“She left this morning.” Queen Mikko’s dark eyebrows lowered, her jaw tightening in poorly hidden torment. “If Kera follows her normal routine from Wickley Marsh, she will be passing by here shortly.”
I squinted from worry at the Queen of Casters’ words. My troubled gaze swung to the merfolk queen. I whispered slowly, “I say this with much respect, Your Royal Highness, but it would be helpful to the quest if you stay silent for a time.”
The other rulers stared hard at the Queen of Merfolk in warning.
Queen Alora opened her mouth, and then quickly snapped it shut. She cleared her throat—quietly—and grudgingly nodded in agreement, scowling her irritation at the request.
King Athonhuffedsoftly. “I’ll watch for Kera. Everyone else, stay here until I come back.” The shifter king yanked the strap back off his shoulder and shoved the traveling bag hard against my chest. “Be a dear, and hold this for me, elf.”
I coughed roughly from the hit, my arms automatically lifting to grab his traveling bag in surprise. The look I threw him was pure fire and ash, barely restraining myself from lighting him up in a blaze of wicked glory.
My Fae damned soul matesnarledat me.
Father flashed his fangs, opening his mouth…
King Athon instantly turned inside out, shifting in a distortion of movement. His front paws landed heavily on the ground between us all, his body shaking brutally, his orange, black, and white fur blending as one with the action. When he was done, he lifted his head and bared his teeth at the King of Elves. The prick turned away, pitilessly brushing the side of his body against mine to curl around.
I stumbled to the right from the rough treatment, the tiger Fae damned huge and heavy, my father grabbing my shoulders to keep me from falling on my ass. I still managed to keep my lips from parting and spewing obscenities at the asshole—the man who has it in his head that he’ll sink his cock inside another womanandleave my kingdom without an heir.
In what realm would I ever let that happen if I could stop it?
King Athon lowered his muscular, furry body and lurked beneath the heavy, white moss that coated the aspen tree, the plants providing our protection from any eyes. The tiger disappeared from sight.
Queen Mikko tilted her head, her brown mist eyes peering directly at me. She snorted quietly, whispering, “How did you manage to irk him this time?”
King Traevon analyzed my infuriated features, raising one red eyebrow. “Yes, do tell.”
“I was born?” I snarled viciously. There was so much truth in those words. I shoved the strap of his traveling bag over my head, now carrying two hefty satchels. I sneered down at my soul mate’s, a plan already forming in my mind to steal his precious crown from inside—the swampwasnearby to throw it in. I grumbled, “Who in the Fairy knows what goes on inside his beastly head?”
Father lifted a pointed finger to his lips. “Shh.”
“I don’t care if that shifter prick hears me—” I slammed my mouth shut, clarity pushing through my anger.
The four rulers gazed at me in frustration.
“Apologies,” I mouthed. My cheeks flamed red.
Queen Alora grinned, relishing my discomfort.
After that, the five of us remained silent.
Our mouths stayed closed. We behaved ourselves.
I tipped my head back and squinted through the leaves, trying to decipher if the sun had darkened. It didn’t appear to have dimmed even a sliver. I truly could have slept longer—as I’d said.
I stepped to the side and crossed my arms, leaning back against the trunk of the tree, the two bags I carried a nuisance, bumping against my legs. But I closed my eyes and rested my head back, taking my peace where I could get it while the four rulers were blissfully quiet.
Imayhave paid attention to my Fae-spark, peeking in on my illegal soul mate’s feelings. He was in his element right now, hunting with pleasure, his emotions true to a beast—even if there was wrath, annoyance, and confusion that continued to bounce in from time-to-time. It wasn’t hard to guess what he was thinking about when those feelings showed up.
My brows lifted slightly when satisfaction stirred within him, his exhilaration building. I leaned my head left and right, cracking my neck, as I opened my eyes.
It was time. The tiger had found his prey.
I still didn’t move away from the tree, though, appearing bored as I yawned wide behind my left fist—tired as Fae fuck. It was not as if I could tell the others Kera had been found. So I did nothing out of the ordinary, waiting like the silent four rulers near me. I rubbed at my eyes drowsily and evaluated our ordinary clothing.
We looked the part, normal people of the realm.
As long as we kept our heads down, no one would notice that we were of different kingdoms and traveling together.
