Page 90 of The Shattered Kingdom
They line the back of the room, waiting for orders as Lady Cassandra returns to her seat.
“Lord Bishop… Anthony.” It’s Anox who speaks. “Is this true?”
Lord Bishop shakes his head, the motion panicked and jerky. I’m having a hard time feeling bad for him. If what Jackie saysistrue, then he tried to kill me. And for what? Money?
“I had no choice,” he mumbles. My eyes narrow as Lord Bishop locks gazes with Kie. “We begged your family for help, and you’ve offered us nothing but well-wishes and nominal support. We can’t survive off that.”
Kie recoils. “What the fuck do you expect us to do? We have an entire kingdom to run. Your inability to properly manage your household finances is not our problem.”
He makes a good point.
“I didn’t know she was your mate,” Lord Bishop continues. “I swear! I never would’ve accepted had I known. I thought she was just some random human. Nobody would miss her, and—”
Mason speaks up. “Get him out of here.” He’s fully quivering below me, the telltale sign of a shift. “Bring him to the cells.”
There’s a moment where nobody moves.
“Now!”
The four guards Lady Cassandra brought in move forward in one fluid movement. They force Lord Bishop out of his chair, and a tingling warmth covers my body. I recognize it as magic, but it’s stronger than it was the day I was attacked. It’s seeping through me, hopefully as nothing more than a preventative measure as Lord Bishop is removed from the room.
I make eye contact with Kie. He’s tensed in concentration, andhis eyebrows furrow before his attention snaps toward Jackie. The newest council member is staring at me with unnerving focus, and my breath hitches as I realize she’s also using magic to protect me. She offers only a wink, and when the door slams shut behind a shouting Lord Bishop and the guards, some of the tingling vanishes and she looks away.
Kie’s magic remains, though, even as he slouches into Lord Bishop’s empty chair and drags a hand through his hair.
“Was my father involved?” Mason asks Jackie. “Did your contact say which shifters were behind the attack?”
Jackie shakes her head. “No, and I doubt that’s information I’ll be able to get. Shifters protect their own, but Lord Bishop might be willing to share some additional details for a leaner sentence.”
“There will be no leaner sentences.” It’s Anox who decides this. “We need to make an example out of him. Your rule is strong, and therewillbe punishment for acting against the crown.” Anox points at Mason. “You will be staying far away from this. Prince Kieran and Jacqueline will facilitate the trial and subsequent punishment.”
Mason scoffs. “You can’t expect me to hide behind Kie. If the crown is strong, it will be strongwithme.”
Kie shifts in his seat but remains silent, letting Mason and Anox sort through this themselves.
Jackie’s watching with poorly conceived excitement, and I’m already regretting offering her a council position. I didn’t realize Anox would demand that she and Kie do things together, and I don’t like the implication it sends.
It’s too late to reverse the decision, especially since Jackie has already accepted it and Anox seems so taken with the idea.
Mason and Anox stare at one another, neither willing to concede.
Kie finally speaks, cutting through the tension. “I will not be seen with Jackie until Abby has been titled.” Anox frowns, and Kie continues. “I will not be earning the affection of my people at the detriment of my mate. The faeries will know who Abby is, and they’ll know nothing will ever come of Jackie’s position on the council.”
Jackie speaks. “You should let Mason participate in the trial. He’ll grow angry, and it’ll please the people to see Abby in action.” She gestures to where I’m holding his wrist. “They’ll find her ability to tame him encouraging.”
Mason grunts, and the next thing I know, I’m being carried out of the room. The shifter is furious—I can tell by his heavy footfalls and the way he shoves open the chamber room doors. He can’t just up and leave in the middle of a meeting.
“What’s your problem?” I hiss.
“I amnotdefective,” Mason says. “Nor am I a wild animal.”
“Mason, you are very literally a wild animal.” He’s living in denial if he thinks otherwise. “You have virtually zero patience, and the faeries are terrified of you.”
Mason doesn’t respond, and I peer over his shoulder. Kie’s still sitting at the table. He looks mildly annoyed, but it doesn’t seem like he’s planning on following us out of the room. I suppose that’s good. He can catch me up later.
I want to know what the plan is concerning Lord Bishop.
Mason carries me home.
