The Lion Kings (novel): a BBW Werelion Menage Romance (15 page)

She turned her head away from Adelaide, unable to meet the blonde’s desolate stare, and saw the knife on the table above her shoulder.

“You’re lying.” Adelaide’s hand closed over her throat, but her grip wasn’t hard enough to choke—more a warning. “You don’t know. You can’t know.”

God, Maddie realized, she’d revealed too much. Adelaide would have no reason to keep her alive now that Maddie knew all her secrets. Carefully, she worked the rope around her wrists now pinned between her back and the hard table top. She ignored the pain and concentrated on distraction. “I know it wasn’t your fault,” she said, back peddling on her earlier accusation. “Clary fell into the ditch by accident. You didn’t mean—”

“Shut up,” Adelaide hissed. “Just shut up. I need to think.” She let go of Maddie and started pacing.

Maddie wiggled her fingers and her wrists with more vigor every time Adelaide looked away from her. She could almost pull out her right hand. She just needed a little more time to stretch the opening. She had to keep Adelaide distracted.

“Clary didn’t hate you. She didn’t blame you in the end. She was just confused. She thought of you like her own sister.” Maddie would say whatever she thought Adelaide needed to hear. Because of her vision of Clary, she knew she was supposed to have a long and happy life with her kings. She would have their babies, and the idea of giving them children, focused her strength. When her right hand came free, she inwardly rejoiced.

The element of surprise was her only advantage.

CAGE
and Adam moved far enough from the tent to keep Adelaide from detecting them. Neither of them had any intention of meeting her demands. Cage’s rage simmered with no productive outlet. He wished he could rip someone apart, starting with Adam’s sister.

There was no fucking way in hell he or Adam would let Adelaide leave with Maddie or Zaria. The woman had lost her damned mind, and Cage didn’t trust her for a second. He would spare Zaria the pain of her mother’s betrayal if he could. Learning the truth had been awful and horrifying, but Zaria was an innocent regardless of her origins.

“What now, brother?”

Adam shoulder’s bunched with tension. “I want to fucking cut her heart out.” In the next moment, he sagged. “Why didn’t I see it before? How could I be so blind?”

“I didn’t see it either.”

“I’m the leader of this pride,” Adam said, in a way that made Cage flinch. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean...”

Cage shook his head. “No. Don’t apologize. I’ve been broken for a long time, and you’ve had to shoulder most of the burden. Those days are over, brother. I am with you now. One-hundred-percent. But still, what’s happened with Adelaide, it isn’t your fault. No more than the sun setting in the west is your fault. You can lead, but you can’t control. Besides, we don’t have time for recriminations. We need to rescue our girl.”

Adam nodded, his expression forlorn. “You’re right. Absolutely.” He reached out and grasped Cage’s arm. “Thank you, brother,” he said. “You’re the only thing keeping me from losing it right now. Thank you for being strong enough for the both of us.”

They both froze when they heard voices coming from the tent. Adelaide must have taken off Maddie’s gag, and they were having a heated conversation. Cage wished there was some grass nearby he could rub on his skin to mask his scent, just enough camouflage to get him closer without being detected.

“We have to get in there. I don’t know why she’s taken the gag off Maddie, but it won’t be for a good reason.” Cage fell to his knees and began to rub his hands on the dusty ground. He smeared the dry dirt over his skin. Adam immediately dropped down next to him and did the same.

When they’d covered every surface they could reach, Cage and Adam looked each other over.

“Good enough,” Adam said. “I think it will mask us, at least until we’re on her. I’ll approach to the back. You go in from the front. Let’s stay out of sight though until one of us has a chance to take her down when she’s not in reach of Madeline.”

Cage nodded his approval. “It’s a plan.” He prayed it would work.

ADELAIDE
paced, wringing her hands, much like she had in the vision with Clary. Madeline bided her time, waiting for an opening to escape. She didn’t think she could out run Adelaide, after all, the woman was a lion shifter, but it wouldn’t stop her from trying. She couldn’t let Zaria go with her mother. Adelaide’s dreams for Zaria would destroy the little girl, and while Maddie didn’t want to die, she’d fight to keep Zaria from having to live that pain.

The knife next to her head was a tempting grab, but she hated the idea of using it. She didn’t want to hurt Adelaide, but she wouldn’t let the woman hurt anyone else, especially her mates. She knew there was no way Cage and Adam were going to get her car or Zaria. They would come for her.

A renewed determination set in, and Maddie decided to take the knife. She waited until Adelaide walked to the end of the table farthest from her head.

“What is taking them so long,?” Adelaide’s frustration was apparent as she stared at the front of the tent.

Maddie made her move. She rolled to one side to free her hand from behind her back, and preternaturally fast, she snatched the knife. The speed with which she moved startled her, causing her to slow for a moment. She was armed now, but Adelaide was already shifting, growing larger and more terrifying. Maddie jumped to her feet and held the blade out. She didn’t stand a chance against this lioness. Adelaide would tear her apart, but she couldn’t run away from the challenge.

Inside Maddie, recklessness took over, a wildness born in desperation and determination.

Adelaide stalked closer. A fine golden fur, satiny in its sheen, covered her skin. When she spoke, her voice was rough and gravelly. “This will not end well for you.”

Maddie flexed her arms. She swallowed hard as she found herself staring at Adelaide’s thick, sharp claws. Claws that could easily tear her to shreds. The mating may have enhanced Maddie, but she was still human—not a shifter.

Just then, Adam roared in from the backside of the tent, and Cage came in the front a split second after. Adelaide was startled, but her attention immediately went back to Maddie.

“I will kill you,” she screamed, her body twisting as she lunged toward the top of the table. Fur broke through her skin as her nails turned to sharp claws. When she made her grab, Maddie dropped to her knees and thrust the knife under Adelaide’s ribs and shoved upward, praying she pierced the lioness’s heart. Adelaide screamed, the sound hauntingly animalistic. Maddie ignored the slashes across her arms as she held the blade in place with both hands until Adelaide slumped over.

Cage and Adam were there in the next second, dragging Adelaide back from Maddie. It took a moment for them to realize that Adelaide wasn’t fighting them. The fur receded from her skin, and her chest was covered in blood. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I...”

Before she could say another word, Cage snapped her neck.

It was a merciful death.

Adam shuddered as Cage took the only action they could—one that would protect not only Zaria, but also the pride.

Maddie stared down at her shaking hands. She held the knife so tight it danced like it had a life of its own. She’d reacted quickly, without forethought. “I didn’t mean...” She dropped the blade. “I didn’t want...” She had such a rush of strength when Adelaide came at her, and her survival instinct had kept her focused on taking her down.

Adam and Cage were now beside Maddie, their hands roaming her body checking for deeper wounds.

“Thank God,” Adam said in a ragged whisper. “Oh, thank God you’re safe.”

“Love you, Maddie,” Cage muttered. They were practically smothering her, but it kept Adelaide’s body out of her eyesight.

How would they explain this to the pride? To Zaria? The truth would do more harm than good. She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Adam. She was your sister, and I know it hurts.”

“Not as much as losing you,” he said, smoothing her hair. “Never as much.”

She stared into his handsome, yet dirty, face and gazed into his midnight eyes. “You know this isn’t your fault, right?” She felt he needed to hear the words so they would be real to him. She turned to Cage next. “We are the lucky ones. We’re together now, and that’s all that matters.”

Carl raced in, the dwarf halting abruptly as he took in the scene. Maddie imagined it must have looked pretty bad. She was bloody with maul marks on her arms. Adelaide dead. “Jesus,” he said. “I heard the scream.” He took in a deep breath. “We gotta get rid of her.”

“Adam, we’ll have to tell Zaria that her mother’s dead,” said Maddie.

“Yes,” said Adam, “but she will never know the truth. We will raise her in the pride, and hope that our love and guidance will be enough to overcome her grief.”

Cage and Adam wrapped Adelaide’s body in a tarp. With Carl’s help, they cleaned what they could of the blood while Maddie retrieved the station wagon. They took Adelaide down a gravel road with dense woods on both sides. When they were far enough out, they dug a hole, poured gasoline over her body, burned her, and buried what was left. Fire was the only way to guarantee coyotes wouldn’t dig her back up. There was no ceremony, no kind words or prayers, though Maddie said a prayer for Zaria. They washed up in a gas station bathroom, and headed back to finish the final packing of the carnival.

Carl had finished taking care of the blood and mess in the laundry tent, and was waiting when they pulled back into the parking lot. He narrowed his gaze at the three of them. “You okay?”

“Nope,” Cage said.

Maddie and Adam shook their heads. It would take a while for them to get over the necessity of Adelaide’s death and the revelations of the day.

Carl nodded. “We’re ready to go when you guys are.”

“We’re ready,” Maddie said. “So ready.”

A crooked smile played on Carl’s lips. He walked over to Maddie and bowed. So much for Marlena’s prediction about no curtsies or bows. He tilted his head up to meet her gaze. “As you say, my queen.”

She blushed as a spark of pleasure embarrassed her. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You have but to command,” the dwarf said.

“Get us lined up, Carl,” Adam said.

Carl turned on his heal and headed toward the lead truck and trailer.

Maddie looked up at Adam. He wore the oddest expression on his face. “I shouldn’t be happy.”

Adam stroked her cheek. “But you are.”

“Yes, I am.”

He smiled. “We have each other. That’s what matters.” His gaze took in both Maddie and Cage.

Cage dipped his head and kissed her. “My queen.”

Adam kissed her next, and she smiled. “My queen,” he echoed.

The warmth of their love washed away the blood and the betrayal. They were strong together, and nothing could tear them apart. Not anymore.

“My kings,” she said. She looped her arms in theirs, and together they moved forward.

Epilogue

TWO
years later...
Maddie sat on a crate inside the big top and laughed as Adam lifted Christopher over his head. The toddler’s russet-colored eyes sparkled as he held a full handstand. Eight months and four days after their mating, their beautiful son had arrived. The pregnancy had been difficult, but Alana’s skills as a nurse, and midwife it turned out, had made the process less scary. The boy shifted for the first time before his first birthday, a feat both Adam and Cage had been thoroughly impressed by. As far as they were concerned, Christopher was a genius, and Maddie couldn’t agree more.

Zaria, now twelve, skipped over with Lucy, their six-month old daughter, on her hip. She had dark blue eyes and pale blond hair, and both Cage and Adam doted on her like the little princess she was born to be. Maddie smiled as the two girls danced around in a circle. They had officially adopted Zar, and she was the best big sister Christopher and Lucy could ask for.

It had been almost three years since she’d seen her parents. How could she possibly explain to them about her life with the carnival, or how she’d chosen two men to take as husbands? She never regretted, not for a minute, her life with her kings. Still, she sent letters occasionally to her mom. Now that she was a mom, it wasn’t fair to make her own mother worry whether her only daughter was dead or alive. She wished she could tell her mom about the babies, and how her daughter was named for her. Maybe someday.

Christopher jumped excitedly, flipping in the air, an amazing feat of agility in one so young, and Maddie burst with pride at the expression of approval on Adam’s face.

She felt Cage behind her. He wrapped his arms around waist, now thick and round with their third child. “How are you feeling today, love?”

Exhausted. Tired. Gassy.
She smiled. “Happy. As always.”

“You are beautiful,” he said.

Her body warmed, her lower parts clenching, as he stroked the side of her belly. The side look Adam gave her, the half-grin and quick wink, had her immediately wishing they were alone. She’d made a mental note to ask Marlena if she was free to babysit.

Cage kissed the side of her neck. “I better get in some practice, or Christopher will be replacing me in the act.”

Maddie laughed again. Adam set down their son, and the boy leaped onto her lap. With enrapt attention, Maddie watched as Cage and Adam moved as one, their bodies in perfect unison. It always impressed her, even more than their strength, which seemed boundless. How had she gotten so lucky? They were responsible men, attentive fathers, and wonderful lovers.

Again, her body reacted. They were, and would always be, her lion kings.

The End