Page 87 of The Shattered Kingdom
Jackie nods, confirming. “Yes.” She rises from her chair. “I heard there’s a council meeting currently in session. Shall we go?”
She exits the room before Kie responds.
I avoid looking at Kie. Instead, I clear my throat and rise from the couch. Kie meets me there, and he places a hand on the small of my back as he guides me outside, where Jackie’s impatiently waiting.
“Wewillbe discussing this later,” he whispers, his tone sharp.
Jackie turns and smiles at us over her shoulder, her eyes twinkling. She heard Kie’s threat, and she’s pleased he’s angry with me. I hope I don’t come to regret my decision.
Chapter Thirty-Three
MASON
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS are already waiting in the chamber room. They used to smile and rise for Queen Gitta and Kie, but I receive nothing more than silent stares. It doesn’t bother me, not when I know I’ll be returning to Abby and Kie this evening.
I have the respect of the people who are important to me.
The council members are nothing more than nuisances I’m forced to work with.
In the center of the room is a long table, and I sit in the head seat that Queen Gitta once occupied. The spot on my left is reserved for Kie and remains empty. Lord Bishop is on my right, and Lady Cassandra is beside him. Directly across from me is Anox.
I tap my fingers against the table, eyeing the platter of food in the center. I’m hungry, but it’s not customary to eat during council meetings. Queen Gitta hated the distraction.
I maintain eye contact with Anox as I lean forward and snatch a piece of fruit. Lord Bishop makes a quiet noise in the back of his throat, his violet eyes growing wide, before he follows my lead. Lady Cassandra and Anox remain where they are, refusing the food.
I’m not surprised. Anox is a stickler for what he believes to be the proper way, and Lady Cassandra has hated me since I rejected her sexual advances on my fifteenth birthday. She would deny it if asked, but I suspect she still feels spurned.
Kie believes I’m reading into things that don’t exist.
“I presume you slept well,” Anox starts, breaking the tense silence. “You seem in good spirits this morning, Your Majesty.”
I bite into my fruit to hide my smile. I slept exceptionally well last night, all thanks to Abby. Having Kie in my bed was new, and I don’t appreciate how we occasionally brushed legs or arms, but it was tolerable. I imagine I’ll get used to his presence with time.
Abby likes it, so I won’t complain. I’m also not going to suggest alternating nights with her. That’s simply not an option.
I frown. “You can call me Mason.”
“I will not,” is Anox’s smooth reply. He turns toward Lady Cassandra and Lord Bishop. “And neither will you.”
I shove my hand into my pocket, playing with the red lace I stole from Kie. I enjoy having something of Abby’s to carry around. It helps calm me, but she’d be angry if she learned what I was doing. I don’t see why. The underwear is clean, and it’s not like I’m walking around the property swinging them around my finger.
I also saved one of the legs from the barstool she broke last night. I enjoy my trinkets, and I want one from the night she gave herself to us. I wonder if she’d let me fuck her with it.
“We’ve decided to move forward with Abby’s coronation,” I begin. “We’ve considered the points you laid out yesterday, and we agree that the protection the title provides outweighs the negatives.”
Anox falls silent. I lean back in my chair. There. It’s been decided. My mate is not a secret to be ashamed of, and we can only realistically hide her for so long. The sooner we break thenews, the sooner we can move past it. People already suspect, especially after our display during court.
Kie touched her, and she was the only thing that kept me stable.
I almost murdered every faerie in my vicinity when she was attacked, and she alone prevented me from doing so. And when my father was baiting me, Abby’s touch kept me in place. I’d thank her for it if I didn’t fear she’d hold it above my head.
Lord Bishop presses his palms against the table, his lips pursed as he searches for the right words. He’s afraid of angering me, which he should be. I won’t tolerate his disrespect, especially not toward my mate.
“She is…” he starts. “You mentioned she handled human finances, yes? Is she experienced? Educated? If we push that information out alongside her crowning, perhaps we can assuage some fears regarding having a human queen consort.”
I straighten up. That’s not a bad idea.
“Or they’ll be worried we’re going to allow a human to manage the kingdom’s finances,” Lady Cassandra chimes in. “We shouldn’t—”
