Page 17 of The Shattered Kingdom
Kie and I may not always see eye to eye, but he’s important to me. I don’t enjoy seeing this side of him, and I grind my teeth as I turn toward Abby.
“Behave,” I order. My gaze shifts toward Lilly. “I will be back soon.”
Kie follows me outside, silently judgingas I order the guards stationed in the courtyard to keep a close eye on the house and alert us if either of the women attempts to leave. I’m fidgety as I head toward the chamber rooms, already anticipating the headache this meeting will be.
The faeries are scrambling, and the number of meetings they wish to have only proves it. We typically only have formal meetings once a week. Daily ones are practically unheard of outside of shifter conflict, and those I’m typically discouraged from attending.
Now, I’ll be leading them. My father will be ecstatic when he hears the news.
Chapter Seven
ABBY
I SINK INTO the couch cushions, beyond bored, before pulling up the bottom of my dress and examining my scabbed knees.
“What happened?” Lill asks.
“Mason. He pushed me down while we were in the forest.” I press my lips together, my anger renewed by the memory. “He was rough with me.”
Lill’s quiet for a long moment. “I’m so sorry.”
I shrug. “Not your fault. How’s your back feeling?”
“Better.”
We fall silent. I should take this opportunity to ask her questions, but I don’t. I doubt she’d give me genuine answers. The faerie realm is beautiful and I’m so glad she’s feeling better, but it’s clear I’m not welcome here.
I saw how Lill’s face fell when I returned from the bathroom earlier. She was trying to cuddle up with Mason, and she backed away like a wounded puppy when I stepped into the room. She doesn’t want me here.
I refuse to be somewhere I don’t belong. I want to go home and forget this ever happened.
I trail my finger over the healing scab before fiddling with thehem of my dress. We’ve been alone for the better part of an hour, and Lill and I haven’t exchanged more than a few words. I’m waiting for her to make the first move, which she doesn’t seem inclined to do.
“Is there anything fun to do here?” I ask. I’m at my wit’s end. “Maybe we could go to the big park.”
Lill’s responding grimace tells me she doesn’t like that idea. “I don’t think we’ll be welcome there.” I highly doubt we’ll be welcomeanywhere. Lill puffs air into her cheeks and glances at the ceiling, thinking. “We could go to the bathhouse, I suppose. There used to be one on the property.”
A bathhouse? I’m imagining a giant tub full of naked faeries, but that can’t be right. Lill would never suggest we do something like that. She’s far from a nudist, and almost every faerie here hates us. I’m not interested in having their prying eyes on my naked body.
“A bathhouse?” I ask. “Explain.”
Lill quirks a brow. “You know what a bathhouse is. It used to be popular among the faerie adults. I’m not sure if it still is, but it could be fun. I’ve always wanted to go.”
“Fun for who?” I ask. “Surely not me.”
I look into Lill’s piercing, violet eyes. What do the faeries think about my brown ones? They must find them quite dull. Mason has green eyes, but they’re unnaturally bright.
“Mason and Kie are acting…” Lill pauses, sucking on her teeth before continuing. “Mates are possessive, and I’d like to see how they react to me entering a public bathhouse.”
I frown. She can’t be serious. “We’ve been here for less than twenty-four hours, and they’ve spent the past twenty years convinced you murdered Kie’s father. Give them some time.” I can’t believe I’m defending Mason and Kie, and I hate being put in a position where I feel the need to do so. It’s outrageous, but itneeds to be said. “I’m sure they’ll soften once they’ve looked into your story and confirm you’re telling the truth.”
My stomach churns as the words leave my mouth, but I force myself to continue. I want nothing more than to bash Mason and Kie, but that’s not what Lill needs. I’ve already told her my opinion of the two men, and she can do with that information what she pleases. I’m not going to push.
I’m putting our friendship before my personal feelings toward the princes, which I think is very mature of me. I’m a great friend.
“I know,” Lill starts. “I just… I thought a mate bond would be, I don’t know,more”—her voice cracks—“and I’m beginning to freak out.”
Fuck me.
