I slip the pendant back over my head and nod. “I know. I just needed to make sure you were all going to be okay here. I would like you to work with Granny and Grampy to get them up to speed on everything. They won’t be able to stay forever, and I’m going to need the two of you to take over. If this isn’t what you want, then I need to start interviewing for a baker,” I explain to Olivia and Justin, who both visibly startle before they exchange a glance.
“I would be honored.” Justin bows his head to me.
“So would I. Don’t worry, Colbie, we will look after the bakery like it’s our own,” Olivia assures me, and I feel myself relax a little now that I know it will be in the hands of people I trust.
“Well, let’s open up then.” I clap my hands together, and Justin and Olivia jump into action and hurry to the front to open the bakery, but Violet just stands there and gapes at me.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her, looking from her to my grandparents. Grampy shrugs, not knowing what to say, but Granny is watching Violet carefully.
“Why are you waiting?” Violet asks, no judgment in her tone, only curiosity.
“It’s not like I asked to be queen,” I reply defensively. “I don’t have the first clue about what to do.”
“None of the royals did when they started. It’s why you have advisors and mates, to help you through all this.” She crosses her arms and has a stubborn set to her jaw. “Time to grow a set, Colbie, our people are waiting for you.”
I look at my grandparents, and Granny is doing her best to hide a smirk, but Grampy is outright chuckling.
“I like this girl. Maybe she can be your advisor instead of your mother.”
Violet’s eyes widen, and she shakes her head vehemently. “Oh no, I couldn’t possibly do anything like that. I’m not one of the upper class, and that’s whom Her Majesty will chose her advisors from.”
“Stop right there.” I hold up a hand. “I don’t ever want to hear you put yourself down like that again, and none of that ‘Your Majesty’ crap. I’m Colbie to you. Please give me that little bit of normality. And Grampy is right. I need someone I can trust, and you are the only shifter I know apart from Brock and Niles next door. I know you’re still in college, but I need you, at least to begin with.”
“I’ve actually finished all my classes for the semester, which is why I was looking for a job. All my friends are still going, and I didn’t want to be bored, but they only have a few more weeks left anyway.”
“Good, then it’s settled.” I look around my precious bakery and feel a wave of sorrow. Nothing is ever going to be the same.
“Okay, so how are we going to do this? Do I just walk into the shifter zone and announce myself?” I lift my apron off, hang it on the hook, and look down at myself. I wore jeans today, and they are still clean since Granny and Grampy did most of the laborwhile I organized all the paperwork. My top is also clean, so I’m not going to bother returning home. If I do, my mother might waylay me and force me to wear something that isn’t me.
She gasps and shakes her head. “Absolutely not. Humans are not allowed into the shifter zone without an official escort.” She cocks her head to the side like she’s listening to something, and her eyes light up.
“Well, how do I get an official escort?” I ask, and she doesn’t answer, just spins around and heads into the shop.
“What the hell?” Grampy grumbles, but Granny comes over and puts her hands on my arms.
“We are so proud of you, Colbie, and you know where to find us when you need us.” She pulls me into a hug, which Grampy quickly joins. He presses a kiss to my head.
“Give them hell, sweetheart, and don’t you dare take any of their crap. We will run interference with your mother, but I’m not sure how long that will last.”
Tears well in my eyes, but I swallow around the lump in my throat and nod just as the kitchen door swings open, and Violet returns with Hunter and Brodie in tow.
Brodie smirks at me and looks around the kitchen. “When Violet said we needed to see something, I was a little worried there was going to be another shifter cub back here.” His smile is warm and inviting, and I instantly feel lighter.
Hunter nods. “Glad to see you’re back,” he murmurs, and my eyes widen in surprise. They noticed I was gone.
“These two have been in both mornings and afternoons for coffee, hot chocolate, and lunch,” Violet tells me.
“So what did you want to show us?” Brodie turns his attention to the shifter girl, and she nods at me.
“Show them,” she demands, and I smile. The timid, shy shifter from before is gone, and I’m pleased.
Granny and Grampy nod their encouragement, so I lift the pendant and place it on the counter. I don’t want to lose it, because I’ll never know when I might want to sneak away and pretend to be human—that’s if it will even work once I gain the shifter magic.
I see the moment the two males notice the marks. Both of them stare for a moment before dropping to their knees in unison and bowing their heads. “Your Majesty,” they murmur together, and Violet snorts.
“Oh yeah, I can see that becoming annoying for sure.” She hip bumps me, and I feel grateful that she is in my life.
“Get up please, I don’t want you on your knees.”Unless it’s for another reason.I keep that last comment to myself. Both men rise with grace. “So, um, I guess I’m the next shifter queen, and Violet says I need an escort to the palace.”
