Page 24 of The Shattered Kingdom
It was hidden with Abby’s tiara and peanut container.
I adjust, placing myself between him and the door. Hoarding Abby’s things is a betrayal to our mate, and I’m fully prepared to physically stop Mason from running to Lillian with the truth. I intend to dispose of these objects. I just haven’t gotten around to it.
Mason holds out his hand. “Give them to me.”
I shake my head. That’s not going to happen.
“It’s not right,” Mason continues. “It’s a gross invasion of Abby’s privacy, especially after what we did to her in that forest. Give. Them. To. Me.”
I tense, beyond annoyed. I didn’t expect Mason to take this side of the argument, and I don’t have a good response. I thought he’d be angry on Lillian’s behalf, not Abby’s. I shift my weight, debating the consequences of keeping Abby’s underwear.
Mason’s judging me, but I don’t care what he thinks of me. I’m too busy trying to keep the entire faerie kingdom from crumbling. Idocare what Abby thinks of me, though. I never wanted to give her to Zaha, nor did I want to do all the other things I felt I had no choice but to do in the forest. I took her free will, and I haven’t even apologized for it. I’m not sure where to start.
I slide the underwear between my fingers, then drop it intoMason’s outstretched hand.
Mason shoves them into his back pocket. “I’ll dispose of them.”
I shouldn’t have stolen them in the first place. It’s below my station to do something so depraved, especially to a human. I was having fun looking through her bedroom, and I stole them thinking I’d leave her in the human realm and never see her again. I wanted a memento.
I clear my throat. “Our meeting is in five minutes. Your coronation is tomorrow morning, and we should—"
Mason shakes his head. “I’m already up to speed, and I have things to do. You can handle this without me.”
He leaves the room in a flurry, and I want to pull my fucking hair out.
Chapter Nine
MASON
KIE’S AN IDIOT. Getting him to hand over Abby’s underwear was almost too easy. I’ve never been jealous of the faeries, but I’m admittedly upset I can’t manipulate portals. I’d love to go to Abby’s home and look through her things.
It’s not fair that Kie got to do so and I haven’t.
“It’s a gross invasion of Abby’s privacy.”I can’t believe he fell for that. I don’t care about Abby’s privacy. Just a few days ago, she stabbed me in the stomach. I could’vedied.
My pace is fast as I shove open the door to my bedroom, letting it slam behind me. I can count on one hand the number of personal items I own. It’s never been something I’ve cared much about, but Abby’s underwear is most definitely being added to the list. I just need to store them somewhere Kie won’t find them.
I’d like to believe he doesn’t look through my things, but you can never be too certain. I’m sure he thinks I give him privacy, but I have no issues searching his room and office whenever I suspect he’s hiding something.
I run my fingers over the red lace, then pull off my gloves so I can touch them with my bare hands. They’re clean, which isn’t surprising. Kie may be hoarding Abby’s possessions, but he’dnever steal her dirty underwear. It would be too far, too invasive.
Even I wouldn’t do that.
Clean underwear is different, though. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself. The lace is rough, nothing like what women here wear. I should hate it, but I find myself entranced by the cheap material. Is Abby poor? I’ve never considered the possibility. The quality of her underwear suggests that she just might be.
We can’t send her back to the human realm if that’s the case. Has she ever gone hungry? Does she struggle to meet her basic necessities? Sending her back into that situation is not an option I’m willing to consider.
I’ll discuss the matter with Kie later, once things have settled. It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that I’ll be crowned king tomorrow, not that I’ve had much time to think about it. Abby and Lilly have been keeping me busy.
I should return to them soon.
I don’t like leaving the human alone with Lilly, and if it weren’t for the faerie’s aggressive actions toward Jackie yesterday, I’d never consider doing so. I want to kill Jackie for laughing at Abby. I was so pleased to finally glimpse Abby’s bare skin, but the memory has been tainted.
The human’s shoulders rolled forward as Jackie mocked her, and I just knew she felt humiliated.
I was moments away from stepping in during the exchange, but it’s best that Lilly took the initiative to defend Abby. There wasn’t time for me to cover myself, and word would’ve spread that I touched Jackie’s bare skin while drowning her.
Although I suppose it doesn’t matter as much anymore. The faeries heavily suspect that Lilly is our mate, so touching another woman isn’t quite as scandalous. There’s no risk of igniting a bond, everyone would think. Only I know there actually is, if our real mate is out there somewhere.
