Queen Mikko, Queen Alora, and King Elon stopped walking, all three sets of eyes stuck on us. Or, more precisely, the dildo in King Athon’s hand for one and all to view.Mydildo.
“Oh my Fae,” I breathed in horror.
Their eyes crinkled at the edges with confusion.
Maybe they didn’t know what it was yet.
Please Fae, let that be true.
I launched myself at the shifter king. I jumped and slammed hard against his chest, one of my hands gripping a fistful of his hair at the back of his head and the other grabbing the dildo right above his gripping hand. My bag was trapped between us with my legs wrapped around his waist. I jerked his head back hard at the same time I twisted the dildo out of his fist.
This all happened in an alarming second.
I stuffed the dildo back into my bag between us, right as a deadly tiger’s growl exploded in the stunned silence. I jerked his head up so I could stare into his raging eyes. I snarled, “That wasnotgiving me a modicum of privacy, Your Royal Highness.”
Right behind me, Father stated softly, “King Athon, please put your claws away. My daughter will get down and apologize.”
Did it sound like a…plea?
My father never begged anyone for anything.
I released the shifter king’s hair and glanced down at his arms, my forehead wrinkling in confusion. My eyes traveled slowly down the slope of his overlarge limbs until they disappeared high behind my back, not touching me. I started to turn my head to look behind me, but my soft cheek hit something very sharp. I held still and peeked to the side.
Oh my Fae.
His claws were aimed right at my head, the tiniest sliver away from my flesh, six inches long and sharp as Fae fuck.
I moved my eyes back to his, and stated grudgingly, “I’m sorry for touching you, Your Royal Highness.”
“Idiot,” King Athon bit out through clenched teeth, his claws disappearing. He grabbed my waist and threw me back with such force my chin smacked down against my chest. My small body smashed into my father’s, who caught me with quick arms. King Athon snarled, “Your heir needs a reminder of protocol, King Traevon.”
“Quite so.” Father held me closely against him, safely protected in his embrace, and backed us away from the shifter king. My bag had dropped to the marble floor when we’d separated. Father stated evenly, “My apologies, King Traevon.”
Safely protected in my father’s arms, I looked up slowly and rubbed at my chin. That had frightened me more than it had hurt. I stated quietly, “I want my bag back.”
I could feel him in my chest.
He was pissed the Fae fuck off.
Which meant, he could feel me in his chest.
I was embarrassed.
And Ihatedthat he knew that.
King Athon lifted his monster boot and kicked my bag over to us, a few of the contents spilling out. He muttered with disgust, “Pull yourself together, Princess Trixie. It only gets worse from here.”
CHAPTER NINE
Confession of a princess:
Is this what real pain feels like? If it is, I’d rather it go away. It’s altogether unpleasant. The Blood Forest is not for anyone created in this realm. The Fae made sure of that. One doesn’t think about what they have until it is gone. I am quickly realizing we take for granted what we have been gifted.
I want to go home!
The Blood Forest loomed in front of us. High Pointe was directly to our left. We walked into the Caster Kingdom for this, since it didn’t matter at this point, all arguing done.
The five rulers stood in a perfect row. I don’t think they even noticed it. They simply did it unconsciously. Their eyes were brutal on the dark red trees with the bright red leaves, the contorted limbs twisting around each other, creating a barrier from peeking eyes. The kings and queens looked just as fierce and deadly as the Blood Forest did, the rulers ready to save the realm.
