King Athon continued to prowl around the gorgon king and me, also subtly moving closer, hishuffingheavy and furious.
Queen Mikko lectured softly, “King Athon, Princess Trixie, I do not know where all of this hostility is coming from, but it needs to end now. We have an artifact to find, and you are both holding us up.” She paused for a short moment. “If you failright nowto do your duty for this realm, I will use my Fae awful royal charmpower on you to destroy the last few remaining days of your lives that our realm will have. I give you my word on this.”
The air in my lungs seized, my fingers clenching in the gorgon king’s braids. My mind spun in circles at the possibilities.
A ruling casterrarelyused their royal charmpower. Not since their original died. Once charmed, it wasforever. There was no way to eliminate it, no way to reverse it. It was the worst royal power in the five kingdoms. If not handled properly, it was a curse. It took a great deal of intelligence and understanding not to use it—as the previous ruling casters had learned throughout history.
“Would you care to repeat that?” King Athon snarled.
He had shifted. I still couldn’t see a damned thing, except for the black cloak that the gorgon king wore—and perhaps some mud on my eyelashes.
Queen Mikko answered softly, “I did not stutter, King Athon. I have given my word, and I will fulfill it if needed.” She chuckled softly, not at all her kind, usual self. “You are acting as young as she is. So whatever is happening? Fix it.Now.”
After a very long moment, King Athon grunted.
King Elon slowly moved, lifting off my person.
I lifted my head and looked up.
King Athon stood directly in front of me…
Father stood right behind him, a blade held to the shifter king’s neck, holding King Athon’s hair brutally with his head yanked back.
I blinked my mud-covered eyes, shock holding me still.
King Elon stood to his full seven feet of height and stepped aside, moving next to where Queen Alora stood silently.
Queen Mikko nudged my ribs with her boot. “Stand up.”
I swallowed solidly and stiffly rose to my feet.
The Queen of Casters flicked her finger between the two of us. “I am waiting—not so patiently—for you to fix this. Time is wasting.”
My attention stayed locked on the dagger to my soul mate’s throat. “Is the blade necessary right now, King Traevon? I’m not planning to attack him again.”
King Athon chuckled darkly, his throat moving just so—the bladenotmoving. Blood trickled down his neck. “I think you are missing the point, Princess Trixie.”
I scowled and lifted my gaze from the crimson staining his cloak. “Do you wish to kill me? Because I did not try to kill you, despite your despicable conduct.”Allof hisvile behavior. My lips curved up in cruel delight. “I merely bit you.”
The King of Shifters’ lips curled at the edges while he gazed at the leaves on the limbs from his trapped position. “And you stole my crown.” He waited a moment, all of the rulers’ heads turning in my direction—including my father’s. “Did you know that’s punishable by death?”
Yes, I had known that.
I sniffed. “I do not have your crown, nor did I steal it—although I did feel something like a crown in King Elon’s cloak. Perhaps you misplaced it?”
The King of Gorgons patted at his clothing, the vertical red slit of his eyes narrowing on me as he did so. Gradually, he pulled a golden crown from his cloak’s pocket.
My left hand had been trapped, but not my right hand.
“I did not take this,” King Elon hissed. He pointed the crown at my person. “How did you manage that?”
“I do not know what you speak of,” I answered gently. Then I turned my regard back to my soul mate. “I ask again. Do you wish to kill me?”
“You are such a fucking bitch.” King Athon laughed.
The blade cut deeper into his throat courtesy of Father.
I didn’t mind this time. Let him bleed.
