“Yes. If they can change humans without them becoming feral, then they can create their own army to defeat the shifters. They can also fix the feral shifters they already have in their ranks,” she admits, and my jaw drops as she confesses the truth about feral shifters.
“They can be fixed?” I ask, my tone hard, and she nods sadly.
“Yes. The crown magic can fix a feral shifter, but it was decided long ago not to allow it so shifters didn’t go around biting unwilling humans, and humans didn’t go looking to be bit for the chance of possessing magic. It was a harsh but necessary decision to make execution the punishment to discourage these actions.”
My anger recedes as I acknowledge the truth of her words, even if I don’t like it.
Her eyes soften in sympathy, and she leans forward, resting her forearms on her knees. “I know this is difficult for you to wrap your head around, but I need you to seal the mating bonds as soon as possible. I have gifted you the most powerful form I could and gave you exceptional mates and the ability to share their forms, because you are my final human queen. You will no longer rule for only forty years. From now on, the reign of shifters will be the responsibility of your bloodline. Your first born child will be the heir to the kingdom, and once you decide to step aside, they will take over. After the rebel faction has been dealt with, humans will be given the choice to receive a bite from a shifter if they so wish it. We were wrong in creating two species that differ so drastically, but any human wishing to remain will also be granted their wish.”
“Is this only happening here in Aramis or everywhere?” I ask, a thought niggling at me that I can’t quite grasp hold of.
Her expression turns cold. “What my sisters choose to do with their kingdoms is up to them. All I can do is ensure peace here in Aramis, although I will tell you the other kingdoms have their own struggles. The rebels seem to have infiltrated all four kingdoms and stirred up a revolution. Only the King of the Chaos Kingdom has been successful in retaining complete control, but he doesn’t have humans to contend with. Although we have allowed our creations autonomy, to outright flaunt our directives has done nothing to endear us toward their agenda. We have never asked for anything but peace between the races and given them everything, and now they will know what comes from flouting our wishes.”
“Extermination of a species? Surely that isn’t the answer!” I argue, and she shakes her head.
“No, not extermination. Any human who wishes to remain so will have their wishes adhered to, but how many do you think that will be? Maybe the older generations. Becoming a shifter will not make them younger, but how many young ones will remain as such? As the ruler, you will oversee everyone, humans and shifters alike. I’m pretty sure their leadership didn’t see this coming, and they will pay for their envy in ways they never saw coming.”
Fuck, the goddess is sneaky. I need to make sure I never get on her bad side.
She tilts her head to the side like she is listening, and the anger drifts away. She smiles then stands, smoothing her dress down. “Well, I have to be going. This won’t be the last you see of me. I expect you and I will get to know each other well over the coming years, but for now, seal those mating bonds and find those children. Cut the rebels off at the knees. Without access to the crown and spell book, they are just creating a bigger problem for themselves.”
“I won’t execute any of the ferals,” I warn her. “Especially if they have been changed against their will.”
She nods, looking pleased. “Of course you won’t, but your fairy mate will be able to help you discern who did or didn’t volunteer to be changed. Those rebels will need to be punished, but I will leave it to you to decide what that punishment will be.”
My fairy mate? Violet didn’t mention fairies have the ability to read minds.
“How do I seal the mating bonds? In my hydra form? That seems like it could be difficult.”
Her smile turns mischievous, and her eyes sparkle with mirth. “Well, I mean you could shift into hydra form—you’ll find you have eight heads now—and bite them all at once. A hydra bite will transfer your regenerative properties to them. Do you fancy having a nine-way orgy.”
I blink, speechless at her suggestion. Nine-way orgy? In hydra form? What the fuck?
She chuckles, slapping a dainty hand against her thigh in amusement. “Colbie, you should see your face. You have a dirty mind. God, it’s priceless.” I see her struggle to get her shit together as I glare at her.
“That’s not fucking helpful, you know. You’re the one who did this to me and didn’t include a manual.”
She collects herself. “Yes, you’re right, sorry. Shifters usually give their partner a mating bite during sex, but it isn’t required. A lot of shifters don’t mate the same species, so all you need to do is a partial shift of your jaw then bite them. Sex makes the experience better, more intimate, but as long as they do the same, then your bond will be sealed. If you bite them in hydra form, your regenerative properties will transfer to them, giving them all the protection they could need, but any form will do to seal the bond.”
I mull over what she’s told me and tuck it away for now. We’re not even close to being in the sex portion of our relationship yet, though I can’t deny my body doesn’t long to get up close and personal with those men, even Micah who I literally just met. The ache is real, but my mind is still fully in the human way of thinking, and I’ve never been a one-night stand kind of girl.
“Anything else you’d like to drop in my lap?” I ask dryly, and she shrugs.
“Probably, but where would the fun be in that? You’re about to have a visitor, so I will see myself out. Remember, I’m always watching, and if you need me, just call.” She disappears in a flash of light, leaving behind the couch she was sitting on. Oh well, I guess the cave could use a little sprucing up. Fuck, I hope she’s not always watching. That would be creepy.
ChapterFourteen
Colbie
Asplash behind me has me spinning in a circle, and I gasp in shock when I find Micah staring at me, his eyes wide with wonder. “Holy shit, Liam was right. We have a mer as the shifter queen. People are going to lose their shit.”
I hold up a finger. “One, we never admit Liam was right. That would be unbearable for all of us. Two, I’m not just a mer shifter. I think my main form is the one I first shifted into. Three, I would like to avoid people losing their shit if possible. Apparently, I have a challenge day to get through, and I have no doubt if everything I have been told is correct, then being a mer will get me challenged up the wazoo.”
His smile drops, and he frowns. “Yes, you would be at a disadvantage. Challenge day takes place on land, so you wouldn’t be able to shift. You would have to fight in human form, whereas any challenger could shift. I assume you don’t have a lot of fighting experience.”
I shake my head as we bob in the water. “None. Hell, I don’t even exercise. The most I do is walk to work in the morning.”
“I would offer to be your champion, but that would only prove you need someone to protect you.”
