Chapter
Nineteen
Colbie
After the disaster that was dinner, I head down to grab my laundry and check my mailbox. The lights are on in my mother’s studio, but I have no more energy or mental capacity to deal with her. I’m sure she will make me something classy to wear, but it won’t be my style at all.
I call it a night and head to bed to read more of my shifter book. It’s fascinating learning about the different kinds of shifters and the different developmental stages. Shifters with animals like wolves and tigers can shift when they are very young, and they usually have their first shift by one, but shifters with mythical creatures like dragons, phoenixes, and unicorns don’t shift until they are in their late teens. I mean, it makes sense, since nobody wants a fire-breathing infant.
Then there is the information about bond groups and mates. I squirmed a little when I read about the mating rituals, something about knots and spurs that some male shifters have on their cocks, and breeding cycles called heats. It is all very overwhelming, but I can’t help but wonder if I will experienceany of that. I’m not sure how I feel about it, but I can’t deny that I’m curious.
I learn that shifters are very long-lived compared to humans, but I kind of already knew that part, and because of that, they are not as fertile as humans. Most shifters only have one or two children in their lifetimes. The exception for that is bond groups. Bond groups usually share a singular mate, and she can have a child with each of her partners.
It’s very late once I finally put the book down and go to bed, and I groan at the thought of getting up in a few hours, but I can’t avoid the bakery any longer. I also needed to cram as much information about shifters into my brain as I could, because tomorrow, after I finish up at the bakery, I’m going to present myself to the castle. I can’t wait around for my mom to blab to anyone else, and I don’t want her to control any of my decisions. She is already forcing my hand a day or two earlier than I wanted.
The following morning, all three of us trudge to work. Unlike my perfectly sunny morning yesterday, the early hours are cold and overcast. It’s really starting to cool down now, and it won’t be long before the leaves change color and fall from the trees. All three of us are wrapped in coats with beanies on our heads.
“Damn neutral zone not letting us have our cars,” Grampy grumbles on the walk, his breath foggy in the cold morning air.
“Pfft,” Granny scoffs. “The drive wouldn’t be long enough to heat the car up. Stop being a princess.”
“There’s always the public transport service. On the days when the weather is really bad, I call a taxi,” I tell them. “They are free for neutral zone residents. I’ll contact the night watch today and get you added to my curfew permit and then call the council and inform them you are living and working here for now. That will give you the status you need to use the free service.” My to-do list today is rather large.
“That would be great. I’d rather not walk in torrential rain or snow if I have to be up this early in the morning.” Grampy rubs his hands together as we get to the door of the bakery, and I let us in. I turn the ovens on to warm up as they hang up their coats, then we get down to business.
By the time Olivia and Justin arrive, I feel confident between the four of them and Violet that my bakery will be in safe hands.
Justin and Olivia have met my grandparents before, so I only have to introduce Violet when she arrives.
I have to figure out a way of telling the three of them that I won’t be around for a while, if ever again. I’m pretty sure they can sense my inner turmoil, because just before we’re going to flip the sign over to open, Justin puts his hands on his hips.
“Damn it, Colbie, what’s wrong? You’re wound tighter than a top.” One of the things I appreciate about Justin is that he doesn’t beat around the bush.
“Come back into the kitchen for a moment,” I request as Violet lifts her hand away from the sign.
“But…” She looks at the locked door, and I wave a hand.
“A few minutes won’t matter. Nobody is waiting yet anyway.” The rain is falling steadily outside, keeping our early morning customers in bed or indoors.
“What’s going on?” Olivia asks cautiously as I lean against the prep counter, and the three of them join us in the kitchen.
Again, I’m not sure how to tell them, so I lift the necklace over my head, and my marks appear. Violet gasps and staggers slightly to the side. Justin puts out his hand to steady her, and she stares at me with awe in her eyes.
“So you can feel them?” I murmur, and she drops to her knees and bows her head.
“My queen.” Olivia and Justin gape at her before turning to look at me, their eyes locked on the marks around my wrists.
“You’re the next shifter queen,” Justin murmurs as Olivia gasps.
“Oh my god!”
“Get up, Violet. You don’t need to bow to me ever.” She doesn’t listen, so I reach out to her.
She takes my hand and rises, still not meeting my eyes. “Why haven’t you presented yourself at the palace yet? Rumors are flying around the shifter zone. Some are saying that Aramis messed up. Others are saying that the human thinks they are too good to be queen. The shifters are getting restless,” she warns.
“It’s a lot, you know. I just needed to take a few days to get my head on straight. I didn’t want this,” I explain, and she finally lifts her head and meets my gaze.
“And that’s what’s going to make you great, but you can’t delay any longer.”
