Jaded [The Moonlight Breed 9] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Gabrielle Evans (the read aloud family TXT) 📖

To his surprise, he did manage to sleep despite the bumpy roads and idle chitchat within the car. The next time Zuriel opened his eyes, they were stopped, and he was staring up at the most beautiful castle he’d ever seen, with white stone walls and high-reaching turrets. When Spiro had said they were going to a palace, Zuriel had pictured a large house, not an honest to goodness castle.

“Did you carry me onto the boat? How did I sleep through that?” The chill of the air alone should have been enough to rouse him from his slumber.

“Yes, I carried you, but I didn’t mind.” Spiro winked as he ushered him out of the vehicle. “You needed the sleep.”

“How do you hide this place?” Jacobi asked, interrupting anything Zuriel might have said in response. “I mean, it’s a big damn island. Did you pay off Google Maps or something?”

Rissian led the way through a beautiful courtyard to the main entrance. “Other paranormals don’t venture here because of the rumors and legends.”

“Most of which we started to scare them away,” Spiro added with a wink.

“But if they’re brave enough to make it this far,” Rissian continued, “our elven magic will cloak us from strangers.” Glancing over his shoulder, he dipped his head and smirked. “And no, even with Google Maps, humans would never be able to find this place.”

Zuriel didn’t understand how that was possible. Of course, he wasn’t a scientist, but he highly doubted people could miss a massive island in the middle of the Norwegian Sea. “So, if no one knows you’re here, how do you get electricity?” He thought that over for a second and gaped. “Please tell me you have electricity here.”

“We’re not troglodytes.” Ascending the front stairs, Rissian turned and crossed his arms over his chest, staring down at Zuriel with an arched brow. “We use solar panels and wind energy. We do have generators for backup, though.”

Zuriel didn’t know what the hell a troglodyte was, but he was relieved that he wouldn’t have to go traipsing around the place with a candle. “Cool.”

“Nice digs.” Aspen whistled as he sidled up next to him. “Can you believe we’re actually going to be living here? It’s like a fairy tale.”

“Are there showers in fairy tales?” Jacobi asked from the back of the group. “I am seriously gross right now.”

“I’m starving,” Mihail added. “I don’t know what time it is, but I hope it’s food o’clock.”

“I don’t even need a bed.” Nikola appeared on the other side of Aspen. “Just give me a blanket, and I’ll sleep right here in the courtyard.”

“I’ll take you straight to your suites,” Rissian assured them. “Your bags are already waiting, and I’ll send food to your rooms.”

“I love this place already.” Nudging Spiro out of the way, Jacobi took his place beside Zuriel and bumped their hips together. “I’m still expecting that harem, but I’ll let you sleep for a few hours first.”

Zuriel laughed, feeling marginally better. “As soon as I wake up, I promise to find out where they’re keeping all the men.”

“Are they always like this?” Rissian inquired of his brother, but there was a smile in his voice that said he was amused rather than annoyed.

Out of the corner of his eye, Zuriel saw Spiro give his brother a playful shove. “This is nothing. They’re on good behavior right now.”

Zuriel couldn’t dispute the claim, but he also didn’t think they were that bad. Still, he promised himself that no matter what, he wouldn’t do anything else to humiliate his mate in front of his people.

* * * *

“The rite is set for tomorrow after sunset. Your robes are already here.” Rissian waved a hand toward the closet in the common area of the suite. “I’ll be waiting at the burial grounds with Thalian, Sadron, Locien, Aradan, and Mother.”

A tall, well-muscled man appeared in the doorway with his hands linked behind his back. His dark hair flowed past his chin, and there was a hard set to his jaw, but his eyes were kind when he smiled. “And I will be escorting you to the burial grounds when it’s time for the rite.”

“Marcel?” The warrior had been no more than a pup the last time Spiro had been home, reminding him just how long he’d been away.

“Prince Spiro.” Marcel dipped his head in respect. “Welcome home.” His gaze drifted to Rissian and softened with a look that Spiro had become quite familiar with during his short stay in Haven.

Arching an eyebrow, Spiro glanced between his brother and the guard with a satisfied tilt of his lips. “You two?”

Rissian lifted his chin and stretched his neck, turning his head to the side to show off his mating mark. “We made it official last year.”

“Congratulations.” He was happy for Rissian, but there was also a bitterness that tasted sour on his tongue. He’d missed so much, and all because he’d been driven from his home by his sadistic father.

“We’ll leave you to rest.” Rissian patted his arm as he passed by. “Mother will want to see you soon.”

“I’ll find her once we’re settled.”

“That was the most confusing conversation I’ve ever heard,” Zuriel said once their guests had departed, closing the door behind them. “Who will be waiting for you? Did he say burial grounds? What exactly is going to happen during this ritual?”

“Thalian, Sadron, Locien, and Aradan are my brothers. Thalian is the second born, while Locien and Aradan are younger than Rissian.” It would be confusing for a while, but he had confidence that Zuriel would eventually become familiar with all the names. “Yes, the rite is performed on the burial grounds, but it’s really not as creepy as it sounds.”

His back hurt from the long trip, and his temples were beginning to throb from lack of sleep. Undressing quietly, he draped his clothes over the back of the dark green loveseat, took Zuriel by the hand,