Page 1 of The Shattered Kingdom
Chapter One
ABBY
ARE THEY GOING to kill us? I assume not, considering Lill is Kie and Mason’s mate. It’s a discovery I didn’t expect, and I’m not sure how to feel about it. I’m avoiding thinking about it at all.
I walk beside Lill, my hand brushing hers. Her skin is cold, but the knowledge that she’s alive brings me so much comfort. I spare her a glance, my attention captured by her gaunt cheeks and hollow violet eyes. She looks exhausted, and I can only imagine how hard my disappearance has been on her.
Kie and Mason walk ahead of us. They’re both equally stiff, their movements just a little too purposeful to look natural. Both men are tall, but Kie’s leaner form fits in amongst the faeries. Mason looks like a bulldozer. He stands out, clearly not one of them.
Their dark hair doesn’t help. Kie’s short black hair sticks out like a sore thumb against the sea of white blonde, as does Mason’s dark brown strands. If it weren’t for Kie’s violet eyes and pointed features, I’d question whether he’s actually a faerie.
Mason could never pass for one. I’ve not met another shifter, but I can tell he’s one through and through.
Queen Gitta trails behind us with two of her guards. I can’tsee her, but I canfeelher presence.
Do they intend to lock Lill and me up inside that damned bedroom again?
We round a corner, one I vaguely recognize. The outdoor corridors separating the buildings are nearly identical, though, so maybe not. The walkways were beautiful in the light of day, but it’s a different story when the sun is down.
The large, butterfly and vine covered trellises overhead are suffocating. It’s too dark to see the details, and the sound of thousands of beating wings is unnerving.
We pass through a courtyard containing a large fountain, one with several women standing around it. They openly stare at us, their curious gazes darting rapidly between Kie and Mason before shifting toward me and Lill. Then they land on Queen Gitta and quickly dart away.
Her Majesty insists on following us back to Kie and Mason’s home, probably to ensure Lill is locked away to her satisfaction. Mason accused Lill of murdering Kie’s father, of murdering the faerie king. That’s not to be taken lightly.
I still don’t believe Mason’s accusation, and I glare at the back of his head as we reach the small courtyard that separates the royal housing area from the remainder of the property. The walkways are open past the courtyard, no stifling trellis overhead, and there are no faeries lingering about.
Even Mason seems to relax as we find ourselves alone, his tense shoulders dropping and his gloved fists unclenching at his sides. I hate to admit that Mason looks different when freshly changed and showered. He seems less wild, less dangerous. I’m not quite so afraid he’s going to shift into his animal form and tear out my throat at a moment’s notice.
I grab the rolled waistband of my pants and pull them up, the fabric too loose to remain in place. While Mason dressed himselfin a perfectly tailored, expensive-looking shirt and pants, he gave me lounge clothing. They’re oversized and sloppy, and the well-dressed faeries with whom we’ve had the misfortune of crossing paths must think so little of me.
Hopefully Kie’s shirtless and unshowered appearance distracted them. If not, then Lill definitely did. She’s so visibly thin and sick,andshe’s wearing Kie’s shirt. She wouldn’t need to wear it had Kie done a better job watching over her. He may not have approved the whipping, but it happened on his watch.
The thought of one of those faerie guards tearing off Lill’s shirt and hurting her has bile rising up the back of my throat, and I do my best to push the mental image of her bloodied skin and pained screams aside. I canand willfret over her later.
The royal houses are nestled inside a wooded area, and we weave through small paths lined with several trees before reaching Kie and Mason’s home. The single-story brick building doesn’t look very royal, which I assume is purposeful. They probably don’t want their home to be easily identifiable. It would make it too easy for somebody to break in and murder them.
There’s a smaller house beside theirs, and Kie guides us toward it. Four steps lead to a small porch and a dark, wooden front door. I thought he was bringing us to the house he shares with Mason, but I won’t complain about having my own space. This house looks easy enough to escape from, assuming Lill wants to. I have no idea what to think or how to feel about the mate bond she supposedly feels with Kie and Mason, and she might decide it’s best to remain here.
It’s one of the many things we need to discuss.
“The guest house?” Queen Gitta asks the question, her voice loud as it travels from behind. She doesn’t sound pleased.
Kie nods, then runs his fingers through his hair. The dark strands are knotted from our time in the forest, and he grimaces ashe looks at Queen Gitta over his shoulder. His gaze briefly flashes toward Lill and me, but it doesn’t linger.
I shift my focus toward Mason. The shifter hasn’t spoken in several minutes, which isn’t unusual. Still, I don’t trust it. Zaha has decided that he’s to be king, and I can only imagine the thoughts running through his mind right now.
He’s going to side with the shifters and destroy the faeries. I just know it.
I hope to be present when Queen Gitta finds out. I don’t appreciate how she had me brought to the meeting hall, throne-room area, nor do I appreciate how she looks at Lill and me with such open disgust. We didn’t ask to be brought here, and despite the rumors that have spread regarding Lill’s involvement in the king’s murder, she was just a child. There’s no way they’re seriously going to accuse a seven-year-old child of murder. That’s unbelievable.
Even if Lilldiddo it, there must be more to the story. Children don’t just murder people.
Queen Gitta clears her throat. “Lillian and the human should be housed somewhere with—”
Kie interrupts. “Lillian is our mate. She will not be treated as a prisoner, and the guest suite is highly guarded.”
“Then you should at least consider putting the human in—”
