Father gurgled on a laugh, his emerald eyes glazing over with restrained hilarity. But lest I forget where I was—and who we were with—he lectured quietly, “She is of the ocean, my heir. Do not dismiss that.”
I rolled my eyes at his words, but my regard halted on a piece of black clothing on the floor, tucked away in a corner. I strolled across the gleaming white tile and stopped to stare down at it. I used my free hand—not full of dried jerky—and lifted the lush, soft material off the floor. It was a large, knitted sweater that nearly felt like silk to the touch.
I blinked and pivoted, showing the item to the rulers. “Your Royal Highnesses, does anyone know whose this is?”
All three shook their heads, just as baffled as I was.
I immediately smiled, my fangs flashing under the Fae light. “Mine now!”
“My heir, you cannot just take—”
“It’s freezing in here at night, and, yes, I can. Watch if you like. I’ll show you how it’s done,” I retorted, shutting him down, highly annoyed, having been up all evening working to save the realm while they slept. Eager to no longer be ice cold, I quickly shoved my head through the neck hole and wiggled my arms—jerky included—through the armholes. I lifted my arms out to my sides, the ends of the sleeves drooping and hanging low from my raised hands, while the hem of the sweater tumbled down to my knees, covering a goodly portion of my father’s too large pajama bottoms. I intoned my words plainly. “See, my king? That is how it’s done.”
Father ran his fingers through his red hair. “Holy Fae above and below, I can’t scold her when she…” He trailed off, shaking his head with frustrated adoration shining from his eyes.
Queen Mikko snickered behind her right hand, suitably demure. “Even I can admit the elf looks adorable.”
I narrowed my eyes and dropped my arms to my sides.
This wasnotthe response I’d thought I’d receive.
King Elon squinted at my person. “Are you positive she has reached her majority, King Traevon? She looks very…small.”
“It’s the sweater,” Queen Mikko reassured, gesturing to and fro on my body with a raised hand. “It must be King Athon’s.”
My eyebrows furrowed, and I dipped my head down to my right shoulder, sniffing at the warm clothing. There was theveryslightest hint of honeysuckle clinging to the fibers, only noticeable if you stuffed your face into the material like I was currently doing.
I wrinkled my nose in distaste and raised my head. “Ugh. Mayhap I will take it off.”
“He left it for anyone to steal, Princess Trixie. Do as you wish.” King Elon shrugged his broad shoulders and flipped his shamrock green, long braids off his forehead, his golden crown glimmering in the light. “All’s fair in a den of snakes.”
My gaze landed on his braids thatwouldturn into serpents.Did I see one twitch?I mumbled absently, “There is truth in that, Your Royal Highness.”
I tore off a piece of jerky with a fang, gnashing it between my teeth. I lurched away from staring at his braids, and quickly made my way across the room. I planned to stay in the background as much as possible while—
A large form slammed into the back of my left shoulder.
“Ow!” I protested, jolting forward, nearly falling.
King Athon glanced back from his march into the room, barking, “Don’t stand in the middle of the doorway, elf.”
I fumed with resentment and flashed my fangs.
Whywas this asshole my soul mate? I would love the response to that. But only the Fae could answer my question, and they could stay far, far away from here.
The King of Shifters bared his tiger fangs in return.
I. Couldn’t.Stand. Him.
But…
I snapped my mouth shut and flicked my gaze down to the sweater that I wore. I rolled up the sleeves while I ate my dried jerky—reluctantly remaining silent with my deep thoughts. His earlier words in the bathroom had been correct. I wasn’t that daft.
He had left this sweater for me.
And he’d fed me.
Perhaps I wouldn’t misbehave as I had intended. It would have been so easy, though, to point out the one thing I had withheld from him, to steal his limelight, and show that elves were far superior—even if the information I withheld only solidified what we had already discussed.
