I giggle and elbow him as I zip up my pants before pulling my top on. “You’re just a pervert,” I tease him, and he shrugs good-naturedly.
“Guilty as charged.”
By this time, the others have roused, and Brodie offers us a canteen and some food while the rest pack their bags again.
I take the proffered food. “Thanks, I’m starving.”
“I bet. I need all the details on fucking underwater. Like, where does he stick his—” Before he can finish his sentence, Liam smacks him on the back of the head.
“Shut up, you idiot,” he growls before giving me a kiss on the cheek and clapping Micah on the back. “Congrats, guys, we’re so happy for both of you.”
My mouth drops open. Who is this man and what happened to the grumpy asshole he used to be? He and Micah do that bro hug thing, and Hunter steps up next to me, puts a finger under my chin, and pushes my mouth closed.
“What is happening here?” I ask, and he shrugs.
“It’s the bond. There’s no jealousy, only happiness that everyone is where they need to be. Now let’s get going and find the last two wayward members so we can get that crown on your head, and you can take your rightful place.”
He gives me a quick kiss on the lips, and I shove the granola bar into my mouth, chewing furiously to finish before we leave, then I wash it down with a sip of water.
We head for the tunnel with Gryffin and Gem leading us, another ball of flames guiding the way. Micah throws his backpack over one shoulder and grabs my hand as he and Hunter flank me for this leg of the journey.
I hear Brodie grumble something about having to take the rear again, but Liam’s reply has me smiling.
“Yeah, but this way we get to watch that fine ass for the trip.”
“That’s true,” Brodie replies, and this time, he sounds a lot happier.
ChapterThirty-Four
Colbie
I’m not wearing a watch, and my phone is in a backpack because it’s useless underground, so I lose track of time, but it feels like we’ve been down here for days. When we finally see light at the end of the tunnel, I’m not the only one who picks up the pace, but the six of them do shove me to the back of the group and pull out their weapons, preparing for anything that may be waiting for us.
Good thing they do, because when we emerge from the tunnel, I discover we are surrounded by armed and masked guards bearing the symbol of the Chaos Kingdom.
“Drop your weapons, and no one will be hurt,” one of the masked men orders. “The king requests your presence for dinner this evening, and I would prefer that you come willingly than have to drag you there, chained and cuffed.”
The man’s voice makes me shiver with unease. The only thing visible on him are his eyes, which are a stunning pale green very unlike Hunter’s beautiful emerald green ones. The rest of him is covered by a formfitting leather uniform with a hood and cowl covering his head and face. A long sword is strapped to his back, and he is covered in knives and guns in various holsters.
I slide my gaze to the side, sizing up the men and women accompanying him. Some of them are wearing the same hooded uniform as him, but the rest are just wearing normal military garb with no head coverings. They are, however, all armed to the teeth. We are definitely outgunned, and I’m not sure any of us could shift quickly enough without getting injured. This is also the Chaos Kingdom, which means all of these armed assailants are a mix of species and, as such, unpredictable.
The guys must realize the same thing, because they drop their weapons. “Fine, but if anyone so much as looks at the queen strangely, then all bets are off,” Hunter growls, smoke drifting from his nose.
“Of course, dragon. We want her safety as much as you do,” the original man says as his team separates. He leads the way, the rest of them surrounding us. No one makes an aggressive move as we follow him to a cavalcade of cars awaiting us.
I glance around at the desert surrounding us on all sides, apart from the sealed road that leads away from the area. The first man opens a door to one of the middle cars, a luxurious limo large enough for all of us. He gestures for us to climb in as the rest of his team enters the remaining four cars. Hunter and Micah climb in first, and Gem gestures for me to follow them when he hears Hunter call, “Clear.”
The leader of the guards holds out a gloved hand and helps me into the vehicle with a polite head nod. I perch on one of the bench seats, and I’m surprised to see him follow directly after me, taking the vacant spot beside me. The others enter after him and spread out on the remaining seats, Gryffin on my other side, all of them focused on the armed man next to me.
“Who are you?” Liam asks as the door closes and the vehicle starts moving.
I peer out the window and see two cars are in front of us and two guard the rear. All of the vehicles are flying little flags on their hoods bearing the symbol of the Chaos Kingdom.
“I am the king’s head assassin,” the man replies as he sprawls in his seat, relaxed and calm like he has no concern about being surrounded by seven powerful shifters. “And his liaison between the Chaos and shifter kingdoms.”
Gryffin tilts his head to the side. “You’re Titus?” he asks, and I hear the curiosity in his voice.
The assassin’s eyebrows jump in the first sign of emotion he’s shown so far. “You have heard of me? Did your father share secrets with you?”
