CHAPTER THREE
Confession of a princess:
A royal thrives on knowledge.
The more I learn, the more I know how to win the battle. And there is much to know about the rulers I stand beside. I have only scratched the surface of their shells, but I am always studying them.
You never know where they might crack. Then... Then you know where you can break them.
IYAWNED LARGEenough that all my teeth showed as I trudged behind my king into the conference room, while a furious pounding jarred our ears in the distance. My attention snagged on the shifter desk, noting a pile of dried jerky there. I bit back a grin and marched straight toward the food, swerving between Queen Mikko and King Elon, not paying them any attention, my eyes homed in on the prize.
“Where are you going?” Father spouted, muddled in his tired state. “Stay over here by me.”
“Food.” I pointed, not stopping my progress. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms briskly, attempting to gather warmth into my chilled bones. “I’m starving.”
King Traevon sighed his exasperation and followed swiftly in my wake, watching as I stole a large handful of nutrition off the shifter desk. He disciplined sleepily, “You should have asked first, my heir. I know you’re tired, but do not forget your manners.”
I gnawed on a jerky, stating around the food, “I’m awake at this Fae awful time of day. Fuck manners right now, my king.”
He blinked his emerald eyes slowly, his gaze caught on my mouth in horror. “At least be polite and chew with your mouth closed. That is absolutely ghastly.”
I snorted and shut my mouth while I chewed.
I could behave—for now.
It wouldn’t be long before I misbehaved.
A plan had already formed in my mind.
King Elon sidled up next to me, eyeing the food in my clutched hand. He looked toward the shifter desk, the vertical, red slits of his reptilian, molten green eyes narrowing.
He quickly snatched one for himself.
A satisfied smile leisurely lifted his lips, his pale blush of silver skin pinching around his mouth. He casually sauntered away in his pajamas, nipping at a jerky.
I waggled my food at the gorgon king’s back, whispering, “See? Fuck manners.”
King Traevon remarked under his breath, “Fae help us if your behavior is rubbing off on him.”
Queen Mikko leaned her hip against her desk, murmuring dryly in her elegant tone, “I cannot believe Queen Alora is keeping us waiting. I wonder what excuse she will give this time since she’s already here? Perhaps a current of sleep swept her too far away.”
The four of us paused, our heads cocking, listening.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang.
“The better question is how long until King Athon forgoes all courtesy and breaks down her door?” Father’s mouth quirked up at one side, maliciously tickled at the thought. “I give it less than a minute.”
King Elon hissed, “Surely he would not do—”
Crack!
My eyes shot open wide as the breaking of wood echoed, as if it were snapping over and over again. “Oh my Fae.”
Queen Alora squealed with her high-pitched voice, “You barbaric air breather! What the Fairy do you think you’re doing? You can’t come in here like this! It’s against our rules!”
Of course, we couldn’t hear King Athon’s response.
I shoved a piece of jerky in my mouth while I considered the shifter king’s brazen conduct. “You know, my king, her voice almost sounds normal from this far away.”
