“I hate you.” I violently choked on blood.
Iscreamedagain as his royal bloodpower worked.
My body shuddered brutally as my heart repaired itself.
My stomach squeezed as my intestines healed.
I sucked oxygen against his palm, sparkles dancing in my vision, his face wavering in and out. Mayhap I fainted once? Time seemed to stand still and my vision darkened a few agony-filled times.
Then suddenly, it was done. Just…done.
My powerful soul mate yanked his hands back from my body, his solid black shifter eyes returning to normal and scanning my quivering form. He hovered over my frame, not missing one detail. The shifter king’s gaze flew up to mine, and he gripped my chin and barked, “Can you hear me?”
“Yes,” I rasped faintly. I shuddered again, incapable of not doing so, my entire frame fairly vibrating in aftershocks of agony. “I don’t particularly like…your royal bloodpower…though.”
“It just saved your ass.” King Athon snarled. He leaned so his face was above mine, his gaze flicking and back and forth between my eyes. His white hair spilled down around us, intimately shielding our faces from prying eyes. He questioned swiftly, “What is your full name?”
I blinked sleepily. “Princess Trixie Isabella Towers, heir to the Elf Kingdom.” One more slow blink. I slurred, “I’m the woman who is going to kill your best friend.”
One side of his mouth curved up in an arrogant smirk—or, at least, I thought it did if my vision would clear. “Elf, you just got your ass handed to you, and you’re still spouting threats?”
I licked over my bottom lip, blood coating my mouth. “You told me to run. Look where that got me.” I creased my nose. “Almost dead. Next time, I’ll just kill the bastard.”
King Athon lifted one black eyebrow as he cocked his head slightly. “If you really want to play that game, make sure I’m there again to save you. It will be needed, Princess.”
“Hush. I almost died. Right now would be an excellent time for you to be nice to me.” My brows pinched together, and I lifted my trembling right hand to rub at my forehead, smearing blood all over my face.
The King of Shifters lowered his head, his eyes on mine. “I will be nice for a moment.” He kissed me softly, his lips teasing me.
“No,” I stated against his mouth, pouting. “Give me a blade and sit me up so I can stab Bishop in his dick.Thatwould be nice.”
King Athon nipped my chin in a silent warning.
But…I did kiss him back. He had saved my life—and his lips were so Fae damned soft. I moaned quietly, enjoying the unusual tenderness he was showing—until a thought occurred through my foggy brain. “I’m confused. Why is Bishop behaving right now?” The shifter was suspiciously quiet.
“I took control of his body,” King Athon stated absently. He ran his tongue over the corner of my mouth, licking away blood. “He can’t move.” The King of Shifters reluctantly pulled his head back from mine. With his gaze on my lips, he asked gruffly, “Can you stand? I’ll need to remove the blood before the others arrive.”
“Not a chance in Fairy,” I mumbled honestly—and grumpily. “Perhaps in five more minutes, but not right now. You’ll have to pick me up.”
King Athon grunted and gently lifted me into his arms, like a Fae damned child, holding me protectively against his chest. As he stood, blood started to rise from my body, the floor, his hands, the table,everywheremy blood had splattered.
I repeatedly blinked, watching as my blood spun in the air, faster and faster, the droplets becoming smaller and smaller…until they completely disappeared. I slurred, “That is a nifty skill.”
The King of Shifters muttered, “You’re a mess.”
His power shoved again inside my Fae-spark.
I sniffed—or I thought I did. “There is no need for that. You can cut it off.”
“Not if you want to be healed by the time everyone assembles,” King Athon mused, his attention whipping to his friend. He shook me slightly in his arms, his tiger fangs baring. “You have made her defenseless.”
Unable to see, I tipped my head dizzily to the left.
Bishop stoodexactlywhere he had last been, in the same position, frozen in place mid-motion, his hands still in the air after releasing his blades.
My head fell back over my dratted soul mate’s arm, leaving me gazing at the ceiling, my body so tired. I whispered, “I think I need a nap.”
The King of Shifters snarled quietly and resituated me in his arms so the side of my head rested against his chest—his black fur vest tickled my cheek. His attention swung back to his stationary friend, a menacinggrowlerupting in the air. “I do not know how, but the Fae made a mistake. This fucking elf in my arms is my soul mate. And, Bishop, if you ever injure her again like that—harming the Shifter Kingdom and me—I will kill you myself.” His fierce gaze didn’t falter, death written in his eyes for any who’d hurt me.
