Fuck you, Fae.
I spoke just as easily, “Which one of you shimmers in the sky like a diamond? You’re quite pretty in your shifted form. Delicate almost. I thought for sure one of you would be a toddler, but it appears your shifted form has misled me.”
King Traevon sat back on his chair farther and draped his arm over the back of my chair. “Quite so, my heir. But the dragon in the middle acts a little slow in the head. I am betting it was him.”
The King of Shifters grunted, seemingly having sniffed out the culprit—and was in agreement with Father. A wicked smile twisted his lips around his toothpick. He chewed on the end of it in their silence—they were trying to digest the fact that we knew—that much was obvious. The shifter king questioned candidly, “Which one of you killed the original shifter?”
With venom in his tone, the dragon on the right spewed, “Who the fuck are you?”
King Athon winked at him. “I am King Athon Alistair, King of the Shifters. I am guessing you are only a disgraced Fae hiding in my kingdom like vermin.”
The dragon grinned cruelly at the taunt. “Perhaps. But, to answer your question from before, I am also the dragon who killed your original. His bones and his crown still lie in our den.”
My face scrunched in disgust.
I had sat on the skeleton of the original shifter earlier today?
Well, I certainly would not be revealing that to anyone.
Properly so.
The King of Shifters marked him with his eyes before returning his attention to the dragon in the middle. “And who would you be? The dragon who kills all shifters who find your den?”
The dragon on the left chuckled darkly. “Actually, that would be me.”
King Athon shrugged his left shoulder, having been merely taunting for a reaction. He continued to use his tongue to play with his toothpick. His regard stayed honed on the dragon in the middle. He lifted one cocky eyebrow, waiting for an answer.
“My name is King Ula Cromay, King of Dragons.” King Ula’s lips curved up at the edges, taunting the shifter king right back. “Is there a reason you are here, King of Shifters? Or did you come for the mutton pie? It is delicious.”
My brows furrowed deeply. His station in life made no sense for him to be hiding in our realm. This did not make sense.
“Yes, I know.” King Athon’s head cocked just so. “I’ll get to why I am here in just a moment. But first, tell me more. Why are you not in Fairy? Did someone steal your crown?”
King Ula chuckled. “No one took my crown. Fairy is not what it once was. So I am here with the remainder of my people.”
I blinked extremely slowly. My gaze darted to each dragon before me. I blurted, “There are only three of you left?”
The King of Dragons turned his dangerous gaze on me, sniffing in my direction. He stared for a quiet moment and then answered frankly, “Yes. My people were used as weapons in the great scourge, and we were mostly wiped from existence.” He sniffed once more. “Tell me, elf, how did you escape?”
My brows lifted high on my forehead. As if I would tell him my royal firepower had healed me. I would not give him the advantage.
King Ula narrowed his eyes on me and sat forward to place his elbows on the table. He stated calmly, “You can tell me now, or I will tell the entire realm your deepest secret.”
I stared. My heart started pounding frantically.
This King of Dragons was dangerous. And very smart.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied, keeping my tone entirely calm. I decided to threaten him right back with the same threat he was aiming at me. “I have nothing to hide, unlike you. With one word to the Fae who are popping up in our kingdoms, your king and queen would know where to find you. I do not think they would be happy with you, either—since you are breaking their laws.”
He licked over his bottom lip, a small smile tugging at his mouth. “I believe I like you, elf.”
I smiled sweetly. “The feeling is not mutual, dragon.”
Father rested his hand on my shoulder, his arm still over the back of my chair. “You’ll have to excuse my daughter, King Ula. When she hears an asshole blabbering drivel from his fool mouth, she tends to not beat around the bush. I have tried many times to teach her to be respectful to those who are weaker of mind than she, but she does not listen. I haven’t a clue where she picked up the trait.”
My lips twitched. I stared right at the King of Dragons.
King Ula sat back on his chair and crossed his arms. He glanced back and forth between my father and me for long, tense moments, and then his lips curved into a cruel smile, ending with his gaze on mine—not glancing away—with menace in his eyes.
