“You should have thought about that before pulling a stunt like this. You will have to find a place to live in the neutral zone for the next six months, as you will not be welcome here.” His attention switches to Brock. “Think very carefully about whether or not your father had your best interest at heart when he gave you permission, knowing banishment was a possibility for flaunting the restriction directive.”
Brock’s face clouds with anger, but he gives the king a nod, and both of them leave without a struggle, neither of them looking at me. Oh well, another semi friendship destroyed by my mother’s manipulations. Should I even be surprised?
“But I need to discuss the queens’ dresses with them.” My mother scrambles for an excuse, and she looks pleadingly at the three queens who shift uncomfortably.
I stand up, smoothing my own dress down and picking up my plate of dessert. I don’t want to make this harder than it is, so if I leave, whatever decision they choose is up to them. I don’t want to influence them either way. “I will retire to my room for now. It’s been a tiring morning, and I think I’ll have a small nap before tonight’s festivities. I’ll see you all this evening. Goodbye, Mom. I will send you an invite to the coronation,” I say mildly, and she grits out a smile, but I see the fury in her eyes. This didn’t go how she wanted at all. Now she needs to work her ass off to salvage her reputation. I wish her luck.
Violet stands up and takes both of our first course plates and hands them to one of the servers, who is being very discrete by pretending not to pay attention. She helps herself to dessert, and then we leave the room.
The tension that I’ve been holding in my body releases the farther we get away from my mother. “Wow, I can’t believe she convinced someone to bring her in. Those two are lucky they were only banned for six months. I wouldn’t want to be in Councilman Tideman’s shoes tonight.”
“Make sure you point him out to me. I don’t want someone like that on my council. What a shit stirrer.”
Violet waves her free hand. “Oh, he’ll claim it was a miscommunication or blame one of his lackies, and they will be out of job.”
“Do you know what Lucas was alluding to when he spoke to Brock?” I ask her, and she winces.
“Actually, I do. It was quite a huge scandal. When Brock mated with a male, Councilman Tideman disowned him.”
“Shifters are homophobic?” I’m kind of shocked to hear that. I would have thought with bond groups and sharing mates that possible same sex-couples would be common.
“No, not at all, but Councilman Tideman is.” Gretchin steps out from behind a pillar I hadn’t seen her leaning against and looks at my plate of dessert. “Bringing out the big guns?” she asks, and I grimace.
“My mother got into the castle,” I say by way of explanation.
She nods and joins us for the walk to my room. “I heard. Anyway, Councilman Tideman had big plans for his three children. His oldest son will follow in his footsteps.”
“If he keeps his seat, which is not looking good at this rate,” I mutter, and Violet nods her agreement.
“And he was hoping his daughter would be marked as a mate for a powerful bond group. He’s constantly throwing her at Gryffin and the guys. As for Brock, he was slated to join the army and move up the ranks and become a general—or that’s what the councilor used to tell anyone who would listen. I was in training with Brock after we finished high school. His heart was never init, and for a shifter, he has terrible coordination. Then he mated with Niles. They have true mate marks gifted from the goddess. Well, Tideman was livid. You could hear him screaming at Brock from the council’s wing of the palace.”
Yes, this is interesting news, as was learning that the council lives in the palace too. Can’t say I was thrilled about that. Another point in the column of getting rid of them all and installing people I like.
“He kicked poor Brock and Niles to the curb and cut them off. Our moms helped them get back on their feet, find an apartment, and gave them a loan to start the business in the neutral zone.”
“Ah, so that’s why your dad and moms looked upset. They felt betrayed. They shouldn’t be, my mom would have run circles around Brock and Niles by pandering to their egos, they would have been putty in her hands. She might have played the ‘my poor daughter is traumatized’ card and told them she could make everything better. They were conned.”
“Doesn’t matter, they broke the rules, even if they were set up.” Gretchin stands firm, and I sigh.
“I guess I’m going to have to learn not to be so soft.” I push open the door to my room and set my dessert down on the bedside table.
“Maybe, but don’t lose your compassion. It shines so brightly in you, Colbie.” Gretchin gives me a kiss on the cheek and waves at Violet. “I’ll be back to supervise you getting ready for the ball,” she says on her way out, but it sounds like a threat.
“You’ll be here too, right?” I ask Violet as she takes her own leave. Her rooms are in this wing but down a different corridor. This whole section is for me and my supposed new mates, if any of them would deign to turn up.
“Of course. I don’t trust her on her own. Gracelin and I will be back with a whole staff of cosmeticians and hairdressers. We willhelp you pick a dress when we return. For now, just relax, take a nap, and maybe enjoy a bubble bath. Whatever you need to do to make your animal calm and relaxed, because tonight is going to be trying, and we don’t need you shifting and killing anyone just yet.”
She chuckles and pulls the door closed behind her. I think she’s joking, but I’m not entirely sure. God, I hope alcohol is provided tonight. I can always drink myself calm. Comatose is probably not a good look for a queen though, so maybe only one or two.
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
Colbie
Itake Violet’s advice and try to take a nap, and I actually succeed. My brain is exhausted, and I manage to shut it off for a couple of hours. When I get up, I enjoy a soak in my huge bathtub, releasing a little more of the tension in my muscles. The girls arrive, and I am plucked, curled, tweezed, and powder to perfection. The dress they select is a scarlet red satin with a full skirt and layered underskirts, a fitted, sleeveless bodice that had a high neckline, and a row of black buttons up the front of the bodice to break up the red fabric. It’s certainly a statement dress, and I do feel like a queen in it.
The debate about what to do with my hair rages around me, but eventually, everyone agrees with a messy updo, and Gracelin procures a small ruby and black diamond tiara.
