I scratched at my forehead, studying the desk again, not liking his theory one bit. I whispered cautiously, lest a Fae hear my words in Fairy, “I think you are correct. The rulers must stay united in our quests. There is more afoot than what we know. Especially with the Fae searching for their own artifacts.”
“We are agreed on that,” King Athon sneered. He rubbed his hands over his face in irritation, and then he shook his head as if he were trying to wake himself up. He tilted his head at the doorway. “You need to go back to bed and pretend you’re sleeping. I’ll wait five minutes before I start pounding on royal doors to show the other rulers what we—I—just discovered. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly.” I yawned and stretched, knowing I wouldn’t get any sleep until Penelope arrived in a few hours. “You’ll put on a show for the rulers, boasting about your great intellect and their inferiority for not noticing this sooner. And I’ll try not to drop from exhaustion while you five posture like peacocks until they shut up, and you’re finally able to show them the details.” I flicked my right thumb up in approval. “Message received, shifter.”
His slightly pointed chin quivered with barely restrained humor, but he griped, “Hurry up and get in bed so that I can start the pounding.”
Both of us stopped in place, staring at one another.
My blink was gradual. “You know, it’s late. I’m not even going to comment. That was far too easy, not challenging in the slightest.”
“I do appreciate that. I’m not in my best form right now.” King Athon rubbed at his eyes. “And you really do need to slip back into King Traevon’s bedchamber. Donotwake him up, Princess.”
I strolled past him and grabbed my traveling bag off the chair, slinging the strap over my shoulder. I lifted the bottom of my father’s pajama pants over my feet, keeping a good grip on the cloth so I didn’t trip as I walked toward the door. I didn’t turn around as I requested, “If you have any more of that dried jerky left, make sure to bring it out. I’m hungry again.”
He grunted. “You are a pain in my ass.”
“Most assuredly. But I’m also the one who figured this out. Think about that while you take credit for my work.” I chuckled at his resultantsnarl—a tiger pissed off. Right as I exited the room, I chirped, “I hate you, too! Don’t forget the food.”
