Page 38 of The Shattered Kingdom
“Are you tired, Abby?” Kie eventually asks.
The sun fell hours ago, and I’m beyond exhausted. I can barely keep my eyes open, and I blink heavily before shrugging.
“I guess,” I mumble.
Kie frowns, pushing away from the table. It looks like he’s about to approach me, but he changes course and returns to his position at the table after a visible hesitation.
Mason looks over, his green eyes piercing. “You’ll sleep with me tonight.”
“No.”
Mason opens his mouth, probably to argue, but Kie quickly intervenes. “You can sleep in the guest room. Do you wish to shower? I’ll bring you a change of clothing.”
I shake my head. “I’m fine out here.”
I want to know if there are any updates on Lill’s whereabouts.
Kie frowns again. He’s always frowning. “Go to sleep, Abby. Tomorrow will be busy, and you’ll want to be rested for it. Mason’s coronation is early.”
I shake my head again.
Kie sighs. “We’ll wake you if we hear anything about Lill.”
My eyes narrow.
“We promise,” Mason chimes in.
My next blink is exceptionally heavy. “If you’re lying, I’ll kill you.”
“We’re aware.” Kie gestures down the hallway. “Do you remember where the guest room is?”
“Wouldn’t forget it.” I’ll never forget the room he locked me inside while Lill was being tortured in the cells.
I climb off the couch and head down the hallway. The door is ajar, and I eye the scuff marks from my failed attempts to kick it down. It’s only been a few days since I was locked in here, but it feels like a lifetime.
My limbs are heavy as I strip off my dress and slip between the covers, but sleep doesn’t immediately find me. I roll around for what feels like hours, unable to get my mind to stop racing long enough to fall asleep. I’m not happy with today.
Chapter Fourteen
ABBY
THE BED DIPS, and I instinctively clutch the bedsheets to my chest as I jolt upright. Mason is sitting on the edge of my bed.
Kie is lingering in the doorway, already showered and dressed. His hair is still wet.
“What?” I snap. “What time is it?”
“Early,” Mason says. “The coronation is at sunrise, and it’s time to get ready.”
He places his hand on the sheets, directly over my hip. I brush him away, then kick at his leg until he takes the hint to get off the bed. He doesn’t, choosing to remain firmly planted in his spot.
“Your clothing is in the bathroom,” Kie says from the doorway. “We’re leaving in thirty minutes.”
With that, he spins on his heel and leaves. I stare at his retreating form, my eyebrows furrowed. He’s not usually like that. In the forest, he was the friendlier of the two. I mean, he was still an asshole, but not like this.
“Is he okay?” I ask Mason.
“He’s stressed, and he feels foolish for believing the bond with Lillian was genuine. He’s skeptical you’re truly our mate, which is absurd, considering I’ve confirmed it myself.”
