* * *
“King Traevon.”I nodded to him regally inside his study and ran my hands down the modest, red satin frock I had chosen to wear, its stitching inlaid with emeralds that matched the color of our eyes. “You asked to see me?”
My king and Uncle Marlon stared at me from behind the king’s desk. King Traevon was sitting on his chair while my uncle stood behind his right shoulder. Neither man appeared ready to open their arms and hug me, their expressions quietly watchful.
“Take a seat, Trixie,” King Traevon ordered softly.
It wasn’t his happy voice.
And it didn’t pass my notice that we were having this conversation at his desk, rather than the sofa and chairs opposite for a more intimate conversation.
I sat down on the blue chair, crossed my ankles, and tucked my feet back and to the side with my hands properly on my lap. Mother had said my silence wouldn’t work right now, but I would not be the first to begin this conversation. I wanted to see what he started with. It would determine how this meeting went.
King Traevon lifted one red eyebrow and asked, oh so slowly, “What in the Fae fuck have you gotten yourself into?”
Ah. This would be a grand conversation.
I hadnotexpected him to be so blunt.
I opened my mouth to answer but quickly snapped it shut. My throat was dry, so I cleared it quietly. Then I nibbled on my bottom lip, unsure of what to say.
When my eyes met his again, I could only answer, “I can’t say.”
Instantly, he snapped, “Can’t or won’t?”
My nose crinkled with the truth. “Won’t.”
My king jerked forward and slammed his hand down onto his desk, seething where he sat. “Have you not learned anything from me?We work together, Trixie.I donotneed your protection. Not from this kingdom. Not from this realm. And not from the Fae.” He slammed his hand on the desk once more. “I need you to tell me exactly what kind of trouble you’re in.”
I scowled. “Why do you think I’m in trouble? Have I expressed that I need your help with something?” I shook my head quickly. “I’m handling the issue the best I can, and I’m doing Fae damned well with it.”
King Traevon shouted furiously, “The fucking realm felt just how well you’re doing with it. Your dealing knocked the majority of it out cold.” His emerald eyes comically widened as he spouted, “Does that seemsafeto you? With murderous Fae popping up everywhere? Mayhap, you need to reevaluate what you—and only you—perceive asdoing well.”
I ground my teeth together and glared over his shoulder—where my uncle was not standing like a silent sentinel. “While what happened was unfortunate, what you’re saying is not fair. I didn’t know that would happen.”
My king sat back on his chair hard and growled, “So it was you.”
Fucking Fae.My mouth stayed shut.
King Traevon rubbed at his forehead and bluntly asked, “Why are you aligning yourself with the Shifter King instead of with me?”
I lowered my head and sighed heavily. My next words were quiet and honest. “Because I had no choice.”
My king jerked up straight, softly demanding, “What?”
And…that was his killer voice.
I sighed once more and didn’t bother looking up at him. “King Athon didn’t have a choice, either. It just is. And we are working as well as we can together on the issue at hand, even with all the other royal duties you know about.”
King Traevon stared at my bowed head. I could feel his penetrating evaluation of me, like the weight of the kingdom bore down on my shoulders, while his royal firepower fairly simmered in the air. It wasn’t pointed at anything in particular. It simply hovered with his raging thoughts.
Eventually, he stated quietly, “You do have a choice, Trixie. And by your own volition, you’ve stated you will not tell me what is happening. I cannot help if you don’t speak. If you leave me in the dark on any major issue regarding this realm, you are not only hurting yourself, but you are also putting my very existence in danger.Our kingdom.”
My nostrils flared as I looked up at him. With fire running in my veins, I detailed slowly, “I am doing the right thing. I amkeeping you safe. I am doingeverything I can for this kingdom. You need to listen to me when I say that.”
“With me, you could do more,” King Traevon stated just as slowly. “As I’ve said, I do not need your protection.”
I glared hard at him. “Perhaps I am protecting someone fromyou.”
