Chapter 15
Confession of a princess:
I think it is high time that I start exercising more. After all, one cannot be too careful. If you must run, you must run.
And falling before your peers is never wise.
It leads to an embarrassing bout of ass-in-the-air.
And a royal should never be subject to that humiliation.
“We must hurry.” Queen Alora walked briskly on her long legs, leading us back through the sand streets of her kingdom. “The nightly carnival will start in less than three hours. We don’t have much time to arrive before they won’t allow us entry.”
I panted behind her, my chest pumping from exertion. “My legs are much shorter than yours, Your Royal Highness.”
“Then jog,” she growled. “Queen Mikko’s legs are even shorter than yours, and she is not complaining. So do be quiet before you annoy me further.”
Queen Mikko snickered softly beside me and cast a quick glance in my direction. She leaned toward my person and whispered, “Do not feel upset. She is merely experiencing the urge.”
“I know,” I grumbled. “Though, I am not that rude when it happens.”
Behind me, King Elon hissed, “Mayhap, he is her mate.”
“I can hear you!” Queen Alora snapped and looked over her shoulder, two white, large starbursts in her eyes. “Please, do not wish that man on me for a lifetime. I do not want an overgrown idiot for a mate.”
My lips trembled…until I burst out laughing on a breathless pant, thinking how the tides had turned. “One never knows. Hewastrying to warn us.”
Queen Alora blinked. The starbursts turned back into swirling sparkles in her solid blue eyes. “I did not think of it that way.” Then the Merfolk Queen returned her attention to where she was speed walking. “That was a very astute observation.”
“You are most welcome,” I panted heavily. My thighs burned and my stomach was beginning to cramp, but I glanced at my soul mate on the other side of me. “If you did not understand the conversation, the man you rendered unconscious has put the easy-going Merfolk Queen before us into an urge. I think you remember him. You stepped on his head.”
The corners of King Athon’s lips curved up into a wicked grin. “Yes, I think I do remember him.”
From the back of our group, King Traevon griped, “Queen Alora, will you be able to function properly without ridding yourself of your ailment first?”
“I will have to,” she replied resolutely…her Fae damned feet walking even faster. “There is no time to waste.”
Fairy take it all…I started to jog behind her.
Queen Mikko joined me.
And…the long-legged men fucking laughed.
“This must be the most despicable group of rulers ever,” I snapped and pumped my arms, keeping my boots thumping down on the sand. “Queen Mikko and I are short. You could, at least, try to be accommodating. This is how we were born.”
King Athon kept chuckling…while he walked. “Would you prefer for me to throw you over my shoulder, Princess?”
My eyebrows raised. Now, that was a thought.
It would give my legs a much needed respite.
“Do not even think about it, my heir,” King Traevon barked from behind. “Use some decorum.”
“And do try not to make a spectacle.” Queen Alora tipped her head discreetly at a few passersby who were giving our diverse group odd looks. We were fairly charging through the streets. It was being noticed. “Others are already looking at us.”
Queen Mikko asked—somewhat calmly, “How much further is it? Princess Trixie and I are taking two steps to your one.”
“Another two hours at this rate.” Queen Alora flat out shoved two merfolk from in front of us, the streets near her castle far busier than on the outskirts. “The carnival is clear on the other side of Cosimian Trench. In the newest section of the city.”
