A second later, Bishop moved.
He sucked in a large lungful of air, his arms slowly moving behind his back, standing at attention. His jaw hardened, and his eyes cleared of all expression. The gorilla shifter questioned cautiously, “Are you positive she hasn’t placed you under a caster’s spell?”
I snorted under my breath. “Fuck you.”
“No, it is not a spell.” Solid black eyes never looked away from his dear friend. “And shut up, elf,” King Athon rumbled sharply. “He has been a second away from tearing into you again since I released him.”
“I will kill him.” A fire burned in my eyes as I stared hard at my attacker. “I may be prone right now, but my power works just fine.”
Bishop blinked. “What in the Fairy did she just mutter? I couldn’t understand any of that.”
“Neither could I, but I doubt it was anything good.” King Athon snaked through the surrounding chairs, toward a long couch, laying me down on the soft cushions. “She needs to sleep for a few minutes. Grab that blanket for me.”
Bishop didn’t move, his solid honey-brown eyes scowling.
“Now, Bishop,” the shifter king snarled. “You may hate this as much as we do, but it is our reality. She must stay alive.”
Bishop’s lips pulled back into a vicious snarl, but he swept across the room to grab the blanket. The soft, red material flew through the air as he hurled it hard in a fury in our direction. “This is a Fae damned disaster!”
The King of Shifters caught the blanket and tucked it around my shivering body snuggly, his power still flowing through my Fae-spark as he stated calmly, “I know.”
Bishop started pacing the room, his hands curled into fists. “You should have told me before now.” He sounded…hurt.
“I did what I had to, friend. I kept you safe.” King Athon squatted next to me, cautiously tapping down my left ear jewelry that had almost fallen off, studying his work to make sure it stayed in place. His solid black eyes lifted to mine. “Are you feeling any better?”
“I don’t know,” I slurred. “Mayhap a little?”
He opened his palm, cupping the side of my head, holding me lightly, while his eyes scowled in aggravation. He asked roughly, “How much longer, Princess?”
“Not too much,” I whispered, yawning wide. “I think.”
Bishop flicked a pointed finger back and forth between us. “You two look Fae damned cozy. Are you sure the bitch didn’t spell you?”
“No, Bishop. This is no damned spell.” The King of Shifters flicked an aggravated glare in his direction. “And this troublesome bitch ismine. Watch your words.”
“I hate him, too,” I mumbled. My eyes slid shut, not wanting to stay open any longer. “Keep your pet gorilla away from me while I rest.”
King Athon sighed. “You should watch your words, too.”
“Did… Did she call me yourpet?” Bishop thundered.
“This is not the time,” King Athon growled, the sound of him sniffing the air heard. His hand quickly disappeared from my head, and his voice carried farther away, trailing far from my person. “King Elon is headed this way right now.Fuck.”
I rolled onto my side, toward the back of the couch, and covered my head with the blanket. I garbled, “Tell them I was drunk on shifter wine and passed out.”
After a moment, Bishop grumbled, “That could work.”
“I wasn’t speaking to you, asshole.” I sniffed. “I was talking to the other asshole.”
“Elf, shut the fuck up,” King Athon barked harshly,growlingunder his breath. “Bishop, you need to go. Hurry, and grab the dishes.”
I chuckled evilly, my aching body finally relaxing.
China began to clink. Surly, quiet curses flew.
I smiled woozily under the covers, enjoying myself immensely, envisioning the look of displeasure on Bishop’s face whilehecleaned like a servant…almost falling asleep to that splendid imagery.
The door opened with a softsnick, and, after a pregnant pause, King Elon’s voice slithered inside the room—his reptilian tone incredulous, “Have you two murdered the heir to the Elf Kingdom? And are you trying tohide her body under a Fae damned blanket? Who in the Fairy taught you that? A blind man?”
