My soul mate scowled deeply. “Do not scold me, King Traevon. You are overstepping your boundaries now.”
“I will not scold, when there is no reason to.” With his gaze steadfast on the Shifter King, he pointed hard in my direction. “That is my child. And I will yell at you anytime I wish if you are acting the fool with her.”
“Father.” I sighed heavily. “That is enough.”
“It is never enough.” He waved his right hand wildly in the air. “And one day, my daughter, you will fully understand what the bloody fuck I’m saying.” King Traevon’s eyes tracked back to my soul mate, and they narrowed ever so softly. “One more thing. You need to stop staring at her…womanly figure…when others are around. You are not subtle, so stop it.”
My eyes widened on my face.
I hadn’t known he was doing that.
King Athon chuckled deeply—a bit meanly. “Iamvery subtle. You are only looking too closely now.”
“Well, she will be in her swimwear soon.” King Traevon flashed his fangs. “Keep your eyes elsewhere for everyone’s well-being.”
“All right.” I cleared my throat harshly. “It is time for you both to leave, so that I may finish packing.”
“Quite so. That is the reason I came here. Queen Alora said we will be meeting in thirty minutes.” Father turned his body and lifted his hand grandly to the door. “After you, King Athon.”
My soul matesnarledat him and then stalked toward the door. As a parting shot, he glanced over his shoulder, stating, “Your soul-mated anniversary gift I got you? That was actually mine, given to you by mistake. Your daughter stole it back for me.” The door slammed shut behind him.
With his attention hard on the closed door, Father’s chest rose with a deep breath. “I…am going to pretend I did not hear that last comment.” He walked on stiff legs out of my room.
I rubbed at my forehead and turned back to my work.
They were never going to play nice together.
* * *
I saton the couch I’d awoken on and placed my satchel on my lap. “What is the plan?Dowe have a plan? Because I don’t even know exactly what a kraken is, except for what Grandmother Isabella told me.”
As one, the rulers jerked their faces toward me.
King Traevon blinked and asked extremely slowly, “Trixie, what did my mother tell you about them?”
I scratched at my chin and grumbled, “They’re massive. They like to sleep a long time. They can look like a rock. And if they get angry they are deadly.”
King Elon started laughing in his slithering tone.
“This information would have eased many worries hours ago,” Queen Mikko stated softly and peered off to the side. “It is a good thing that Queen Alora is not like her original.”
I stared for a moment until it occurred to me what she meant. “Oh. Mayhap, I should have told you that. I thought you knew.”
Queen Alora would be able to use her royal aurapower to soothe the Fae. If the Fae wasn’tangry, he wasn’tdeadly. That took care of one problem—hopefully.
King Athon rubbed his hands briskly over his face. “Princess Trixie, in the future, do not assume that we know what your grandmother told you…in private.”
“Yes, yes.” I waved absently. “I have seen the error of my ways.”
“This time.” Queen Alora sardonically lifted a brow—cheeks still flushed with the growing urge. Then she turned her regard to the other rulers. “I will use my power to keep the kraken contained. If it’s a massive Fae, then King Athon will be needed to relocate it. Queen Mikko, will you be able to move the sand to find the remains?”
The Caster Queen nodded soundly. “Of course.”
“All right.” Queen Alora clapped her hands. “I believe we do have a plan now.”
I cleared my throat. Loudly. “Other than a rock, what does a kraken look like so that we might be watchful for it?”
Every ruler glanced at one another.
