We stopped at a lone door with two guards on each side.
These weren’t King Athon’s personal guards based on their clothing. They were something more. Black, tight-fitted clothes stretched over their massive bodies, the two just as tall as Bishop’s seven feet, six inches of height. Swords were strapped to their backs, the blades lethally sharp.
My captor’s grip didn’t loosen on my neck, as he stated clearly, “Our king’s orders are for this prisoner to be kept in his personal office. Open the door.”
The guard on the right grunted. “Fae bullshit. Prisoners aren’t sent here. Take this garbage to the dungeon.”
The guard on the left yanked my hood back, revealing my face—and pointed ears. He grabbed my chin with one grubby hand and jerked my face up, digging his fingers into my cheeks, appraising me far too intimately for my liking. He licked over his bottom lip, practically salivating at the mouth, and stared into my eyes, a hunger blatant in his pure green gaze.
He murmured, “It’s an elf. They tastereallygood. Maybe we should let it stay. Our king won’t mind if we take a bite out of it.”
I shivered in disgust. The shifter was serious.
My captor pulled me back a step, out of the other shifter’s hold. He stated again, “Open the door. I have direct orders from our king that she isnotto be harmed and is to wait in his personal office.”
The guard on the right shook his head. “That is not protocol. Without his seal of approval, I won’t allow it.”
The guard on the left snarled and licked his lips again. “Give it to me, you lying sack of Fae shit. I’ll take care of it.”
My captor growled—much like a wolf does. “No. I was ordered—”
All Fairy broke loose when the starving guard lunged.
Swords were drawn and fists flew as all three shifters converged on one another in the most primal of ways known to the Shifter Kingdom.
In a panic, I erupted. Thank the Fae for my caster-spelled fire-resistant clothes and traveling bag. My royal firepower blasted straight through the shifter’s bodies, parts of them flying in all directions, instantly dead.
“Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit,” I shouted. I threw out my hands and pulled the fire back into me with swift care. I groaned long and hard as I stared at the mess all over the hall. There were only a few scorch marks, barely even noticeable, but steaming shifter body parts lay all around—and they stank like the first shifters I had ever torched with Father, bringing back awful memories. “Dammit! I tried so hard to behave, too.”
A deep throat cleared to my left.
Fuck me.
I quickly turned to whoever had observed my mistake, hoping I didn’t need to kill them, too. Ireallydidn’t enjoy this. People reeked when they burned…and their dead eyes sometimes haunted me at night when I tried to fall asleep.
It was a wholly unpleasant affair.
Bishop stood at the end of the hallway, resting one of his shoulders against the wall with his considerable arms crossed over his chest.
I blurted, “It wasn’t my fault. That guard tried to eat me.”
Bishop merely stared.
“I’m not lying. Elf’s honor.” I held my trembling hand over my heart.
I wondered if he knew that wasn’t a real thing. Elves swindled better than anyone, honor be damned. We prided ourselves on our ability to lie to the other kingdoms—and get our scheming way. It normally worked. Right now, Ishouldbe in the dungeon by their shifter laws, killing their people with a witness.
“Your elven honor doesn’t mean Fae shit to me, Princess Trixie. Only my king’s order to make sure you arrived safely does.” Bishop sneered, flashing his blunt teeth. “Now, get your elven ass inside his study before anyone sees you, and I will take care of your damned mess. I’ll be back at dark to take you to the challenge.”
I dropped my hand to my side and lifted my nose into the air. “You don’t have to be an ass about it.”
“Get in the damn room.”
“I will.” I added, “BecauseIwant to.”
I opened the door and slammed it closed behind me.
Then, I leaned back against the wooden door.
