My brows puckered in extreme confusion. I glanced down at myself. Not only was I on my hands and knees, but I was wearing one of my more risqué lingerie sets. A black lace bustier that shoved the tops of my tits up and a tiny pair of black, sheer underwear. I groaned loudly, whimpering in horror, “Oh my Fae.”
Queen Alora snickered softly and held her bronze right hand down to me. “Let us get you up from there, Princess Trixie.”
Father blinked. He appeared horrifically dazed.
King Athon coughed brutally, his mien dark, and then smacked my father’s shoulder with the back of his hand. “Give your heir your shirt, King Traevon.”
Father shook his head hard and turned his back to me quickly. I grabbed Queen Alora’s hand, allowing her to help me to my feet while Father stripped out of his black, silk tunic—his muscled torso bare underneath his shirt.
King Athon jerked his head down to stare at his booted feet.
My mind whirled, trying to catch up. I swiftly snatched the shirt Father waggled back in my direction, and yanked it on over my head. I had to play this right like I hadn’t an inkling of what was happening.
I sputtered with fake amazement, “W-What is going on?”
King Traevon sighed and straightened his spine, peeking over his shoulder like he really didn’t want to look. When he saw all my lady bits were covered with his skin-warmed shirt, he turned back around.
He explained patiently, “This is King Athon’s personal office in the Shifter Kingdom. We were here discussing a royal matter when the Misfits showed up. I believe Louie pulled you here from…whatever you were doing…to be involved in our conversation.” His attention swung to Red Louie, a death glare hardening his features—not happy with the gremlinat all.
“Oh,” I stated quietly. I pulled the tunic’s hem down as far as I could when King Elon and King Athon returned their attention to the group. I clenched my jaw and scowled at Red Louie, more than irritated at him. “Afewmore clothes would have been appreciated, Louie.”
Red Louie’s long, pointed nose twitched. He smirked.
King Athon scrubbed his hands roughly over his face, a permanent pinch between his eyebrows now. His solid-black, shifter eyes narrowed when he lowered his hands to his sides, his disgruntled scrutiny on the Misfits. He demanded roughly, “Tell me why you are here. Is it about the next artifact?”
“It is,” Black Louie replied in his monotone voice. He lifted the olden book from under his right arm and opened it. “I must read from this book now.”
The King of Shifters flicked his left hand into the air. “Then get on with it.” My blood-painted soul mate hadn’t even lasted to the morning, his mood drastically changed—back to his usual brutal self.
“I will.” Black Louie flicked through the pages, and then raised the ancient book in front of his face to read the words.Rightin front of his green face, the pages smashing his nose down. “You will find the next artifact in the Shifter Kingdom where death flies and the original shifter fell. If you are able to retrieve it, you must all touch the artifact to return safely.”
King Athon instantly started pacing, worry etching his face.
“When do we leave?” Queen Alora questioned, sidling away from the shifter king and watching him from the corner of her eye.
All of the rulers eyed him warily. Odd that.
Red Louie teetered his head in thought. He finally shrugged his gaunt shoulders, and responded, “At daybreak, the day after tomorrow.”
“There is more.” Black Louie raised the brittle book up an inch on his face. “Once your journey begins, you have four days to accomplish this task, or the artifact will not be given.” He closed the book and placed it back under his right arm, done speaking.
I gripped the hem of Father’s shirt brutally. “That willnotbe enough time.”
King Elon squinted his reptilian gaze at me, curious and intent. “Why do you say that?”
My eyes rounded in disbelief. “Because of where we’re going! We won’t have time to get there and search properly.”
All five rulers stared. Like I’d said something wrong…
Or lost my bloody mind.
“What?” I blinked.
King Athon pivoted to face me fully, and growled—very,veryslowly, “No one knows where the original shifter died, Princess Trixie. Shifters have searched for thousands of years and perished trying to find it. Are you saying that you—an elf—know the answer to the greatest shifter mystery in history anddidn’t bother to speak the fuck up?”
I snapped my mouth shut and rubbed my lips together, glancing at my father. I think I needed his help on this one. If I answered, I wasn’t positive that my Fae fucking soul mate wouldn’t attack me.
My Fae-spark told me he wasn’t thrilled right now.
