“Thank goodness.”
There’s an awkward silence, and I look around the table, trying to gauge what it’s about.
Gretchin scoffs and throws up her hands. “What no one wants to tell you is after the challenge part of the coronation ceremony, you will have to shift to show the shifter population you can. You will have to strip down naked to do that so no one can accuse you of using fae magic or a witch charm to shift.”
“Naked in front of everyone?” I ask, not sure I heard her right.
She nods and grins. “Yeah, but by then it won’t even be an issue, you’ll see.”
I’m not sure she’s right about that, but I’m not going to think about it for now.
Lucas offers me his arm again. “Come on. Aren’t you dying to find out what you can shift into? I know I was.” I take his arm and allow him to lead me through the palace.
“I think I’m going to need a tracker to help remember my way around,” I murmur to him as I take in all the beautiful furniture and elaborate art on the walls, trying to make note of landmarks for reference, and he chuckles.
“I was the same way. We will do as much as we can to help you, I promise, before we take our leave and move to our newhome. It’s the least we can do. The old bag who was queen before me was a bitch who didn’t want to give up her power. She was not helpful in the least. She ripped my animal out, which was excruciating, and then disappeared to her retirement home without a backward glance. I had to figure everything out on my own. Thankfully, I had the girls to help me.”
“Do you mind if I ask you about them and your relationship?” I look behind us. The rest of the party is following farther back. I think they are giving us time to talk privately.
“Of course, ask me anything,” he encourages me.
“How soon did they arrive after you were marked, and how long did you have to decide?” I ask, not sure if I really want the answer to these questions, but knowing I need them.
“Well, I didn’t get the luxury of hiding my marks when they appeared.” He doesn’t sound mad, just wistful. “I was at a party in the human zone, watching the magic happen on a giant screen, and when they appeared, I was surrounded by humans and escorted to the border where a night watch team met me and brought me here.” He gestures to his face. “There was no chance I was going to be able to hide them no matter what happened.”
“And the people selected as your mates?” I ask.
“In my case, it was all women. I’m not sexually attracted to men, so the goddess didn’t choose any for me, though that hasn’t always been the case in the past. They started appearing within hours of my arrival at the castle. All of them were invited to stay so I could get to know them, but I didn’t need to. I knew the moment I met my three that they were the ones for me. It really was effortless. I tried to give the others a chance, but I knew in my heart whom I was going to mate with.”
“How many were there in total?” I ask.
“I think twelve women were marked, but as soon as I made up my mind, even before I told anyone, those marks disappeared, and they were asked to leave the palace. I’m sureyou will have more to choose from since you will have six mates,” he tells me, and I stop mid-step, and he jostles to stop next to me.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I ask him, and he winces.
“Has no one said anything about that? Damn. There are six consort crowns. The magic also dictates the amount of mates a king or queen has. Mostly it has been three, which they say reflects the amount the goddess has, but a couple of times in history, it’s been two or four.”
“How many had six?” I ask, and he grimaces.
“None.”
I feel nauseous, and I put a hand against my stomach. “I couldn’t even manage a relationship with one man, let alone six. I can’t do this.” My breathing starts to rush in and out of my lungs, and I feel a little lightheaded in my panic.
“Breathe, Colbie.” A steady hand on my back helps me focus a little better, and the soothing, commanding tone helps get my breathing under control. “In and out slowly.” I blink and focus on who’s giving me instructions. Hunter’s bright green eyes are glowing. I’ve noticed they only do that when a shifter’s emotions are heightened. I get lost in them, letting them ground me and help reel in the panic.
Swaying a little, I fill my lungs before releasing them and realize my panic has settled and a wave of calm now rolls over me. There’s a soothing, purring kind of sound coming from somewhere, and I look around for a cat, but then I step closer to Hunter and lean in, listening to his chest. “Are you purring?”
His cheeks turn a little pink, and he steps back, his nostrils flaring. “Yes, sorry. My dragon was trying to make you feel better,” he admits, and out of the corner of my eye, I see his mother and the queens exchange a curious glance.
“It helped, thank you.” I hook my arm through Lucas’s again and drag him forward, away from the others, to continue the uncomfortable conversation.
“So how many men have appeared since I’ve been unconscious? Please tell me I have a decent selection to choose from?” I hiss, still feeling somewhat agitated, though Hunter helped immensely. As I walk away from him, the power in my chest seems to reach out for him, and a yearning sensation takes hold of me, but I ignore it. Surely someone would have mentioned if any of the men at dinner were marked. I certainly didn’t see any glaringly obvious wrist shackles.
There’s an awkward pause before Lucas sighs and sags slightly. “None.”
The nausea and panic return. “What do you mean, none?”
“Now, don’t panic. I’m sure they will start arriving tomorrow. I’m thinking maybe the magic going haywire interfered with the process.”
