“Shit.” I jerked away from him but grabbed his right hand and started leading him quickly toward the back of my home. “I’ll introduce you later. Unfortunately, I’m late as it is now.”
Shoving the huge shifter out of the short door made for small elves was a bit of a struggle. But with some finagling and sideways maneuvering, I managed to push him through right as my front door opened. I slipped outside and shut the door silently, locking it behind me.
Then I tried not to laugh at the disgruntled expression plastered on the shifter’s face. I shrugged and mumbled, “I can’t help it if your shifter bones are too big for a doorway.”
He snarled softly. “It’s called muscle.”
“That too.” I started walking casually, only moving faster when the shifter finally began traveling with me. I glanced up at his face and back down, with my brows dragging together. “Princess Trixie doesn’t know that I’m not her true kin. I would appreciate it if you kept that to yourself for a while.”
“Done.” Bishop stuffed his hands into his pockets, his longer legs ambling in a casual gait—while I walked much faster. “I must say, though, if she’s known you as her cousin for her entire life, she won’t give a damn that you’re not blood.”
“I know this…but I wish to tell her when it’s appropriate.” I sighed and glanced to the side, watching the tall, white flowers sway side to side in a darting breeze. “Sheismy family, and I don’t want her hurt by someone else telling her the truth.” I suddenly chuckled at the thought. “Actually, she’d probably kill the poor bastard in the name of my honor.”
“I could see her doing that,” Bishop murmured slowly, humor lighting his tone. “Let me tell you about the first time she snuck into the Shifter Kingdom…”
I listened with a close ear as he explained the ruckus my cousin had caused in her foolhardy plan to learn more about her own soul mate…but my attention snagged on a shadow in the distance. I squinted at it, thinking it was possibly black fur.
Cocking my head, I pointed at the eerie form and looked up at him, interrupting his tale and asking quietly, “Do you see that up there?”
Bishop snapped his mouth shut at my tone, jerking his attention to where I indicated. He narrowed his eyes, sweeping left to right in confusion. “What did you see, elf?”
I stared in puzzlement, also peering all around, trying to find the shadow I had noticed. Except…it was completely gone.
Shaking my head, I muttered, “Apparently nothing. My eyes must be playing tricks on me. Itwasa stressful day yesterday.”
Bishop grunted.
Creep of a shifter:
I thought I was bad.
And…I am.
That is not a lie.
But there’s always something worse out there.
“Ineed to check in with Marlon first to see how he’s faring today.” Caspian removed his hooded cloak and handed it off to a silent servant, who was covertly eyeing me with suspicion. “Can you stay out of trouble until I’m done meeting with him?”
He and I stood inside the grand entrance of King Traevon’s castle, a secure location I would not typically enter unless I was with my own king—usually, there would be much sneaking to be had if I needed to pass through the rounded, royal front doors. Standing here out in the open in clear view of the elven folk, without the protection of my king, was a new experience.
I scratched at my whiskered jaw, wishing I was home in my kingdom, and peered around at the freakish elven eyes peeking from corners and above from the balustrade, all intent and distrustful of the dangerous shifter invading their safe space.
As they should be.
Clearing my throat, I kept my voice low as I rumbled, “Mayhap there is a study I could wait in?”
At the warning tone in my voice, the elf—my Fae fucking soul mate—scanned our surroundings as I was, his chilling dark blue eyes quieting as he noticed the busy-bodied servants and royal guards watching me with hostility.
He sighed and muttered under his breath, “I should have expected this.” Then he waved his hand in my direction, indicating I should follow him, and began a slinking march through the hallways. “There’s a gaming room where you can wait until I’m done. It’s discreet, and no one will bother you while you’re there.”
I snorted and followed along, my gaze snagging on his rounded ass covered in soft leather. It was…a beautiful ass. Even if it was attached to an elf.
I grumbled dryly, “How many guards do you plan to put outside the door to ensure I stay put?”
The elf coughed in his fist. “Enough.”
“That is what I thought.” I cracked my neck side to side andgrowledsoftly. “I suppose that’s better than them breathing down my neck.”
