I look at Nox’s mug and find another hydra floating in his.
“Joe promised he’d have a pegasus marshmallow the next time he sees me,” Nox tells me enthusiastically, and a small ray of light cracks through the grief and sadness that seemed to have encased my heart and soul.
“He said the same thing to Micah and Titus too, though he was a little worried about how he was going to create marshmallow fairy wings. I suggested he create mini bloody daggers instead. He liked that idea,” Brodie shares cheerfully, poking at his wolf and chortling when it bobs back to the surface, and that crack widens, letting a little more light in.
Everything is not right in my world, but I have a feeling it will be again soon.
ChapterForty-Four
Colbie
When I went to bed, only Brodie, Gryffin, and Nox were with me. Liam returned just before we turned out the light to let us know the others were going to be delayed. Gem was in the med wing, helping Sable and the healers with the children we rescued. They are going to have to be questioned, but we aren’t ready to push them yet. Hunter and Micah were going to join Titus and General Bryson with interrogating the prisoners.
I’m restless, and I don’t fall into a deep slumber until I hear the others return, their familiar scents filling my nostrils as they all climb quietly into my bed. I needed them all, needed to know they were safe before I could finally relax.
When I open my eyes the following morning, I’m all alone. I have no idea what time it is, but when I reach out to feel the sheets, they are cold. My mates have obviously been gone for a while. I frown and sit up, discovering a note on the bedside table.
Cookie, meet us in the conference room. We are gathering to discuss what we learned from the prisoners last night. There will be food. XOXO, your mates.
I feel a broad smile cross my lips for the first time since lunch yesterday. My mates think they are funny, trying to bribe me with food. I mean, it works, but I don’t want to encourage them too much.
I throw the covers back and make my way into the bathroom to take care of an insistent bladder. Looking over at the shower, I expect to see the mess left behind by us yesterday, but there isn’t a spot of blood or ruined clothes to be seen. Someone has been busy this morning, because I know it didn’t get done last night. How did they manage it without waking me? I was obviously completely exhausted not to hear it.
Once I pee, I wash my hands but don’t bother with a shower. I just run a brush through my hair and decide I’m good. I am not donning queen clothes today, and anyone who doesn’t like me in sweats can suck it.
I wander through the deserted hallways, pleased that I don’t have to speak to anyone right now. I bet my guys warned everyone to stay clear of our wing. When I get to the rest of the palace, though, it seems just as deserted. Maybe they gave the staff the day off. I can’t say I’m unhappy about it.
Although I’m still sad, I made peace with my mother’s death last night. I’m sad for the missed opportunity of being loved unconditionally by my father who I’m pretty sure would have been an amazing parent if he had been allowed to be a part of my life, but I had and will continue to have my grandparents in my life for years to come. Although I don’t believe they will choose to become shifters, they may surprise me. They aren’t too old, in their late fifties, as they had my mother when they were still very young, so they might make the change, and I won’t stop them if that’s what they choose. They would be extending their lifespan, so they would be able to be with me much longer.
When I reach the conference room doors, I can hear voices behind it but can’t make out exactly who is there. Taking a deep breath, I push the doors open, and all conversation stops as everyone looks at me. I find the usual cast of characters, the ones I have come to call family, waiting for me—Hunter’s and Griffin’s parents, as well as Gracelin, Adam, and Violet. Neither of Hunter’s siblings are here, but that’s fine, as neither of them are involved in the day-to-day running of the kingdom. Gretchin isn’t here either, but again, I hadn’t expected her to be since she so recently found her mate. The two unexpected guests are the Coldicotts, but it makes sense that the rest of my council members are here for this debriefing.
“Colbie!” The three queens, Gracelin, and Violet jump to their feet and swarm me, fussing and cooing and generally loving on me like it’s been months since they’ve seen me and not a matter of a day. They basically shepherd me into a seat, placing food and drink in front of me, then return to their own chairs. My mates watch on with amusement, sending me feel-good vibes through our bond.
“I’m fine,” I tell them before anyone else can say anything. “I’ve processed my trauma and tucked it away, and I am ready to focus on the future.”
Gem and Sable eye me skeptically, and I allow them that, but my words seem to reassure everyone else.
“We were just discussing what we learned from the prisoners we captured,” Lucas explains, looking more relaxed than he’s been since I met him. I guess having the pressure of his position removed has lifted a huge weight off his shoulders. I should know because that weight is now firmly on mine.
I pick up my fork and start eating, waving a hand for them to continue.
“The most important thing we learned is Tideman is not the mastermind,” Bryson announces, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers together.
I blink in surprise, the fork halfway to my mouth. “He’s not?”
“No, apparently he’s nothing more than a lackey. There were others involved, but the guards didn’t know their identities. They said there were five or six who would visit the facility regularly, but they wore masks and kept themselves covered with cloaks. They even had voice modulators so they would be harder to identify. One of the prisoners said he didn’t think they were all shifters, though, because he saw them do things no shifter, even a mythical, could do.” Titus sounds annoyed. “It makes sense, considering the wards surrounding the facility—no shifter could have set them—but we’re no closer to finding out who is involved than we were yesterday.”
“What about their plans? Were the prisoners able to tell you why they were trying to change all those humans?” Audrey Coldicott asks, leaning forward.
“Just that an army of warriors would be needed, and humans were easy cannon fodder. Once they are feral, they lose all inhibitions and are happy to kill indiscriminately,” Micah answers. “They had high hopes that they could use Malina to open the spell book to access the spell to fix the ferals, because she shared the same blood as Colbie.”
“But without the shifter queen magic, it isn’t possible to use the spell,” Mia argues.
“One of the prisoners said that the rumor floating around the complex was that maybe any one of the other kingdoms’ royals should be able to use the book, since they all have access to goddess magic.” Bryson looks disturbed at the idea, and once again, I stop eating.
“What do you know about the royals in the other kingdoms? Would any of them entertain this idea?” I ask Lucas, but it’s Titus who answers.
“As soon as I heard that, I reached out to my assassin brothers in the other kingdoms. The witch and fae royals are already in their transition phase, so the majority of their magic is in flux until their new queens can be crowned. As of yet, neither of them have been identified or presented themselves to the palaces. I informed my brothers to be wary of possible assassination attempts when the new queens become known.”
