“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Queen Evelyn scolds, but there’s no anger in her tone. Her hazel eyes sparkle with mirth as she watches him enjoy his treat.
“Did you say her name is Colbie?” Queen Layla asks, leaning forward. Her shoulder-length red hair falls forward with the movement, and I see the interest in her eyes.
“Yes, Colbie, and she’s really pretty, with long black hair and pretty purple eyes. She’s short like you, Mom, but she smells nice, like cupcakes, and she had a really nice voice.” Archie sighs, and again, we all snicker at his lovesick actions. “She gave me milk and a whole plate of meat when I was in cub form and couldn’t change back and eat cupcakes. She sang while she baked, and it was so nice, I went to sleep.”
Gracelin’s eyes soften at hearing how well her son was treated by the little human.
“Colbie’s an unusual name. You don’t think it’s the same Colbie we were friends with as kids, do you?” Gretchin runs her hand over her nephew’s tousled blond hair, smiling indulgently before turning to her mother. Gretchin keeps her hair cropped short against her head. She complains that her curls are too hard to manage when she’s on patrol as part of one of the shifter army teams.
“Yes, I was thinking the same thing,” Evelyn agrees as she turns to her co-queens. “Wasn’t Malina Karridge’s daughter called Colbie?”
“The dress designer?” Layla’s eyebrows jump. “I think so, but when we stopped bringing the kids to our appointments, she stopped having her daughter there. I remember the four of them would sit under her design table and giggle the whole time she measured, fitted, and showed us samples. They would have tea parties, and it kept them out of our hair,” she explains to the rest of us in the room.
“Yes, I remember she was a little younger than us but a sweet girl. She would bake us cookies to have with our tea. They were the yummiest things I’d ever tasted.” Gretchin nudges her sister. “Do you remember?”
“Yes, she was such a shy little thing, always so nervous around Gryffin, but one day, she had a broken arm and wasn’t able to pour the tea, and she started crying. Our brother almost had a panic attack. He took over, poured the tea from her little teapot, and assured her he would help with whatever she needed. I think he was a little smitten with the little girl.” Gracelin laughs before frowning. “I had forgotten all about her. I feel guilty now.”
Gracelin and Gretchin have an air of sadness about them. “Why did we stop going? I know you still use her,” Gretchin asks her mother, but it’s Gryffin’s mother, Layla, who answers.
“You turned twelve and got control of your shifts. We didn’t want you scaring the girl. Although her mother knew who we were, the girl didn’t, and we didn’t think it was fair to you three or her if you shifted in front of her and she was scared. You didn’t seem to notice since you had plenty of your own school friends, and like you said, she was a little younger than you.”
“Fine, but I would like to do something nice for her. She needs an award or something,” Gracelin says, and I clear my throat, remembering what the intriguing woman said to me.
“I suggested the same thing, and she vehemently denied it. She was just glad Archie was safe,” I explain, and there’s a look of wonder on their faces. There aren’t many people, shifter or human, who would turn down a reward from the king and queens. “I get the feeling she didn’t want to draw attention.”
“You know what would probably be a nice gesture?” Queen Mia muses thoughtfully. “If we supported her bakery and ordered some treats. That way, we’ll show we are supportive of neutral zone businesses and encourage other shifters to visit.”
“But in the past, you always suggested we avoid the neutral zone,” Gretchin argues.
“We walk a fine line, Gretchin. We are the shifter king and queens, and despite me being a former human, we can’t be seen as favoring the humans over shifters or vice versa, but I don’t see any harm in it this time,” King Lucas says to his daughter, going over to a side table and pulling the stopper out of a crystal bottle that holds amber liquid. He gestures to General Bryson and holds out a glass, but the general shakes his head. The king turns to Hunter and me and raises an eyebrow.
“We have to get back to command and sign out for the day, but thank you, sir,” I tell him, and he nods in understanding. Despite being the king, we grew up as his son’s best friends and have been bond mates since we turned seventeen. He is like another father to both Hunter and me.
He pours a glass for himself and Adam, handing his son-in-law his before turning his attention to his wives and daughters. “Can I order you some tea, ladies?” The five women have been whispering amongst themselves and quickly separate when he speaks to them.
“What, we don’t get offered whiskey too?” Gretchin scowls at her father who winces sheepishly and pours her a glass, before passing it to her. He raises his eyebrows at the other women. Gracelin shakes her head.
“That would be lovely, thank you, dear,” Queen Layla replies with a laugh. “You know, I believe I need a new dress for the coronation ceremony. I think I might just pop in and see Malina. It’s been a while since we used her services.”
Queen Mia claps her hands, her eyes sparkling. “What a wonderful idea. I believe we all could use new dresses. How about we all go?”
“Don’t forget about us.” Gretchin nudges her sister, who nods her head. “Yes, and I believe I would like to get a hot chocolate and maybe one or two tigers to float on top.” She growls and pretends to scratch at Archie, who giggles and throws himself into his aunt’s arms.
“And if I go too, I can see my future wife again, and maybe she will make me a hot chocolate too,” he says, wrapping his little arms around Gretchin and hugging her tightly. When her eyes widen and she gasps for air, Adam untangles his son.
“Ladies, how about you leave the poor girl alone? She did this family a tremendous favor when she found our boy. Let’s not go and ruin it,” King Lucas warns, but they ignore him, and he huffs out an annoyed breath while Bryson doesn’t even try to hide his amusement. Lucas scowls at him. “Shall I invite Ember and Sable over to conspire?” he suggests, and both Bryson and Hunter shudder and shake their heads. Hunt’s mother and sister are just as energetic as the queens and princesses. Maybe alittle more, to be honest, because they don’t have to worry about keeping up appearances.
“We have to get going.” Hunter pushes off the wall and nudges me with his elbow. “Come on, we need to check in with the rest of the team and clock out.”
“If you see Gianna, make sure you let her know the king wants to see her, and if she doesn’t come, escort her here yourselves,” Bryson reminds us, and I nod while Hunter grimaces. He hates Gianna. She’s made it very clear that she would like to mate our bonded group, but we have no interest in her. All our animals agree. She doesn’t smell right to any of them, not to mention she doesn’t carry our mark.
“And don’t forget, you are all invited to our retirement party. It would be nice if you brought dates,” Queen Mia calls after us.
“Or we could introduce you to some very lovely ladies,” Evelyn suggests.
“Leave them be,” Queen Layla scolds her co-wives. “They will find love when the time is right, and she will be perfect. You know how hard it is for bonded groups to find the one. The goddess will mark their mate when she deems them ready.”
We hurry out of the room, their arguing voices fading behind us. I can’t stop the yawn that leaves my mouth, and I rub my eyes. “God, I can’t wait to get to bed. It’s been a long ass night.” I clap Hunter on the shoulder.
