It’s just the four of us now. Gracelin sent Archie off when he got bored and restless as we were doing my makeover. He made me promise to sit next to him at dinner, which is where we are headed next—a meal with the king and queens. I freaked out, but the princesses promised me it was just going to be family tonight so I wouldn’t be overwhelmed. Tomorrow night, it will be a more formal meal, which will include advisors and their families so I can meet them and decide if I want to retain the same council theking used or create my own. It will also include any mates who have appeared with marks from the goddess.
I grimace when I hear this, but I am resigned to my fate. Maybe I’ll feel instant attraction to them like Gracelin told me her dad did with their moms.
I brace myself for devastation but lift the pendant over my head and pass it to Gretchin, who’s waiting with her hand outstretched. She winces when the pendant hits her hand.
“Fuck, that is powerful. It instantly deadens my connection with my panther,” she mutters. “It’s awful.” She tosses it on the vanity, but I’m too busy dealing with the influx of power inside my chest. It isn’t excruciating like the first time, but it’s heavy and intrusive and feels like it’s clawing to get out of my body. I double over and grunt in pain, trying to breathe through the sensation. Eventually, it calms down, though its presence remains very much there.
When I get my breathing under control and open my eyes, which I slammed shut, I’m speechless to find all three girls on their knees in front of me with their heads bowed.
“What the hell?” I ask, and Gracelin raises her head and looks at me without meeting my eyes.
“Your power is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. It forced the three of us to our knees. It’s a little easier now, but I think you’re going to have to command us to rise,” she tells me, sounding awed.
“Please get up,” I beg and hold out a hand to help Violet rise.
“Fuck me, you pack a punch,” Gretchin says, smoothing out her dress. “I can’t wait to see what your animal is. I bet it’s a beast.”
“I don’t know how to control it,” I tell them, rubbing a spot on my chest.
“That will come easier. You will learn to contain it when you don’t need it and let it out on command, but for now, Ithink wearing the pendant would be smart. Having the element of surprise is a good idea. If people don’t know how powerful you are, they might underestimate you. We can see who really supports you and who has ambitions beyond their station,” Gracelin suggests, and Gretchin nods enthusiastically, so I do as they ask, picking up the pendant and placing it over my head. The heavy weight of the power is smothered, but I can still feel a remnant of it pushing to break free.
All three women sigh with relief. “Oh, that helps. We can feel your animal, but the immense power has been dimmed,” Violet tells me when I look at her for confirmation.
“This is exciting.” Gretchin claps her hands, sounding gleeful. “Challenge day might actually be interesting.”
“Challenge day?” I start to feel a rush of panic, and Violet takes pity on me.
“Although the queen is chosen by the goddess, she allows her people some autonomy. Challenge days let people challenge the chosen to fight for their position to prove they have what it takes to rule over shifters. We’re a violent, aggressive bunch, and you need to be able to bring them to their knees on command, which you obviously have no problem doing.” Gretchin waves at where they were all just kneeling. “But if nobody knows that, then challenge day could be fun. Normally no one bothers because they can feel how powerful the king or queen is. You are an anomaly, and I wonder if there is a reason for that.”
“Right? I bet it’s to weed out the loyal and not so loyal. Nobody who was loyal would dare dream of challenging the goddess’s decision, but there are always a few who dare to think they know better,” Gracelin muses.
“I don’t know the first thing about fighting in human form, let alone as a shifter.” I feel sick and put a hand over my chest where the power inside me throbs with aggression, likethey need me to hand over the reins and they will take care of everything.
“Then it’s lucky we have two weeks. The two of us and a team of experienced night watch shifters will get you up to speed.” Gracelin tucks her arm into mine and leads me across the room. Gretchin hurries ahead and opens the door, while Violet trails behind. She chews on her lip with worry, but she stays quiet, happy to defer to the two experienced princesses.
“Don’t worry, we have your back no matter what,” Gretchin assures me as she leads us through the palace at a pace that doesn’t allow me to look around all that much. “We will make sure you come out on top and take out all those who oppose you. It’s going to be a blast.”
Her idea of fun and mine vary greatly, but it feels good to have the three of them supporting me. I feel like maybe this isn’t going to be as bad as I thought it would be.
Dinner isn’t as small as I hoped. When we get to the dining room, I am announced.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Her Majesty, Queen Colbie Karridge, accompanied by Princesses Gracelin and Gretchin and Lady Violet,” a man standing in the doorway of the dining room says loudly, causing everyone at the table to stand and watch as we enter the room.
The king and three queens are there, as well as Archie and a man who I assume is his father when Gracelin joins him and kisses him passionately. Also standing at the table are Brodie and Hunter, as well as the two other men I recognize from NightWatch One. There’s also another large man who looks very much like Hunter with a petite woman by his side, and two young adults.
Violet stiffens next to me, and I can practically feel her distress. Before I can ask her what’s wrong, Lucas hurries over and offers me his arm.
“Please allow me to escort you,” he says kindly and walks me to the head of the table next to his seat, and he pulls out the chair. I sit, and he pushes it in before returning to his seat, which is next to mine. Violet and Gretchin both take seats next to one another farther down the table.
“Please let me formally introduce ourselves. I believe you know my wives, but I’m Lucas. It is very lovely to finally meet you, Colbie.” The king inclines his head gracefully, and I feel like he means what he is saying.
The three queens also murmur their greetings. Layla, who is on my other side, grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze of encouragement.
“Oh, I can feel your animal now,” Mia murmurs quietly, “but there’s still something that’s slightly different about it.”
“None of that now. Let’s enjoy dinner first, and we can talk about official stuff later. I’m sure Colbie is starving. She slept right through lunch.” Evie frowns at her co-wife, who apologizes.
Lucas continues his introduction. “Sitting next to Gracelin is her mate, Adam.” The big, brawny man gives me a wave. Next to him, Archie bounces up and down on his chair. “And I believe you’ve met our grandson, Archer, before.”
