Father sat back in his chair and rubbed his forehead in thought. “The important question is, why are we even talking about giants?”
Black Louie stated, “Because they are waking, King Traevon. The Fae buried them right below where we are now, and rebuilt the realm around them.”
King Athon’s solid black eyes narrowed. “The earthquakes are the giants waking?”
“Yes,” Black Louie replied, with no emotion.
“What happens if they wake up?” Queen Alora asked.
“The giants will lay waste to the kingdoms once more if they are not stopped.” Black Louie lifted the ancient book he had under his right arm, while the royals stared at him in horror. He looked up with brown void eyes, not noticing—or, more like, not caring—that his words had destroyed what we always believed to be safe—our realm. “I must read from this book now.”
An undercurrent of carnal need took me fast. I squeezed my eyes shut and propped my elbows on the table to hold my head in my trembling hands. I breathed heavily, concentrating on air flow, but that wasn’t helping as it did before.
Father placed his hand on my back and rubbed soft circles up and down my spine. “I beg your pardon, Louie, but please give us just a moment. My daughter is horribly distraught over this.”
“If you say so,” Black Louie intoned. “I will wait until Princess Trixie calms herself.”
Father leaned closer and started whispering gently against my ear, “It is all right, my daughter. The Misfits are here to help, and I have never met a challenge I cannot handle. The rulers and I will meet this head on…” He kept yammering on and on in my ear.
I only focused on squeezing my legs together more fiercely andnotgetting up to stalk across the room to throw myself on the bloody shifter king. This was the most awful time for this to occur, and it was so damned strong. I had never experienced an urge like this. It had to be because King Athon was so powerful.
Fae, take the man to his death before this gets worse.
I groaned softly under my breath, and grumbled, “Father, leave me the Fairy alone. I just need a moment of silence, please.”
“As you wish, my daughter,” he stated tenderly.
King Traevon removed his hand from my back and allowed me the peace I needed, silently waiting for me to comport myself for a reason he had entirely wrong.
The shakes subsided in my frame, enough for me to sit back up and breathe evenly again. My face was hot, my cheeks burning, but the dratted sweating had stopped now. The clench of my legs needed to stay, but I could manage—barely.
I nodded to Black Louie. “Thank you, Louie. Please continue.”
All the rulers were looking at me with actual,realsympathy, except for one. That particular shifter king was staring down at his desk with squinted eyes, his muscular arms crossed back over his chest, and his legs spread so damn wide it was remarkable for his size that he was that flexible.
“Wait a moment, Louie.” Red Louie stared at the shifter king, his lips twitching. “I think we should wait to make sure King Athon is all right before we continue.”
Solid black eyes shot upward from the desk, pegging Red Louie with a gaze ready to kill. “To Fairy and back with you. I am perfectly fine.”
“Are you positive?” Red Louie teased. His long and grotesque green nose twitched as he grinned with ugly delight. “We can wait.”
Red Louie must be the one holding the string of destiny.
I glared right at him.
He could change this in a heartbeat, have anyone else be the one we were in an urge with. But from the glee on his face, he did not look the sort to change anything that gave him dark pleasure. Red Louie was enjoying our agony—and possible deaths to come—far too much.
King Athon snarled at him, and then turned his pointed gaze to Black Louie. “Please proceed. I am most assuredly all right.”
“If you say so.” Black Louie opened the old book and flipped to the specific page he was looking for. He raised the book right in front of his face, and mumbled into the pages, “The Fae gifted this book to the Fates, should the giants ever waken. There are ancient artifacts that they hid in the kingdoms that will help to control the giants. But only those who should find them will, descendants of the originals who have the royal power.”
Red Louie glanced around the room. “Are there any questions so far?”
“How many artifacts are there?” Queen Mikko asked.
Black Louie did not even bother to lower the book to look around. He kept it plastered to his face, and smashing his nose. His muffled voice stated, “There are six. The first artifact is hidden in the Blood Forest. That is where you must go, and I will not speak of the next artifact until it is time.”
“What?” Queen Alora practically shouted. “Are you sending us to our deaths?”
