Father merely pointed at me. “Quite so.”
* * *
Bishop flaredhis nostrils and stiffened on his chair, lifting his eyes to me in a silent warning. His fork was halfway up to his mouth, frozen in place—and two empty plates already to the side of him, his third newly refreshed.
My gaze slid to the doorway.
Father patted his lips with his red napery and placed it on his lone empty plate, also turning his attention to where I had.
Then my king stepped into the room.
It went…very quiet in an instant.
“King Traevon, it’s good to see you back in the realm,” Father said grandly—and didn’t comment on the ash covering our king’s red hair. Nor did he comment on the dirt smudges on his left cheek or the rucked-up mess that was his finery. Instead, Father gestured to the table before us and my two empty plates and refreshed third. “Would you like to join us and tell us about your travels?”
King Traevon stared without blinking. “What in the Fae fuck has happened now? Whatelsedo I need to fix?” A quick finger flick at the shifter at our table. “And start with why Bishop Marzel is in the Elf Kingdom, at my dining room table—in the middle of the night—supping on my cook’s fine fare.”
Marlon rested back on his chair and linked his fingers together over his stomach. “The punisher has come.”
The King of Elves tensed brutally. “When?”
“Today.” Father shook his head slowly. “It is not for whom you are worried about.”
Marlon swallowed deeply and didn’t look away from our king—letting me know he’d somehow figured out the truth of King Athon and Princess Trixie as well. Perhaps Ruiuen had told him as much many moons ago.
His words were quiet—respectful. “I need your help. The punisher has come for my son.”
King Traevon’s red brows snapped together—at the entreaty in my father’s voice. It may have been the first time he’d ever heard it. His lips thinned severely as his emerald gaze gradually turned in my direction.
He asked softly, “What have you done, Caspian?”
I lowered my eating utensils at the same time my soul mate lowered his. I inhaled a heavy breath, my chest lifting and sinking with the action, and then I looked directly into my king’s eyes.
I stated bluntly, “The Fae have screwed us yet again. By their laws, this should not keep happening, but Bishop and I were hit with the urge.” I clenched my jaws and added, “We are soul mates.”
The King of Elves gazed into my eyes, looking deeply and quietly, while that crazy intelligent mind whirled with the news.
He blinked once. Twice.
Then he stated simply, “I think I will eat. I’m rather famished.” He sauntered into the room like he wasn’t exhausted from his trip to Fairy and sat down in his chair at the head of the table with regal aplomb. He turned his attention to the shifter at the table while I hurriedly made a plate for the man who would help to save our lives. King Traevon said, “Bishop, your king is well. He’s currently looking over my heir.”
Bishop sighed almost inaudibly—but the relief was there. Though, his eyes did narrow somewhat. “Why does your heir need looking after?”
“Princess Trixie is sleeping.” King Traevon’s forehead wrinkled deeply as he stared at the table. “We are hopeful she wakes soon.”
My face slowly turned in his direction. “You are…hopeful?”
What in the realm was wrong with my cousin? Who in the Fae fuck did I need to kill?
“It is complicated. As you will see soon enough.” My king cracked his neck and took the plate I handed him, staring down at the food for a long, difficult moment. Then his emerald eyes speared mine. “Tell me more of this punisher. I need to know what I’m to face, if you wish to remain alive.” He lifted a red brow smartly, giving me a pointed look. “Youdowish to remain alive, correct? I may have given my word long ago, never to harm, but, for you, I can take care of that problem now.”
Fucking Fae. “No one is killing my soul mate.” I sighed harshly and rubbed my forehead with brutal fingers. “I’m going to get a complex with everyone asking me in the sweetest ways.”
Bishop snorted softly, his honey-brown eyes twinkling in my direction. He stated dryly, “They love you. You should feel honored.”
“I’d feel much more honored if everyone stopped offering to put you out of your misery,” I griped unrepentantly. I swung my gaze back to my king. “So, about the punisher…”
King Traevon’s lips twitched, but he listened closely as I explained what the Fae was capable of and his actions today. Then, I explained why we would need him—or King Athon. When I was done, I waited patiently for him to come to the only inevitable conclusion.
