“For now,” Father hummed—full of meaning and intention.
The King of Shifters’ hands were rough and bruising, but as he shoved me away from his desk, he whispered oh, so darkly, “Your father saw the tiger book. He knows where it came from.”
I grunted and wobbled from my Fae damned soul mate’s push and kept my feet moving toward the door. Apparently, he hadn’t lost his mind. My eyes widened on my destination, and my backside stayed to the others. I sputtered, “As my king stated, don’t touch me again, Your Royal Highness. Unless you want your eyeballs burned out.”
How in the Fairy was I going to lie my way out of this?
Father was not unintelligent. I needed to think fast.
I needed some kind of excuse for having that book in my bag.
“Shut up, elf, before you fall on your face again.” King Athon snickered with much amusement. “Although, that was entertaining to watch.”
I hadn’t known he had been looking. Shifter prick.
I flashed my fangs, but he couldn’t see them, positioned as I was. I kept my mouth shut after that, only concentrating on my destination—and not landing on the floor. I eventually made it outside the room and gave up all pretenses when I was out of royal eyesight. I stumbled to and fro and held my stomach tight, the cramping from hunger heinous. Mayhap I should have had thedeliciousmutton pie, even if the shifter bitch had baked it.
I blinked and shook my head.No. I wouldn’t go that far.
I wouldn’t mind burning her again, though.
That thought brought a smile to my face and a little pep to my wavering steps. I staggered through the main reception room, and then I used my left arm for support against the white hallway wall, almost to the royal chambers. I eventually opened King Traevon’s bedchamber door, slammed it closed behind me, and sagged against the wall in relief. It may have taken me far too long to arrive here, but I had accomplished it without tumbling again.
“If only there was food,” I grumbled, casting my attention around the room—an elven sized sleep area with red bedcovers, a few black dressers, a stout vanity, a large mirror, and two doors leading to a bathroom and a closet. There was no food in sight. I nodded my head decisively, and I told myself sternly, “It’s only until morning. You can handle it.”
I shoved myself off the wall and marched on feeble legs straight to the bathroom. I stuck my head under the sink’s faucet and drank greedy gulps of the fresh, cool water. Using the back of my hand, I wiped my mouth.
I straightened to my full height of almost five feet, already feeling better from simply hydrating. My legs held steady as I lifted the strap of my bag over my head, letting itthumponto the tiling. I stripped out of my clothes and turned on the hot water for a relaxing bath.
I stole shampoo off the counter that was purchased from the Merfolk Kingdom, specifically designed to help coarse hair. I’d used my royal firepower twice today, so my hair was brittle. I didn’t bother with bath beads, simply turning the water off, sitting my ass down into the tub, and then leaning my head back.
I groaned long and hard before closing my eyes. “Oh, Fairy. This is good.”
King Athon growled softly, his shifter timbre deep and jagged. “Have you learned your lesson, Princess?”
I shoved my right hand over my mouth, stifling my scream. I jerked swiftly, swishing the water high in the bathtub, and twisted to face my soul mate. Behind my hand, I muttered in shock, “What in the Fae fuck are you doing in here?” Perhaps hehadlost his mind.
The King of Shifters leaned against the doorframe to the bathroom and crossed his massive arms over his muscled chest—his shirt gone somewhere already. He wiggled his bare toes on the chilly, white tile as he lifted one snarky, black eyebrow. His solid-black eyes stared directly into my rounded gaze, and he stated evenly, “King Traevon finally went downstairs to talk with his guards. We have a few minutes of privacy.”
I lowered my hand and crossed my arms over my breasts, then curled my legs up, hiding as much as I could from his shrewd gaze. I snapped in aggravation, “What do you need? You already warned me about the tiger book.”
The shifter king grunted. “Answer my question. Did you learn your lesson?”
“Whatlesson?” I pulled my eyebrows together.
“About gifting your power to a soul mate?” he answered simply.
I tilted my head back in disbelief and stared at the wondrous stained glass of the ceiling. “You could havediedout there if it wasn’t for what I had done. You should be thanking me, not criticizing me about it.”
“What have you learned, Princess?” King Athon asked with forced patience, gritting each word out between his teeth. “You are not that daft.”
“That I should always have spare food on me,” I spat. I dropped my head back down and glowered into his hard eyes. “Because my fucking soul mate can’t seem to keep himself out of harm’s way.”
The shifter king’s chuckle was ruthless, his black eyes narrowing. “Look in the mirror before you point that finger at other people. I know what I can handle. You have yet to learn that about yourself.”
I sniffed. He…may have a point there.
King Athon pushed off the doorframe and prowled to the bathtub. He reached behind him, pulling something out of the back of his pants. The King of Shifters bent over at the waist, placing his face right in front of mine, the tips of our noses almost touching.
