Chapter 2
Troubles of a king:
My soul mate has once again gotten in over her head.
It shouldn’t be a surprise by now, yet every time it happens, I have to stop and wonder what kind of fresh Fairy trouble I’m going to have to deal with this time.
Truly, there is nothing worse than a sheltered princess running amok with ideas of grandeur. Give her a few centuries, then maybe.
But now? Now it becomes my problem to fix.
My judgment: Thanks, Fae. You’re fucking assholes. Come say hi next time you’re in my kingdom. I’ll let you leave in a casket.
Iresituated my ass on my chair for the fifth time today and pulled at the crotch of my leather pants, giving my balls more room. “Is there anything else I need to sign, or will that be all?”
“That’s it for today.” Bishop closed his folder and eyed my person, his gaze traveling over my face from across my desk. “Are you going to tell me now why you’re acting like you have fire ants in your pants?”
My head thumped back on my chair as I released a long-suffering sigh. “Something is amiss.”
“Meaning?” Bishop lifted an eyebrow in question. “Did you eat spicy fare, and your asshole hurts?”
“No, dammit!” I damned near shouted and arched to lift my ass off my chair…only to sit it back down.It didn’t help.Not one bit. “My fucking nuts are aching like a motherfucker.”
My best friend’s expression was comical at best. Condescending at worst. “One would think at your age, you’d know how to relieve that issue, my king.” He crinkled his nose and grumbled in his deep voice, “And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but why isn’t your soul mate taking care of this?”
Oh, yes. As if that’s a topic I want to discuss.
“Fuck off. I don’t want to argue with you about her…and she’s vexed with me, anyway.” I leaned forward, placed my elbows on the top of my desk, and rubbed at my face with harsh jerks. “I’ve gone longer without. This is different.”
Bishop’s features scrunched until he let out a weighty sigh. “I’m almost afraid to ask…but what’s different? Those are the crown jewels, and they are needed for the kingdom. Can’t have them exploding or something.”
My eyes flew up to his, somewhat in dismay and shock. “Thatis exactly what it feels like they’re going to do.” I shook my head quickly andgrowledat him. “How the Fairy did you know that?”
“I spoke in jest!” Bishop’s eyes widened.
Isnarledunder my breath and shoved the writing pad I’d been studying before this meeting across the desk. “Well, this order isn’t a jest. I want you to look into this Caspian more.You.Not someone you hire. Read over the information Malid gave me. There’s an element we’re missing. I want to know who he really is to Princess Trixie, and that requires your particular brand of investigation.”
Bishop placed the writing pad inside his folder, while casting me a sardonic look. “Is this about jealousy?”
“Not entirely.” I rubbed at my face again and resituated my ass once more on my chair. “He works for their crown, but they’re too close. He treats her like…” I shook my head softly and stared over his shoulder, unable to articulate what was bothering me so about the elf. “I don’t know. But I don’t like it. He’s an unknown we should have identified a long time ago. Something’s off there.”
“Like your exploding balls?”
“Funny, real fucking funny.” Isnarledsoftly.
“I could have said—” Bishop’s mouth shut quickly when a knocking sounded at the door—no one was supposed to disturb us. He turned in his chair to look at the door, muttering, “This can’t be good.”
My attention locked on the entrance when my office door opened, and one of my guards stepped inside the room, bowing low at the waist. “Your Royal Highness, please accept my apologies for disturbing you. Princess Trixie is here and requesting an audience with you. Her Highness says it is urgent and can’t wait.”
I slowly lifted my black eyebrows on my head in surprise—and dread. “It is fine. Please let her in.” Bishop was right. This couldn’t be good if she was knocking on my kingdom’s front door during daylight instead of sneaking in at dark.
Princess Trixie walked into the room with her head held high and a satchel crossed over her finery, waiting to speak until the guard exited the room and closed the door. Her elven emerald eyes watched as Bishop and I both stood from our chairs, our confusion clear. Into the dead silence, it appeared an internal debate resounded in her head while she glanced back and forth between the two of us.
Again, something was awry. And not just the obvious.
“Princess Trixie, what are you doing here?” I asked quietly, moving around my desk slowly. Instinct kept my pace measured, as if she would startle easily. I pressed a hand to Bishop’s chest, making him take a step back. “Did King Traevon send you on business?”
Done with whatever internal dilemma she was having with herself, her chest heaved worryingly. She jerked her cautious regard away from Bishop, her eyes catching mine as she slumped against the door behind her. My soul mate grabbed at her lower stomach and slumped heavily to the floor, falling in a regal heap of finery and limbs.
