“That’s not surprising.” King Athon rolled his head side to side, working his muscles out—releasing stress.
“No, I suppose it’s not,” I grouched. I moved around the table and kneed Bishop’s right leg, his feet still up on the table, and blocking my way. “Move, shifter. I’m trying to clean up your mess.”
Bishop sniggered, not moving as I’d ordered.
He stared at me while he ate the last of his treat.
I glanced at the shifter king and pointed at his damned friend. “For Fae’s sake, make him behave, Your Royal Highness. Or I will.”
“Your mouth is beginning to annoy me,” Bishop remarked quietly, his solid honey-brown eyes losing all previous humor as they stared hard into mine.
“Bishop…” King Athon pinched the bridge of his nose. “You need to leave the room for the meeting. Wait for me outside.”
I grinned evilly down at the gorilla shifter. “You heard your king.Leave.”
Bishop ground his teeth together and yanked his feet off the table. He sat forward in a rush, tossing his plate and fork on the table. His smile was just as cruel as mine. “And you can clean my mess up like a servant, Your Highness.”
“Fuck you,” I snarled.
He inhaled slowly, mocking, “No, fuck your—” His mouth snapped shut abruptly, his eyebrows furrowing deeply over his eyes. He slightly turned his face, further in my direction…and inhaled again—the top of his head was at my stomach, his nose further down.
My eyes grew large. I quickly stepped back from him.
But it was too late.
The entire room paused for two atrocious heartbeats.
I could barely breathe, my lungs seizing.
King Athon quickly snapped his fingers in my direction, barking in his brutal shifter accent, “Get over here, elf!”
I swiftly turned toward my Fae damned soul mate, preparing to run as ordered, his friend’s features morphing into bloodthirsty.
But I grunted hard, my mouth dropping open.
Horrendous pain like I’d never known pierced into my heart and my stomach. I peered down at my body in shock, the handles of two daggers sticking out of me while a seven foot, six inch maniac shifter pressed against my side and stared down at me, his hands releasing his blades.
King Athonhissedso fiercely the wood beneath my feet shook. He launched himself through the air right at us, landing in a crouch on top of the table, the plates wobbling, the china clattering fiercely. His hands were instantly on the blades, yanking them from my body and tossing them aside.
I sucked in a harsh breath, my scream dying in my throat as I stumbled away. Warm, red blood poured from my body like two waterfalls from the gaping holes in my flesh. I fluttered my hands in front of my wounds, choking, “Athon?”
The King of Shifters slid off the table, grabbing me before I could fall, carefully laying me down on the wood. His eyes were on the wounds, and crimson blood started churning in his deadly eyes. He shoved one of his hands over my mouth while the other slammed down on the wound on my chest.
Powersurged through my Fae-spark from him.
So. Much. Power.
My back tried to bow off the ground, but he held me down.
Iscreamedin pain…but his hand muffled it.
Tears tracked down my temples, even as my vision swam.
His royal bloodpower crawled through my veins like killer ants, pushing my blood to flow correctly as his power poured into my Fae-spark, attempting to heal me.
My fingernails dug into the hardwood. My power flared, fire burning in my eyes. I barely restrained myself from setting him ablaze, my frame shaking beneath him, sweat pouring off my body, barely able to hold myself back. Blood pooled beneath me, warm and sticky and fatal.
King Athon’s full attention focused on his work. More power coursed through my Fae-spark, his nostrils flaring, and his tiger fangs peeked behind his parted lips. He threatened—with full intent, “Do not fucking die on me, Trixie. Or I willhelpKing Elon kill your father.”
