Page 88 of The Shattered Kingdom
Anox raises a hand. “No. I like this idea. Our financial affairs are covered by a team of six and overseen by me. Abigail’s expected to take a position on the council, but given her lack of royal experience, we can start her off underneath me. She will shadow me, and when I feel she is ready, she will be fully enveloped within the council.”
I’m not sure about this. I don’t know if Abby wishes to work, let alone in something as dull as finances. Even if she does, I don’t know howIfeel about her working underneath Anox. Title will place her above him, but title technically put Kie and me above him when we were children. It wasn’t respected.
Anox is admittedly an excellent mentor.He ensured Kie and I received the best education, but he was stern. He worked us to our breaking point, and he did so without mercy. I’m not sure if I can sign Abby up for that, especially without her permission.
“Let me discuss with Abby,” I say.
“Why?” Lord Bishop cocks his head to the side. “You are her king, are you not?”
“Do you have a mate, Lord Bishop?”
He shakes his head.
I snort. “Then you simply do not understand.”
I am terrified of Abby.
Anox sucks his cheeks into his mouth. “Have you been intimate? I don’t ask because I care to know the details of your private lives, but with Queen Gitta gone…” I work my jaw side to side. “You and Prince Kieran are the last of the royal bloodline, and after the attack on Abigail’s life, I don’t think it will benefit anybody to postpone heirs.”
I knew he’d bring this up. I clasp my hands in my lap, my anger mounting. They are prying.
“People will be quite pleased to hear she is trying with Prince Kieran,” Lady Cassandra says. “If you allow her firstborn to be faerie, and you claim him as your heir, it would solve several of our issues. This generation may be lost to a shifter and human, but our future remains faerie.”
Lord Bishop opens his mouth, but Anox lifts a hand to stop him. Even he doesn’t care to hear Lord Bishop’s asinine comments. They’re rarely helpful.
“I can see you’re getting upset.” Anox gestures to my quivering arms. “I trust that you and Prince Kieran understand your responsibilities, and I will let you come to me when you’re ready to share.”
That might be the kindest thing Anox has ever said, but he’s only doing it out of fear. He doesn’t want to see me lose control,and this topic has me hanging on by a thread. I want children with Abby, but I won’t be demanding them from her.
I tighten my fingers around the lace in my pocket. “We should discuss Alpha Theon. I suspect he’s—”
The chamber room doors burst open, cutting me off.
Jackie comes storming inside a moment later, with Kie and Abby in tow. Kie refuses to meet my eye, and Jackie looks suspiciously pleased with herself. It’s enough to have alarm bells ringing in my head. What has he done?
Abby looks around, her eyes darting between the chairs. She doesn’t know where to sit, and I use Jackie and Kie's distraction to wave her over.
“What’s this?” Anox asks Kie.
Abby nears, and I pull her onto my lap. She smells like Kie and me, and I bury my face against the side of her neck with a contented sigh. I never thought I’d get to enjoy her like this—not after everything Kie and I did to her. I’m going to soak it in.
Jackie sits across from Lady Cassandra, welcoming herself into our space. Kie takes the seat on my left. He’s still avoiding eye contact with me. If Abby weren’t in my lap, I’d be strangling him. I’m unsure what he’s done, but I don’t like it.
“I have offered Jackie a position on the council,” Kie says.
Jackie beams, clasping her hands on the table. Lord Bishop and Lady Cassandra look confused, their eyebrows pulled together and their lips scrunched. Anox is the only one who takes the information in stride.
I faintly remember Abby suggesting the idea to Kie this morning, but he vehemently disagreed. I assumed that was the end of the discussion. It seems my assumption was wrong.
I tighten my arms around Abby’s middle. “Was this you?” I whisper into her ear.
She doesn’t respond, but Kie gives a curt nod. He’s pissed.
“Jacqueline?” Anox asks. “A council member? Why was this not discussed with me?”
Jackie clears her throat and straightens up. “Their Majesties chose to keep the decision quiet while I was investigating the attack on our queen.”
She referred to Abby as her queen. It’s a subtle gesture, but it’s meaningful. I slide my hand down Abby’s thigh, trying to read her emotions. She doesn’t seem angered by Jackie’s presence, so I won’t be, either.
