotten down on her knees and sucked him off so perfectly. She had so wanted to do that again earlier, but hadn’t dared suggest it. Not in Zackary’s courtyard.

  Maybe I’ll just give Zackary a little pleasuring later when we’re alone, she thought to herself, giggling.

  “Is there something funny, miss?” the stable-hand asked from the next stall over as she sat down on a stool, getting ready to re-shoe the giant white mare that occupied the stall.

  Mariselle’s smile dropped. “It’s nothing really, just a memory.”

  “Care to share?” the woman asked.

  “Maybe later,” Mariselle commented, continuing to brush Samson.

  After a few minutes, when she was just about finished, she felt a warm body behind her, but before she could turn around, two strong hands slid over her eyes.

  “Guess who?” came a voice so deep and warm, it sent shivers down her spine.

  She whipped around and squealed. “Griffin!”

  Griffin picked her up in a hug and spun her around. Then he leaned down and placed a searing-hot kiss on her mouth. She jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him back, their tongues mingling and her fingers raking through the reddish-blond hair on his head and face.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” she said once they’d broken the kiss.

  “I’ve missed you, too, sweet Mariselle,” he replied breathlessly. He stared down at her with his silvery-colored eyes and felt his cock stiffen immediately when she stared back into his with her lust-filled green orbs.

  As they stared at each other and began to kiss again, the eavesdropping stable-hand couldn’t help but smile. She thought all this time Mariselle had been sleeping with Zackary, but she hadn’t known since she never went into the castle. But perhaps King Zackary was just a huge flirt and it really was the eldest Rothhaven king that miss Mariselle was smitten with. Judging by the way she was kissing him and grinding her lady parts into his crotch, she was sure that was the case.

  When she heard the two leaving the stall, she stood up and feigned surprise. She bowed low. “Your Majesty, what an absolute pleasure to see you.”

  “Miss Anna, nice to see you, too. How have you been?” Griffin asked, holding Mariselle’s hand as he led her out.

  “Lovely, just lovely. It was nice seeing you again.”

  “Likewise,” Griffin remarked as he led Mariselle through the fields and back toward the castle.

  Chapter 4

  Zackary did not like seeing his oldest brother’s hands all over Mariselle one bit. But, there was nothing he could do. He wanted to tell Griffin to back the fuck off of her while he was in his home, but at the end of the day, he knew nobody really had a right to stake a claim on her. First, she wasn’t property to be passed around, and two, they were in the middle of a crisis and whatever could be done to end it would have to be done.

  “You don’t have to stay for this boring business,” Zackary remarked to Mariselle as she sat in a nearby chair and watched the four brothers discuss turrets, moats, bridges, horses, knights, and everything in between.

  She smiled at Zackary and then looked at the other three strapping men. “I’m perfectly fine here.”

  “If you’re sure.”

  “Oh, I’m more than sure,” she replied, lifting a shoulder and letting it fall.

  Truth was, she was enjoying the view more than she should. She wanted to walk to the table, sweep her hand over all the maps, compasses, and pencils and lay herself down and tell them all to take her at once.

  She hadn’t the nerve, but she swore if this curse went on any longer, she would. She knew in her heart that she had to be with all the Rothhaven kings to try to break the curse, but… maybe she should try them all at once?

  Wouldn’t that be awkward, though? She knew out of all of them, Alexander was the most daring, and had had sexual relations with more than one woman at a time. But, with other men, too? She did not think they would be game.

  And what of Mathias? He had an innocent-like quality about him. The way he looked at her wasn’t lust-fueled and smoldering like the other three. His was more of curiosity and flirtation rather than scorching heat. She wondered what he would be like in bed. She had no doubt he had thought about it, too. She could just tell.

  As she listened to the men ramble on about their plans for the castle, she felt an odd breeze blow over her and looked up to see the men hadn’t felt it at all.

  She shuddered violently and then let out a sigh. Her lust was growing and she was sure if she didn’t get a handle on it, she really would strip off her dress and undergarments and throw herself onto the table, begging for any cock to enter her.

  Hecate giggled to herself as she floated through the walls and out into the night. Another amorous spell to speed things along. She knew Mariselle was due for her menses in about a week, and after that, she was sure Mathias wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off her. But for now, she had to make Mariselle see that Mathias was just as attractive as the other brothers.

  She had also heard the men discussing the meeting they would be having with Gaylen tomorrow evening. She was definitely going to be having a hand in that, too. If she played her cards right, Gaylen would expose himself for the vile creep he was, and the Rothhavens would never, ever call on him again. Not that they would have a chance, because after tomorrow night, she planned on ending Gaylen’s life. Along the way, she went into the forest and picked a few herbs and captured a small rabbit she needed to fortify her plans.

  As she entered her tiny forest home, she put the rabbit into a waiting cage and set the herbs and branches onto her table. As she heated up her cauldron, she pulled out the knife mold she’d had for decades. One, ironically, that Gaylen had given to her. Well, technically she’d stolen it from his house, but he’d taken it from the home of another warlock before he’d killed him. Still, it had come from him, nonetheless.

  Once the pot was thoroughly heated over the kiln, Hecate shaved off the herbs from their branches into the water. She then carefully removed the rabbit from the cage and used a small needle to extract some of its blood. She dropped this into the water and then put the creature back into its cage.

  After letting that simmer, she took a small cupful of the liquid and poured it into the knife mold, and then immediately took the iron she’d been heating up, which was now so hot it was liquid, and poured that into the mold as well. She watched as the liquid mixed with the metal, and it wasn’t long before the mold had hardened, and she had a perfectly shaped dagger.

  Once it had cooled, she carefully removed it from the mold and set it on the small dining room table. She fastened a thick piece of branch to the end and tied it on to make a handle. Over this, she fastened a rough piece of leather, and then lifted the knife up to admire her handiwork. She swung it around and then plunged it into a loaf of crusty bread she had sitting on the table, pleased to see how easily it sliced through.

  Happy with her creation, she said a few words of an incantation over it, and then went about her other chores, anxious and excited for the following evening.

 
“You’re so wet,” Zackary whispered after pushing two fingers inside Mariselle.

  She was naked, sitting on his thighs, and reached up to gently grab his hard, straining cock. “You’ve already made me come twice just with your magical fingers. I want this inside me,” she whispered, licking her lips while staring at him, slowly stroking it up and down.

  “Then sit on it, love,” he replied after sucking on his fingers with a smile.

  She put both feet flat on the bed and slowly impaled herself on his cock. They groaned in unison, and she slowly began to roll her hips, riding him slowly. He reached up and grabbed one of her hard, pink nipples, rolling it between his fingers. She whimpered in pleasure and began to ride him faster. With his other hand, he grasped her hip, encouraging her on.

  “Fuck, you feel so good,” he murmured, closing his eyes and relishing in the feel of her tight, wet walls around him.

  “Yes,” she replied, resting her knees on the bed and arching her back further as he pumped his cock in and out of her.

  In that position, he could see all of her glistening pinkness, and he couldn’t resist reaching up and strumming her clit with his thumb.

  “Oh, God…” she groaned. Her nipples became rock-hard as a thundering orgasm swept through her after just a few strokes on her most sensitive area.

  When she squeezed her tight walls around him, Zackary couldn’t hold off anymore, and he yelled out his orgasm, spilling all his seed inside her as she rode out her own wave of pleasure.

  She collapsed on top of him, and then took his mouth in a passionate kiss while they stayed locked together.

  Eventually, she rolled over to lie in the crook of his arm. He stroked her shoulder lazily with his fingers and sighed. “You’re so incredible.”

  She laughed. “I didn’t do much. You did all the work.”

  He leaned down and kissed her nose. “It’s not work when I’m pleasing you.”

  They were quiet for a few minutes, until she asked, “Are you anxious for your visit with Gaylen tomorrow night?”