“Are there any ugly shifters?” I blurt, feeling flustered. “The sheer attractiveness at this table is overwhelming. Please tell meI’m not going to be the only bland shifter out of the whole race?” I beg, and they all stare at me with surprise.
Gracelin is the first to recover. “Oh, believe me, we are just very lucky to have good genes. There are some very unattractive shifters in this kingdom.”
“Both inside and out,” Violet adds, and I see Sable give her hand a squeeze. I remember her telling me about having trouble with a girl at college.
“And in no way are you bland, Queen Colbie,” Ember tells me earnestly, and I smile at the girl’s lies.
“You’re too kind, but I am aware of my shortcomings. My mother has told me my whole life.”
There’s an awkward silence and a few angry scowls on my behalf.
Lucas clears his throat and fidgets, staring at my plate.
“Hurry up and get some more food in you, Colbie. Lucas is getting impatient.” Layla nudges her husband, thankfully changing the subject and breaking the uncomfortable atmosphere.
“Mia told him he had to wait until you were finished eating and not rush you, but he is eager to get started this morning.” Evie giggles, and Mia rolls her eyes.
“Way to go, Evelyn. Now you’ve made her self-conscious and are making her rush,” Mia growls at her co-wife as I start to shovel more food in my mouth.
Conversation goes on around me, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting, just like being in the kitchen at my grandparents’ place. I can’t help but wish this is how this will always be, but I know it won’t. Lucas and his wives and children will move out of the palace, and the rest are only temporary residents until I am crowned and mated. Bryson and Sable might stick around, but I will have to talk to them about their wants and needs. I’m not going to force him to stay in his job ifhe would like to retire and enjoy his life now that his friend is moving on.
I guess these are all decisions I need to make over the coming weeks. I get up and move over to the buffet to grab a cup of coffee. A server hurries over to assist me, and I wave them away with a smile. “The day I can’t make myself my own cup of coffee is a sad day indeed,” I tell them gently, and they return to their place against the wall.
When I return to the table, Gracelin and Gretchin are smirking at me, and I flip them off. They dissolve into giggles.
“Get used to it, Colbie. There are going to be times when you’re going to have to allow them to serve you. It’s all about keeping up appearances,” Lucas instructs me firmly. “I know it’s hard, and there is such a steep learning curve, but I have a feeling you’re going to be an amazing queen. You just have to allow us to teach you.”
The rest of breakfast passes by quickly. I can feel Lucas’s impatience, so I stand up and put him out of his misery. “Okay, oh mighty king, teach me.” I give him a sweeping bow, and he jumps to his feet and rubs his hands together.
“Let’s go.”
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Colbie
I’m dead by lunchtime. Here lies Queen Colbie may she rest in peace, her brain fried with an overload of information.
I thought learning about shifter politics would be tedious and boring, but I’ve been completely captivated, absorbing everything the king, queens, and Sable have been teaching me, but it’s definitely an intensive course. I don’t even think we’ve touched the tip of the iceberg.
When Lucas sends me away to grab something to eat, I’m pretty sure I have a solid understanding of the people on the council and their various positions. They spent hours drilling me because I’m going to meet them all tonight, and not only them, but also other shifters who are gunning for their positions and hope to curry favor with me.
Mia said half the people there tonight will be sucking up to me, desperate to hold onto their positions, while the other half will be doing everything they can to usurp the current council members through sly comments, innuendos, and downright lies.Apparently tonight will be a cesspit of slander and malicious gossip, and I have to smile prettily through it all.
I groan loudly as Violet and I make our escape, heading toward the dining room where another buffet spread will have been prepared. “That was a lot,” I grumble, and she tucks her arm into mine and gives it a squeeze.
“It sure was. I had no idea being in the upper class was like that. It must be so stressful to be constantly worried about your reputation. I’m kind of glad I’ve never had to worry about it.”
The queens actually insisted that Violet had the same training as me to prepare her for all the crazy as well. I was so thankful to them for including her, mostly so I didn’t feel so alone and out of my depths, but they were all so patient.
“I had no idea how many different kinds of shifters there were and that some of them had more magic than just shifting.” Sable gave me a rundown, explaining the difference between regular and mythical shifters. They also pointed out which ones we need to be wary of tonight. A few of them like to push their dominance to try and get the upper hand. Without my pendant on, it wouldn’t be an issue, but we’re still trying to conceal how powerful I actually am. Without being able to control it yet, I’ll have all the guests on their knees every time the wind blows in a different direction.
There’s no one else in the dining room when we get there, and the two of us help ourselves to the food. I pile my plate high with potato and pasta salads and cold chicken pieces, before covering a bread roll with butter. I study the dessert options, but there is not enough room on my plate, so I decide to come back after I finish my first course.
We return to the table, grabbing seats next to one another. We’re silent for a little while as we devour our food, but eventually, I catch up to my hunger and slow down.
“Thank fuck we don’t have physical training this afternoon. I’m so tired, and if I have to smile and look pretty for hours tonight, I need a nap. Otherwise, I’m literally going to bite someone’s face off,” I joke, and Violet giggles.
