Holy Fae fuck. Where was I?
“Do you want to listen to his sappy Fae bullshit again? I think not.” King Elon hissed under his breath. “I cannot believe I am uttering these words, but I hope she stays awake so thekingcomes back. His fatherly side turns my stomach.”
A deep snore erupted behind me. It was so close it nearly shot me straight to my feet. Whowasthat?
“I envy him.” Queen Mikko sighed in longing. “How can he sleep so well through all this?”
“Who knows.” Queen Alora snorted quietly. “At least he’s not barking orders at us right now. Let us be thankful that King Athon is sleeping.”
Allthe rulers were here? This was bad.
My eyes snapped open. I gently pulled the fur cover down that was covering my head, only to be met by a biting chill that nipped at my cheeks so fiercely it stung. I lifted my head. It instantly went crashing back down. I waited for the ache in my skull to heal…but it did not happen. My entire physique screeched in throbbing pains, none going away. It juststayed.
I moaned. “What is wrong with my body?”
King Elon muttered scathingly, “Are you going to stay awake long enough for me to tell you, Princess Trixie? Or are you going to become a burdensome piece of deadweight once more?”
I stared into blackness. I couldn’t see the nose on my face it so horrifically dark. “I am awake.”
Queen Mikko hummed, “She sounds more coherent.”
An arm was suddenly slung over my waist, and the snore became louder—directly next to my head.
“Who is touching me?” I asked slowly. “The person to my left.”
“That is King Athon.” King Elon snickered.
I closed my eyes in resignation. It wasextremelycold wherever we were. The shifter king’s body heat warmed mine, as my father’s was doing on my other side.
“Is there anyone else here?”
“In this Fae damned feeble tent we are all sharing?” Queen Alora sniffled disgustingly as if her nose was running from a bout of hard tears. Then she sneezed. “I hope not.”
“Would someone please explain what is happening?” I asked cuttingly. “This is beyond unusual. Have we been kidnapped and tortured?”
King Elon groused, “It feels like it, but no. We are in the Blood Forest, Princess Trixie. Our power was taken from us while we search for a—”
“Wait. I remember now,” I stated, stopping his explanation. The memories were gradually surfacing in my tired mind—his annoyed wordshadhelped—as my stomach pinched sharply with a hunger scream. Pulling all the pieces together was harder, though. I asked, “How long have I been…out?”
“Nearly three days,” Queen Mikko clarified patiently, her teeth rattling harder inside her mouth. “It is almost morning, so the cold will begin to dissipate.”
“The artifact?” I asked cautiously.
“As hidden as when we entered,” Queen Alora groaned and sneezed again. “There is no indication of its whereabouts where we have searched so far.”
“How far have you gone?” I rubbed my aching head with my stiff, chilled fingers. “If you had to carry me for so long, it can’t be far.”
“Quite so,” King Elon hissed. Something hard whapped me in the face and kept tapping on my cheek. “Eat this. If you are truly staying awake, I don’t want to be slowed down by you any longer.”
I grabbed for the object. “What is it?”
“Dried jerky. We are running low on provisions, so enjoy the meal. It may be the only one you have today.”
I gnawed at the cold, hard meat. It tasted decent. I wondered if they had used the food I had in my own bag. I yanked the fur blanket back over my face, and mumbled, “Thank you, Your Royal Highness.”
King Elon grunted.
My stomach ached fiercely where my Fae damnedsoul mate’sarm was crushing my waist, but I didn’t move the vile shifter while I ate. Hewaswarm. I remembered everything now, including who the shifter king was to me—unfortunately. I would have appreciated that memory to stay long gone, but there it was. Right in front of me, or, more aptly, lying next to me.
