I crossed my arms. “Shall we come up with a new plan? One that doesn’t end with either elf or shifter dying? We do have a realm to save.”
The King of Shifters grunted, fully understanding what I was saying. He asked bluntly, “Are you going to attack a ruler again? Which, by the way, is also punishable by death—if I wish it so. You can’t thieve your way out of that one.”
“Not right now,” I stated honestly. “Just stay the Fairy away from me, and quit picking fights. You may live that way, but I do not.”
King Athon’s jaw tightened.
Quiet.
The mud drying on my face cracked as my brow furrowed, my blink gradual as I understood what was genuinely irking him.
I quickly covered for him, taunting, “Will that be too hard for you, Your Royal Highness? Can you not control yourself enough to abstain from fighting for one day?”
“I think I can manage that, elf.” The King of Shifters reached back and tapped my father’s leg. “Remove the blade. I will not attack your daughter.”
King Traevon only tightened his hold on the shifter king’s hair, asking coolly, “Why were you upset with her before this all began? Your crown was still on your head then.”
The chill in the shifter king’s tone matched my father’s. “A book from my study has gone missing. In its place is a faded scent of jasmine. I would like my book back, King Traevon.”
Resentment froze me in place.
I understood why he said it.
But that didn’t mean I had to like it.
Father’s emerald eyes flayed mine. “Trixie?”
My lips pinched into a straight line.
“Trixie…” he warned this time.
“Fine.” I glared up at the shifter king’s slightly pointed chin. “Penelope might have landed on his balcony in the wee morning hours before I went to investigate the ice cliff.” None of that was a lie—just not the whole truth.
I wastiredof lying to my father.
Queen Mikko cleared her throat. Pointedly.
Oh my Fae.I hissed, “My apologies, Your Royal Highness. You’ll have your book back shortly.” Right upside his fucking head.
My dratted soul mate chuckled cheekily. “Your apology is accepted.” He lifted his right hand swiftly in an experienced move that I did not know and managed to slip his hand behind my father’s, holding his captor’s wrist tight. The King of Shifterssqueezed. He stated softly, “Remove the blade.”
Father’s lips curved up. “I wondered when you would try to stop me.” He flicked his fingers, the blade lightly slicing once more—just to show he could. Then he pulled his arm away, his wrist almost snapping in half from his enemy’s hold.
And Father didn’t bloody flinch.
King Athon released his grip on my father’s wrist without another word and prowled to grab his satchel from the dirty ground. He hooked the strap over his head, letting his traveling bag hang against his hip. “Kera and her guards are on horses. We’ll need to hurry.” The shifter king snatched his crown from the gorgon king,snarlingin my direction as he stuffed it into his bag. “Don’t try that shit again, Princess.”
I lifted one eyebrow…staying quiet.
As I had learned,shifters lived to fight.
Theybreathedit in like oxygen.
It was truly a marvel to my mind…
Mysilencewas what hurt him the most.
It confused him. He didn’t know how to react to it.
