It’s my turn to frown. I don’t want to hurt them, but my human state of mind is still very much ruling my thoughts. There’s also the subject of Nox and how I should tell them I know where their sixth is. If I don’t tell them, I am betraying them, but if I tell them, I am betraying Nox. I’m completely torn and confused, but I can’t hide. I am queen, and I need to make a tough decision. I’m sure it won’t be the last time either.
Giving her a weak, reassuring smile, I allow her to open the door. There is no herald this morning to announce us, thank goodness, but when I enter the room, I feel a heavy sort of tension. Everyone at the table stands as I enter and nods their head. There is an instant pull in my chest, and I find myself looking at the opposite end of the table to the men I now know are my mates. The heady scents of frost, cedar and pine, smoke and whisky, sunshine and chocolate, coffee, and lime, mint, and rum all swirl through my senses, and I take a step toward the group.
“Ah, Colbie, good morning,” King Lucas calls with a weak smile, jolting me out of my trance just in time. My animal keens inside as I turn my attention away from what she desires most. When I focus on the king, I see the tension in his body, and I realize that breakfast is a lot more crowded this morning.
“Please don’t get up on my account,” I tell everyone, and they return to their seats.
“Why don’t you grab a seat, and I’ll fix you a plate?” Violet murmurs, narrowing her eyes on the people at the table. Instead of arguing, I allow her to serve me, and I make my way across the large room to the table. I really did want a few more moments to distract myself, but I’ve noticed the table is much larger than yesterday, and it seats many more people than the previous morning’s fairly relaxed breakfast.
Today, we’re joined by the six council members, and some of them have even brought their families. This is not how I expected to spend my breakfast, but I force a smile onto my face as I take the chair next to Lucas.
“Ah, Your Majesty, so nice of you to join us this morning,” Councilor Vallen Tideman calls passive-aggressively with a smirk on his face. “We were wondering if maybe you would sleep in after such a big night last night.”
“No rest for the wicked, I’m afraid,” I reply as one of the servers attending the table offers me coffee. I thank her as she pours some into the mug at my place setting. “Though I am surprised that so many people are joining me for breakfast.” I smile serenely as Lucas mutters, “So were we,” next to me.
“Oh, the council thought it might be nice for you to have some familiar faces this morning to answer any questions you might have,” Councilor Sophia Gardiner, a petite, dark-haired woman with long hair and cold, almond-shaped eyes explains. “Especially since none of your mates have deigned to show themselves yet.” One of the unknown girls at the table snickers, and I turn my attention to her.
“I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met,” I say, recognizing her as one of the girls who made snide comments about my dress last night. Sophia waves at the two younger women who are spaced around the table. One is sitting between Gryffin and Liam, and she has her hand on the latter’s arm and is batting her eyelashes. The other one is next to Hunter’s brother, Talon, and she’s acting similarly. Talon looks uncomfortable, and his sister, Ember, is glaring at the girl. Liam is smiling at the girl next to him, but he removes her hand from his arm in a subtle gesture when Gem, who is on his other side, elbows him in the side.
“Oh, these are my daughters, Gianna and Liana. I wanted to introduce them to you last night, but you disappeared rather early.” The woman waves her hands. “I thought they might be able to help guide you in shifter society, and maybe Gianna could become one of your advisors. Having someone who is knowledgeable in shifter society by your side will be a great benefit, and she is currently between jobs.”
Those names sound familiar, and when Violet places a plate in front of me with a grimace, it comes to me. These are the two girls she told me about. Gianna is the one who blew off my call about Archie, and Liana is the girl who bullies Violet.
“Well, that’s a very kind offer, but at this stage, I have all the advisors I need.” I wave to Gracelin and Violet, who takes her seat when Ember waves her to a spare one next to her.
Councilor Gardiner narrows her eyes on Violet before returning her attention to me. “Surely someone who is more familiar with the workings of upper-class society would be more beneficial for you.”
I take a drink of my coffee, not removing my gaze from the woman. “Possibly, but you could also say I need the perspective of all shifter society, not just the elite, and I also need someone who is going to take the role seriously. I believe Gianna has already proven she’s not capable of listening when it doesn’t suit her.”
That gets Gianna’s attention, and she whirls around and glares at me as Sophia gasps, putting a hand against her chest while looking hurt.
“Why would you suggest such a thing?”
“Gianna was recently fired from the watch, correct?” I ask, and the councilwoman’s lips thin, and her eyes go flat as she glares at General Bryson. I can also feel Gianna’s own glare burning into my skin. She goes to say something, but her mother cuts her off with a sharp look.
“It was merely a miscommunication.” She continues to glare at General Bryson, who doesn’t even flinch under her gaze and glares back at her.
“Unfortunately, I don’t believe that was the case, since I was the human she blew off,” I announce as I take a bite of my food. Councilor Gardiner pales a little at this information. “I need someone who will have my best interest at heart, and at this stage, I don’t believe Gianna does. Maybe we can revisit this at a later date, once she’s proven she can be trusted,” I add, trying to be diplomatic. I know that’s never going to happen, though, since she rolls her eyes and turns her attention to Gryffin who is on her other side. Yeah, that’s never going to happen.
“Very well,” the woman concedes, but she’s already calculating how she can get me to change my mind. Over my dead body, but maybe she’s planning that too.
There’s some awkward silence around the table as I eat. “Your Majesty, I don’t believe you were introduced to my wife, Margot, last night.” Councilor Andrew Mason is a smart-looking man, with dark, dirty blond hair and brown eyes, which currently twinkle with amusement as he smirks at Sophia before gesturing to the petite blonde woman sitting next to him.
This is the man Archie said is having an affair with one of our castle staff. I wonder if it’s consensual or if she’s being forced into it. I must do some investigating. If she’s willing, then I’m not sure she is someone I want in my house. I hate women like that. She obviously knows he’s married, and the councilor can definitely go. If he’s going to cheat on his wife, then what’s to say he’s going to be loyal to his queen?
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I smile genuinely at the woman who gives me a regal but disdainful nod. Well, okay then. I guess she isn’t a fan either. I wonder if they are mates or if they are an arranged pairing. Do shifters have arranged marriages?
“For God’s sake, let the poor child eat. She’s going to get enough of our hot air in the weeks to come,” an older, gray-haired gentleman grumbles. He waves his coffee mug at one of the servers who hurries over to fill it. “Don’t know why we had to come and disturb her this morning.”
This is Councilor Emmett Coldicott, whom I was introduced to last night. I like him. Lucas told me that he has been on the council for the last four reigning rulers and is one of the longest serving members. He’s also a former king himself. This puts him at over a hundred and sixty years of age, but he looks to be in his mid-fifties.
“The council doesn’t usually join you for breakfast?” I ask Lucas under my breath as the attention turns away as Brodie starts a loud conversation, allowing me to lean over and talk to the king privately.
“God no. They are up your ass more than enough on a usual basis that you don’t need them first thing in the morning as well.”
“We were wondering why you were gracing us with your presence this morning, since breakfast is usually reserved for family,” Mia comments casually, but her body is rigid with annoyance.
“Well, considering that Colbie has no family here yet and there are no signs of any potential mates, we thought she might like the company of people other than your family.” This comes from the final male member of the council, Jonathan Altmore. “We wanted to show that she has the support of the council despite the fact that she hasn’t been crowned yet.” The tension at the table ratchets up even higher, and it’s all I can do to eat my food. It feels like there was a small threat in those seemingly innocuous words.
