Page 50 of The Shattered Kingdom
Neither Jackie nor her dad looks particularly pleased, and I curl my hand around the back of Mason’s throne as they take their leave. That’s not the answer I was expecting Kie to give.
I didn’t think they’d declare me their mate or anything, but a firm ‘no’ wouldn’t have hurt.
Mason lifts his hand, and Anox calls for a brief recess.
Once chatter has resumed, Kie spins around. “Arthur won’t speak against us if he thinks there’s a possibility we’ll marry his daughter,” he explains, his voice low so he isn’t overheard. “We need his support, so we can’t outright dismiss Jackie.”
I hum. “I understand.”
Mason turns, and I feel only slightly comforted by the fire in his eyes. He stares at me for a long moment, his gaze shifting from my downturned lips to my heaving chest. I flush when angry, and I can only imagine how red I am right now.
He spins back around without speaking, which Kie also hurries to explain. “It’s against tradition for the king to have private conversations while court is being held. This is a public affair, and it’s seen as a slight.”
Mason groans, shifting in his seat. “I can practically taste her jealousy.”
He speaks into the room, to nobody in particular. I look out, but the faeries are busy getting refreshments and chatting. Even the ones in line aren’t paying attention.
“Whose?” I ask. “Jackie’s?”
Mason shakes his head. “Yours.” His voice is so low, I can barely hear what he’s saying.
He places a hand over his lap, adjusting himself. Is he hard? Is my jealousy turning him on? I hate men.
“Do you like it?” Mason asks, still speaking to the room. “You can play with it later.”
I refuse to let myself so much as consider the offer.
Kie sighs. “Mason…”
It’s a quiet warning, but Mason ignores him. “I never had a mouth on it. I want to know what it feels like.”
Even if the faeries can’t hear Mason’s words, they can still see him. He’s practically humping the air, his hips twitching every few seconds. The movements are muted, but Mason seems unable to remain entirely still.
“Stop teasing Abby,” Kie says.
“Teasing?” I can’t help but snort, mildly amused. “Mason’s poor impulse control isn’t having the effect he’s hoping for.”
Kie raises a brow. “I’m sure.”
I wish I could curb-stomp his face into the ground, too.
“I’m not sure what you—” My voice dies out as an intense pain erupts in my chest.
I release a choked gasp, and one hand flies over my heart while the other clutches Mason’s throne. I lean over it, unable to make a noise or breathe or even fucking think. The pain lessens as Kie jolts up, and I dig my nails into his arms as he grabs me around the waist and shoves me entirely behind Mason.
His grip is so tight, it hurts, and I wince as he pushes me down, hiding mebehind Mason’s throne.
Mason’s voice echoes through the room. “Shut and lock the doors. Bring anybody lingering in the hallways inside.”
There are several undignified shouts. I don’t understand what’s happening, not in the slightest, and it’s impossible to think through the burning pain. Kie’s hovering above me, fretting over my chest.
He rips open the front of my dress, and I screech as he exposes my breasts.
“They’re still doing it,” he says to Mason. He sounds like he’s in pain. “They’re trying to stop her heart, and they’re strong. There’s more than one. They’re working together.”
They’re trying to dowhat? Stop my heart? What does that even mean? The pain intensifies, and I instinctively thrash out my arms. My head hits the wooden leg of Mason’s chair, but I don’t really notice.
Kie winces. “Fuck.”
