Savage Prince by Alison Aimes

26

Tension simmered in the air and Maxheim had no idea if he was projecting his own bullshit onto the situation or if Nikolai was thinking along the same line as Byrel and Hawke. Return Tess. Your family will be safe.

“Don’t you have something to say to me?” Nikolai pushed off the wall, eyebrows rising. “Congratulations, perhaps?”

“Hells. Yes.” But Maxheim knew his voice was still tight as he slammed his fist to his chest and then offered his outstretched palm in the Alpha gesture of respect. “Congratulations on the birth of your son. A new generation of Skolovs. This galaxy won’t know what hit it.”

His brother seized his hand, his usual scowl smoothing into a proud line. “Jaxson is fierce. Tiny, but fierce. The doc says he’s very smart for a newborn.”

As if the doc would be stupid enough to say anything else.

Still, Maxheim didn’t doubt it. Both his parents were very wise—and Nikolai had definitely figured out this whole fated-mates thing a lot better than he had.

Or so he thought, until Nikolai swallowed hard, his frown returning. “I don’t remember any of our brothers or sisters being as small or breakable-looking as he is.”

Maxheim understood.

They’d been too young and stupid to realize how fragile life was—until it had been driven home with brutal clarity as the flames destroyed their old home and stole their brother and sister from them.

He recognized his brother’s fear. The responsibility. The clawing need to keep his loved ones safe. It was the gift and burden of the Alpha.

He wanted to say that Nikolai didn’t need to worry. That his son would always be safe. That he’d protect little Jaxson with his life. That he’d do whatever it took to keep him safe.

But he’d already proven that to be a lie.

Return Tess. Your family will be safe.

Turns out there were some things he wouldn’t do.

“You going to let go of my hand?” His voice was calm as he met Nikolai’s gaze head-on. His brother might be the eldest and the Alpha Lord, but Maxheim was no slouch.

“I’m not sure.” His brother stared right back. “What are you planning if I do?”

“Depends on you,” Maxheim answered honestly.

Over the years, Nikolai had done whatever it took to keep their family protected, and he’d expected Maxheim and the others to do the same. Which they’d done gladly.

Now, with Dahlia and an offspring to guard as well, his brother would be even more merciless—and the exchange of one omega slave for the security of the rest of his family might seem like a worthwhile deal to him.

Maxheim’s claws pushed at his nail beds, longing for release. He loved and respected his brother, but there was no way he was giving Tess up.

That’s why he’d given his omega the comms.

Because if anyone—even those he loved most—tried to take her from that room without his permission and hand her over to the Council, he could prevent it, even if it meant toppling the foundation of the very family that had always been his everything.

“Calm the fuck down.” Nikolai’s growl hit like a smack to the face. “I can sense your ridiculous ideas from here.”

He released Maxheim’s hand and wagged a finger in his face. “No, I did not make a deal. No, I did not tell Prendel or Kuril we had her.”

Air flooded back into Maxheim’s lungs, but he didn’t relax. “But?”

“But I won’t pretend I didn’t think about it.” His brother cracked his neck one way, then the other, his dark gaze hard. “We just faced down the Brotherhood and barely escaped unscathed. The repairs from the last firefight just got fixed. And I’ve got an offspring now to consider. So, I’m not really game to tangle with an angry Brotherhood Council again.”

Maxheim tensed further.

“But for you,” continued his brother, “I will do whatever it takes.”

Maxheim sunk back against the wall behind him, the relief more immense than he’d expected. A rift with his family would have felt like a tear in his soul.

Of course, going to war with the Brotherhood Council was no guarantee of Tess’s safety either. Some would say it was a fucking guaranteed death sentence for them all.

But with his family at his side, he had to believe he could find a way to keep them all safe—and bring the twins home.

He had to believe it. Had to will it to happen. The alternative was unacceptable.

He cleared his throat. “Thank you.”

Nikolai nodded, his usual scowl in place. “I know the power of the fated bond, brother. The way it burrows into your cells and sinew until that female becomes your blood, air, heartbeat, and your reason for being. Even without the marks on your wrists, I can see it in your eyes. You’re lost to her.”

Maxheim didn’t bother refuting his brother’s words. Every one of them was true.

“I’m not gonna pretend the situation isn’t fucked,” continued his brother. “Or that it might get worse before it gets better. Prendel and Kuril were not happy when they left. They don’t know about your omega being here, but they still think we’re holding out on them.”

Maxheim snarled. “Someone’s whispering in their ear and causing more trouble.”

“Agreed, but they wouldn’t say who.” Nikolai rubbed a hand down his jaw. “I sent Alexi and Damien with them to their shuttle in hopes that Alexi might be able to use his charm to get something more out of them, or, if that didn’t work, Damien might scare them into compliance.”

They shared a smile.

“But in the end, I doubt either tactic will work.” Nikolai’s frown returned. “And the longer we go without finding this mysterious employer trying to take down the Brotherhood, the more in need of a scapegoat the Council grows.”

Maxheim nodded. He agreed. Which left them in a precarious place. “So, what happens then?”

Nikolai blew out a breath. “If the Council wants a scapegoat, they won’t find one here. If it comes to it, we tell the Brotherhood to go fuck itself and we fight. As one.”

The thickness in Maxheim’s throat made speech difficult. He nodded instead.

His brother’s support was everything to him.

Nikolai’s scowl deepened. “Did you think I’d ever sacrifice the happiness of the one soul who’s done more to keep this family together than any of the rest of us?” He moved forward and slammed his big paws onto Maxheim’s shoulders.

“When I needed help with the others while I was out hustling, you stepped up and took care of them. When I needed a better product to establish ourselves in the arms market, you invented it. When I needed a safer, stronger material to build our compound so that what happened to our mother wouldn’t happen to us, you created one. When I needed someone to deal with Alexi’s mess, Damien’s aggression, and Anya’s rebellions, you were there. You raised those pains in the ass so I could be out there doing what I needed to do, and you’ve stepped up and done it without complaint at every turn, shoving your own feelings down to stay focused on the family’s needs.”

Maxheim was so floored by his brother’s description he couldn’t find the words to speak.

His brother’s grip tightened. “Now, for the first time, you actually want something for yourself.” He pulled Maxheim in for a rib-breaking hug. “Of course, we’re going to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

Maxheim hugged him back.

A lot of hand smacking against the back ensued.

“I did what I wanted. Same as you.” Maxheim told his brother once he found his voice. “But I appreciate this. I do. And I’m going to clean up this mess and make it right. I’ve always kept the family safe. I don’t intend to change that now. I—”

“Why the hells are you two hugging? Did someone die?” Damien’s voice cut off the rest of what Maxheim had intended to say.

They broke apart, scowling. “No, no one died.”

Despite Maxheim’s assurance, Damien appeared unconvinced, a worry line forming between his eyes as he stood in the corridor, Alexi behind him. “You sure?”

“Idiot.” Alexi shoved his brother out of the way. “It’s all good. Maybe better than it’s been in a while.”

“Better than it’s been in a while?” Damien shoved him back. “Are you kidding me? You’re the idiot. Did you not sense the hostility coming off Prendel and Kuril? The Council is definitely planning something.”

Maxheim’s mellow mood evaporated. “What did they say?”

“It’s not what they said.” Damien was still looking at them funny. “It’s what they didn’t.” He blew out a breath. “They made no demands for additional information. Nor did they share any of their latest intel. They’re closing us out.”

“Then we’ll show them why that is a stupid idea and how much they need us.” Maxheim was more determined than ever. “You don’t mess with a Skolov.” He squared his shoulders. “And now that we’ve got that settled, let’s go fetch the omegas. I want to meet my nephew and introduce you to Tess. I don’t like being away from her even this long.”

The last sentence slipped out before he’d realized he’d spoken it aloud.

The corridor went silent.

Maxheim braced himself for the same teasing shit he’d been getting from his brothers.

But that’s not what he got at all.

“Finally.” The look of sweet relief on Nikolai’s scary, scowly face was undeniable. “Someone who understands.”

Without warning, Maxheim was pulled into a half-bear hug. “There’s nothing like the feeling, is there, brother?”

Maxheim barely hid his astonishment.

Alexi and Damien were less adept. Both their mouths hung open.

It was just that they’d never heard Nikolai so eloquent. Or open. He was more of a yelling, growly, strong, but silent kind of leader. One who didn’t usually share or admit to any weakness.

Truth be told, all the Skolovs were like that. Shit had been hard. Whining a luxury, they didn’t have.

But times were different now. They could afford to be different too.

So, Maxheim slung his arm around his brother and returned the half hug. “Agreed. Being an out-of-control, fucking lunatic has way more benefits than I ever imagined.”

“Great. Now that you two have omegas, that’s the cool thing.” Damien looked annoyed.

Alexi just laughed.

And Maxheim vowed he’d find a way to protect both Tess and his family if it was the last thing he ever did.

He’d just finished that thought when a sharp blare rang down the corridor.

The compound alarm.

Nikolai’s head snapped up.

Maxheim’s too.

Someone was attempting to breach the perimeter.

Maxheim’s claws punched from his skin. Byrel? The death squad? Council?

Whoever it was, they were dead.

He was off and running toward his targets in the next instance.

Like the pack they were, his brothers tore down the corridor after him, horns out, fangs flashing.