King Elon snorted hard in mirth, gurgling in his throat.
My soul mate merely glared death down the hallway, ready to maul the screwing couple, the very tips of his claws showing.
“Yes! Yes!”the woman screamed.
Queen Mikko hurriedly turned to the door we stood in front of, clumsily shoving a key hard into the lock.
Snap.
The caster queen stared down at the broken key in her hand, mumbling, “What in the Fairy is this place?”
King Athon didn’t even look, his attention still down the hallway. He reached out his right hand and shoved the door handle.
Crack.
The rotted door flew open.
The five of us filed inside.
We stood in the middle of the “room” a tight cluster, our backs to each other, not moving an inch.
I groaned loudly. “Is that a rat?”
“It is dead.” King Elon pointed. “Killed by that raccoon hiding in the corner.”
“Are its balls still there?” I asked curiously.
Queen Mikko abruptly laughed. “This has to be the most Fae awful hostel in the entire realm. Andwe’restaying here.” She slapped at her knee, keeling over in her shocked hilarity, peels of laughter falling past her lips.
King Athongrowled. “Those beds are supposed to fit two people each?”
I peeked around our group at the beds.Oh my.
“At least, the sheets appear freshly washed…twenty years ago,” Father muttered dryly.
I questioned quietly, “Are those bloodstains?”
“Yes,” the shifter king rumbled.
I shuddered and leaned my head back.
Queen Mikko’s laughter finally dwindled, the room quieting once more. She wiped at her eyes and studied the place further. “I do not think we will all fit in here if we are lying down.”
King Traevon snorted. “Do youwantto lie down on this floor?” Rat droppings were …everywhere.
A few were even in the spider webs on the ceiling.
I pointed up. “How in the Fairy did the rat manage that?”
King Elon grumbled, “The raccoon probably threw him into the air at one point.”
I stared. “Truly?”
“What do you think? I have no Fae fucking idea how rat shit made its way to the damned ceiling.” King Elon waved his hands at the room in irritation. “We cannot stay here. This is positively revolting.”
King Athon grunted. “King Traevon should burn it down.”
Father nodded in agreement.
