Page 74 of The Shattered Kingdom
“Alpha Theon harboring Callie isn’t enough to break the treaty,” Mason says, “but his refusal to hand over a faerie fugitiveisenough to publicly call his leadership into question.”
What? A stunned silence falls over the room. They’re shocked. I’m feeling the same way. This is an observation I’d expect one of the council members, maybe even Kie, to make, but never Mason.
Anox cocks his head to the side, his mouth opening and shutting. It takes him several seconds to find words. “Are you suggesting we—”
“I’m suggesting that my first official act as king is to denounce Alpha Theon’s leadership. The shifters live on faerie lands, and Alpha Theon no longer serves us as he should.” Mason’s throat bobs. “We were kind to give them land after they angered Zaha and destroyed their kingdom, but Alpha Theon is taking advantage of that kindness. If he insists on keeping Callie, he won’t be doing it as Alpha. It’s time for Kalix to step up.”
Anox leans back in his chair. He doesn’t speak, but I can tell his mind is moving a million miles a minute.
Mason continues. “I’m a shifter, and if the faeries want anysemblance of control over my kind, it’ll have to be done through me. I’m the only person the shifters would ever consider listening to.”
The rest of the meeting goes in one ear and out the other. There’s talk of the logistics of making such a statement and a little bit more on whether or not Alpha Theon’s claims of not knowing where Lillian is are genuine.
What feels like several hours pass before the meeting ends and I’m ushered back to Kie and Mason’s house. They’re silent on the walk, which is fine with me. I don’t have anything to say. I don’t know what to say.
I can’t imagine what Mason must be feeling right now. He just found out yesterday that on top of his parents abandoning him to the faeries, Alpha Theon also refused him the medical care he desperately needed. His father left him to die.
What did Alpha Theon intend to do to us had Mason not heard the shifters sneaking up on us? Would he have killed us? Tortured us? I doubt, whatever it was, that it would’ve been friendly.
I begin stripping to my underwear the second we’re inside the house. My clothes are covered in dirt, and most likely some blood from when the shifters attacked Kie and me. I want them off, and I grimace as I drop them to the floor and kick them away.
Mason stalks out of the room, his bedroom door slamming shut a second later. Kie remains in the foyer with me.
“If what Alpha Theon said about Lillian is true…” He shifts his weight from foot to foot. “I hope you know that we belong to you. We’ve always belonged to you. Lillian was wronged, but it isn’t your fault.” He drags his hand through his hair. “You felt a pull to us. A pull that, even before triggering the bond, was strong and hard to ignore. A pull you shouldn’t feel guilty about.”
I can’t even begin to imagine the pain and anger I’d feel if I caught Kie or Mason touching another woman. It would ruin me,and I’m not sure I’d ever recover. I’m not sure I’d want to.
I did that to Lill. I didn’t believe her.
I should’ve never touched Mason.
I’m going to be sick. I haven’t eaten in hours, but bile finds its way up my throat as I tumble headfirst into a vortex of self-hatred and disgust.
Kie reaches for me, but I step out of his grasp. The little voice in my head tells me to run away, to deny the bond and everything related to it.
“No,” he hisses. “Mason has worked too fucking hard to earn the sad, minuscule affection you give him. You can’t take that from him, not now. You touched him because you knew something was there, even if you didn’t want to admit it. It’s a shitty situation, but Mason doesn’t deserve your regret.”
Tears blur my vision.
Kie continues. “His father just tried to kill him, and that outweighs your guilt toward feeling like a shitty friend.” He rubs his face. “If you can’t do that…” He points down the hallway that leads to our bedrooms. “Then I think it’s best you remain in your room. At least until Mason’s settled.”
Kie heads for the shifter, shutting Mason’s bedroom door behind him.
I just want things to be easy. Mate bonds are supposed to be romantic and effortless. I fell in love with the idea the moment the words slipped out of Samuel’s mouth. He was so desperate to find a mate, and he bought me food and gloves just for the opportunity to touch me.
I wanted him to be my mate. It would’ve been a love story for the ages.
My bonds with Kie and Mason are far from a love story. It’s complicated and hard and not at all what I wanted. Kie’s right, though. Mason doesn’t deserve my regret, not now. He’s dealingwith enough as it is.
I grab the item nearest me, one of the barstools tucked underneath the kitchen island, and slam it against the ground. I’ve never intentionally broken something, and I don’t feel the least bit better as the wood splinters into a million pieces.
Footfalls thunder in my direction.
Kie’s face is void of emotion as he steps into the room, and his back stiffens as he surveys the shattered barstool. Mason does the same.
I storm toward the shifter, not sure what I plan to do until I throw my arms around his neck and pull him in for a kiss. I’m done thinking, and I’m done talking. This stupid oaf is my mate, and he needs me. I fear I might need him, too, but I’m not quite ready to admit that. Not yet.
Mason groans, peppering kisses down my neck. It feels good, and I tilt my chin so he has more skin to play with. It’s exactly what I need, and I lean into him as I shift my attention to Kie.
