Page 3 of The Shattered Kingdom
Lill shifts her weight from foot to foot, her shoulder brushing mine. I have so many things I want to tell her, but I’d prefer to wait until we’re alone to inform her of her mates’ behaviors these past few days. They treated me like shit and tried to gift me to a god, and I’m going to make sure she knows it.
She should know who her mates are.
Then she’s going to tell me every detail about her childhood. She’s neglected to share some vital information, and I’m done being left in the dark. I deserve some damn answers.
“I won’t lock you up,” Kie says, finally breaking the silence. “But know that wewillbe alerted the moment you set foot outside.”
His threats mean little to me.
Lill nods. “Okay.”
Kie continues staring at her, not responding. I’m pleased he isn’t paying me any mind. I’ve never liked his attention.
Besides, Mason is giving me enough to last a lifetime. The shifter is openly staring at me, and I can’t recall the last time he blinked. He’s probably upset I’m brushing shoulders with Lill, and I hope he doesn’t become protective over her.
What does a protective shifter even look like? Will he try to pee on her? Maybe hump her leg like a rabid dog? Neither would surprise me, but she’s my friend before she’s his mate. If he wants her attention, he can get in line. The mate bond can eat dirt.
Silence continues to stretch between the five of us, and it’s beyond awkward.
Mason is the one to break it with a low, gruff order. “Explain.”
He’s talking to Lill. I can’t fathom whom else he’d be speaking to. Surely, not Kie or Queen Gitta. Or me. I’m just the lowly human here.
Chapter Two
ABBY
LILL LOOKS DOWN, staring at her bare feet. Kie didn’t give her time to put on socks and shoes before shoving her through the portal and forcing her into the faerie realm, and I highly doubt either was offered between his questioning and her whipping.
I grind my teeth.
“Explain,” Mason repeats. “How long were you and your mother plotting to murder King Malcolm? Why did you do it? How did you survive in the human realm for so long? Where is Callie?”
Lill shakes her head, but Queen Gitta interrupts before my friend has the opportunity to answer Mason’s rapidly fired questions.
“This can wait,” she says. “Malcolm is long dead, and Lill’s answers won’t change that. We need to meet with the council and inform them of your agreement with Zaha, preferably before they find out from another source. We must remain in control of this narrative.”
“The council can wait five minutes,” Kie says. “I’m particularly interested to hear what—”
Queen Gitta interrupts again. “Itcan wait.” She brushes her hands down her dress once more, then pulls open the front door and disappears outside. “Come.”
I raise a brow, secretly enjoying the way she commands Kie and Mason around like little children. I especially love the way Kie grows visibly frustrated. He glares at the open doorway Queen Gitta just disappeared through.
“We’ll be back shortly,” he finally says. “Don’t do anything irrational while we’re gone.” The latter sentence is directed toward me.
Mason grunts. “I’ll remain here.”
The shifter is still staring at me. I’m doing my best to pretend not to notice it.
“This conversation involves you, Mace,” Kie argues. “You should be present for it.”
Mason shakes his head, his narrowed eyes darting rapidly between Lill and me. Where is his hostility coming from? I’m not a threat to Lill, and I highly doubt he cares whether or not she’s a threat to me.
She’s his mate, and I bet if he walked in on her trying to sever my head, he’d just be annoyed that she hadn’t asked for his help. He’d be happy I was dead, and he’d probably try to fuck Lill over my corpse.
“I’ll remain here,” Mason repeats. “I don’t want them slipping past the guards.”
That’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one.
