Page 13 of The Shattered Kingdom
Mason rises from the couch as Lill and I step into the living room, his eyes darting quickly between us. I’m expecting him to react to the sight of Lill dressed up in faerie attire, but he hardly bats an eye. He’s a shitty mate.
“Where’s Kie?” I ask.
The violet-eyed faerie isn’t anywhere to be seen.
Mason sucks his cheeks into his mouth. “He’s been called away. I’m taking you instead.”
That’s just wonderful. Mason looks about as pleased as I feel, which isn’t at all. If I had to pick between him and Kie, I’d choose Kie. The faerie’s an asshole, but he’s considerably more stable than Mason. I don’t trust the shifter not to get angry, transform into his ungodly horrifying beastly state, and start tearing apart faeries.
Lill shifts her weight, no doubt picking up on Mason’s annoyance. He’s not going out of his way to hide it, and I can only imagine how she feels having a mate who is so visibly displeased to be spending time with her.
I take back all the romantic notions I once held toward the idea of mates. It turns out even men who are destined to be with you are shitty.
“It wouldn’t kill you to smile.” I clear my throat. “You kidnapped, tortured, and offered me as a gift to Zaha. A tour is the least you can offer.”
Mason scoffs. “I didnottorture you.”
That’s a load of shit. He may not have tortured me physically, at least not in the traditional sense of the word, but he most definitely tortured me mentally. I was put under an inhumane amount of stress and fear, and he knows it.
A line forms between Mason’s eyebrows, and he relaxes his shoulders in a way that looks forced and unnatural before extending an arm toward Lill. There’s a tense moment where shestares at it, hopefully debating rejecting him, before she steps forward and takes it.
They’re not touching skin. Mason’s black gloves are firmly in place, signaling to the faeries that he hasn’t and isn’t interested in finding his mate. Does that upset Lill? She hasn’t said anything about it, but I’m sure she’s noticed.
Mason leads Lill outside, and I follow a few steps behind. I’m lingering so I can watch them, and I puff out my cheeks as the pair glide down the secluded wooded path separating the housing area from the larger property.
I don’t understand this place. It’s beautiful, but it’s so different than how royals in the human realm live. There’s no castle, no sprawling estate. Instead, there’s a smattering of buildings nestled within one giant property. It’s a compound.
Everything is so clean, but I suppose that’s to be expected.
“Queen Gitta and a few council members reside here,” Mason says. “So don’t go sneaking around. Most guests stay in the housing on the other side of the property.”
“Is this place open to the public?” I ask.
“Obviously not.”
I bite my tongue at Mason’s sharp reply. It was a good question, and unlike some people, I’m not afraid to acquire knowledge and grow as an individual. The faerie realm is new to me, and I’m eager to learn as much as possible in the short time I’ve got here. Once Kie and Mason verify Lill’s story, I assume they’ll shove me through the first available portal.
As I watch Lill speak quietly to Mason, her voice too low to make out the specific words, I realize she might not even want me here. This world isn’t as foreign to her as I initially anticipated, and she’s actuallytryingwith Kie and Mason. I’m nothing more than a human-sized cockblock.
Mason leads us down several long, outdoor walkways.They’re beautiful, and I want to touch every flower and fancy decorative item we pass. If Mason weren’t here, I probably would.
“Shouldn’t there be guards with us?” I ask, interrupting their conversation.
It’s not much of a conversation, anyway. Lill is doing about ninety-nine percent of the talking, and Mason is chiming in only occasionally with a grunt or one-word answer. I’m surprised Lill is still trying. I sure wouldn’t be if I were in her position.
Mason slows as I speak, his long stride shortening just slightly. I’m relieved, and I take the opportunity to catch my breath. There aren’t many people out and about this morning, probably because it’s still early, but we’re never entirely alone.
As a prince and the soon-to-be crowned king, shouldn’t Mason have a bodyguard? Lill and I sure won’t be of much assistance in an assassination attempt.
“Guards… with us? Why?” Mason spares me a glance over his shoulder. “The front gates are heavily monitored, and guards wander about. The property is safe, if that’s what you’re concerned about.”
Is it, though? I’m not concerned about strangers attacking us. I’m worried about the faeries who are allowed inside doing so. They hate Mason, they don’t know Lill, and I’m nothing more than a human pet to be kicked aside.
“If you head left, you’ll find offices and assembly buildings,” Mason says, moving away from the topic of guards. “They aren’t of any interest to you.”
Who’s he to say that? Theycouldbe. I stare at the trellis above me, mesmerized by the thousands of butterflies fluttering around the vining flowers as I follow Lill and Mason around the corner. We’re heading to the right, away from the offices and assembly buildings, and I let out a quiet yelp as I barely avoid barreling into a man.
He smoothly sidesteps me, his eyebrows disappearing into his hairline as he extends a hand. I think it’s to help steady me, but I recover before he makes contact.
