“Unicorns!” Gracelin sighs. “I’m not sure if any of them will help us. The previous queen did a good job of pissing them off, as well as encouraging the prey animals are lesser mentality. They and the pegasus have remained distant through your rule for a reason. They know how to hold a grudge.”
“Ugh,” I groan, unable to hide my frustration. “Why can’t one thing be easy?”
Lucas stands up and stretches his arms out wide. “I’m sure you sending an invitation for one of them to join the council will go a long way in trying to mend those bridges. I think we’ve done enough for the day. Why don’t you have some lunch and do some shift training with Watch Team One? They’ll also walk you through some basic self-defense, though they will go everywhere with you until your mates show up.”
My gaze goes guiltily to Gracelin, and I only just control the grimace that wants to cross my face at her stubborn expression. I know she said she was going to keep quiet for me, but it doesn’t feel right. I should be honest with the king and queens. They’ve been nothing but open and kind to me. I owe them that much.
“Yeah, about that… It turns out that none are going to show up,” I announce, and the king and queens exchange a confused glance.
“Of course they will, sweetie. Sometimes it just takes time,” Evie says gently, and I shake my head.
“No, you misunderstand. No one is going to show up because last night, we noticed that I have a bond mark on my back. Gretchin and Gracelin are familiar with the bond group I am matched with.”
“Really? That’s unusual. I can’t think of a time in shifter history when that has ever happened.” Lucas sounds partly intrigued and partly worried. “But the goddess bestows the marks, so she must be confident that you are a match for the bond group.”
“This is exciting!” Evie claps her hands and bounces on her chair. “We can get you coronated straight away then, no having to wait for you to choose.”
I wince internally, knowing that isn’t going to happen until I come clean about Nox.
“Is it anyone we know? I can’t think of any bond groups with six people in it.” Layla turns her attention to her daughter. Gracelin is staring at me with wide, surprised eyes. I shrug. I don’t want her to have to lie to her parents.
“Yeah, it’s Gryff’s mark,” she tells them, and Layla gasps, putting a hand to her mouth as the four of them turn their attention back to me.
“How wonderful! Welcome to the family, Colbie.” Evie reaches over and gives my hand a squeeze.
“They don’t know yet,” I warn them. “I wanted to take a couple of days to get to know them, but that doesn’t seem fair.”
Lucas grimaces. “Now that you wear their mark, they are going to find themselves drawn to you more and more. It’s going to confuse the shit out of them when their animals insist on being close to you, but you have to do what is right for you. Don’t be surprised if they can’t keep their hands off you and vice versa.”
“Hang on, there are only five shifters in that bond, but you have six crowns. The math doesn’t add up.” Mia frowns, but before I can admit to knowing the last member of Watch Team One’s bond group, there is a furious knock at the door.
“Enter,” Lucas calls as all of our attention turns to whoever is on the other side. The door flies open forcefully, and a uniformed attendant stands there, breathing heavily. He looks to be in military garb, and not the normal uniform of the palace staff.
“Your Majesty, come quickly. Something happened in the throne room—something you need to see right away.” I’m not sure whom he is talking to. His eyes dart between me and Lucas as if he’s unsure which one of us he should be addressing as well. Lucas pushes his chair back, and the rest of us follow suit.
“Report,” he demands as we make our way out of the conference room. Gracelin and I exchange a glance, and she shrugs as we follow the guard and her parents through the palace, Violet keeping pace with us.
“What’s in the throne room?” I hiss.
“I have no idea. Dad doesn’t use it unless there is an official engagement with another kingdom or he’s holding a grievance forum with the shifter nation. Though the crowns were moved there after the retirement party so maybe it;s something to do with them”
“What’s a grievance forum?” I ask, trying to keep up with the princess. Apparently, though, I’m now a shifter that doesn’t come with automatic fitness. I struggle to keep up with her, and Violet grabs me as I stumble, my coordination not any better than when I was human. I hear her snicker and glare at her playfully. Her wings are tucked away again now that the magic has dispersed.
“Once a month, Dad sets aside a day to hear his subjects. Any person who has a problem, big or small, can make an appointment to see him. It allows his people to feel like they can rely on the king to hear their needs. Otherwise, the council would try to block anything they deem unimportant.”
Our footsteps echo through the long corridors, and I swear this place is like a maze.
“A wave of magic washed through the throne room, and when it dissipated, the crowns for the future queen and her mates were altered,” the guard explains breathlessly. I’m almost certain it’s not from exerting himself. Most shifters are fit, so I’m pretty sure it’s the magic that freaked him out.
“Altered?” Lucas repeats.
“You’re better off seeing it for yourself.” The guard looks worried as he holds open the elaborate doors leading into the throne room.
I gape in amazement at the ostentatious room. The marble columns and floors are almost blinding in the light shining through gorgeous skylights inlaid in the roof. Massive, sparkling chandeliers hang from the ceiling, which must light the room like a Christmas tree when it’s dark, but a startled gasp and a number of exclamations from my companions turn my attention to the problem at hand. I catch up with the others closer to the dais at the back of the room. Sitting on it is a large throne, for lack of a better word, and on either side of the throne are eight slightly smaller chairs. Above each chair floats a crown surrounded by a clear, sparkling, floating bubble.
“Eight crowns?” Gracelin murmurs as I try to make sense of what I’m seeing. “There were only six to start with.”
“Can someone please explain what’s going on?” I ask, completely bewildered by their reactions.
