CHAPTER FIVE
Confession of a king:
Fear is such a splendor to behold in an enemy. All I do is walk into a room, and they cower. With their ugly ears pointed to the ceiling and their regal chins aimed at the floor, they might as well be giving out directions to the light Fae and the dark Fae.
The air of civility I don to appease them is an annoyance. I’d much rather shift into my fur and show them the true savage that I am.
However, then I’d have to smell the shit in their drawers.
AXEL’S WHITE HOOVES clopped on the cobblestone street in front of King Traevon’s castle, coming to a stop from all the congestion slowing my procession. Guards dressed in their finest bold orange uniforms surrounded Bishop and me, where I sat atop my Fae-gift, and Bishop walked at a sedate pace next to me. Carriages traveling from everywhere within the Elf Kingdom lined the curving road behind us. Influential attendees from the different kingdoms followed them while the various rulers and their entourages arrived before us. The elven guards at the gates were holding up the line, searching King Elon’s group with brutal intensity.
Bishop tilted to the side, peering between my guards. He shook his head and snorted. “Of course, it’s the gorgon king causing issues in the Elf Kingdom. Do you think he brought poison for King Traevon’s gift?”
I grunted and patted Axel’s black neck, lest my Fae-gift fall asleep in this tediousness. But I instantly pulled my hand back and rubbed at my chest, my damned soul mate currently giving me problems, her emotions churning too high inside my Fae-spark. I stated absently, “Let us hope he didn’t.”
Honey-brown eyes flashed up to my perch and narrowed. “Why do you say that? With King Traevon eliminated, no one would rival your power level.”
With a clear expression, I stared at him.
He leaned forward, probing quietly, “What is it you’re not telling me? Something is afoot. I do have eyes, and my vision is excellent, Your Royal Highness.”
Indeed. My friend was extremely intelligent.
But that didn’t mean he was privy to all royal matters.
I simply shrugged a shoulder and peered forward again, my lips tipping up at the edges when the line to the castle stirred again—the issue with King Elon resolved by the elven guards.
“All right.” Bishop snarled in my direction, keeping pace next to me when our congregation started moving once more. “I will wait for you to tell me, my king.”
I chuckled softly, tiredly. “Rest in the fact that you don’t know.”
Bishop stayed thoughtfully silent while the guards in red searched our group, and during our entire walk to the front of the castle. Only when I jumped down from Axel’s back—trusting my Fae-gift’s care to a reliable stablehand—did he turn a scowl on me, muttering, “Now I am worried. That is not restful. Does it have to do with the Fae who have become a nuisance in the kingdoms? Or those mysterious artifacts that the Misfits have you searching for?”
My lips twitched. He was far too clever for his own well-being…unless it had to do with my welfare. Then he could be as shrewd as he wished to be to prevent a knife from stabbing me in the back.
I stated firmly, “I will say no more on this issue.”
He brushed his hands down his bold orange uniform in aggravation, as my guards parted to allow us the space to walk up to the opened front doors of King Traevon’s castle. He turned that frown on the golden glow shining from inside, lighting up the night. “We can stay out here all night. You are the King of Shifters. You can do as you—”
“We have a fucking party to attend,” I growled, cutting him off. I stomped up the stairs, rubbing at my chest once more in irritation. “Let us be done with this Fae damned bother.”
Bishop sighed and followed directly behind me, grumbling under his breath, “I really wouldn’t mind staying outside. I despise these parties, too. The elves dance like they fight—as if they’re standing on clouds or floating in water. The way they move rubs me wrong.”
I turned my head to the side, whispering over my shoulder, “At least you don’t have to dance. I will have to. Quit bitching.”
“Says the feline,” he snarked softly. “You like dancing, my king—and you look good while doing it.”
“Not with elves. I cannot stand twirling about with them.” I flashed my fangs over my shoulder. “This night is already horrible enough. Just watch my Fae damned back, and quit complaining.”
My friend instantly quieted and nodded curtly, his keen eyes finally roving over the crowd to do as he needed to—protect me. “Apologies, Your Royal Highness. You know I am a horrible dancer, and I am anxious someone will ask me at a party like this.”
“Avoid all shifters. Problem solved.”
I turned my attention back to the front doors—the rounded doors were at least made for a royal castle’s entrance, large and imposing, so I didn’t have to duck when I entered. I headed straight for the wine, lifting a flute off a shaking servant’s tray, each delicate glass wobbling as she blinked in a fearful daze at my person. I curled my top lip in abhorrence and turned back to face my companion—knowing a few of my other guards were slipping inside a certain empty castle through windows.
I sipped at the wine and rubbed at my chest again—Princess Trixie was extremely nervous, tediously so. It was a distraction I didn’t need right now. I snarled, “At least it’s the wine from our kingdom.” I took another heady gulp.
Bishop snickered softly, still vigilant in his duty. Elves were starting to swarm inside like bees, their disturbing eyes darting everywhere—and quickly skidding away from mine in fright. He remarked, “I won’t be drinking tonight. Have one for me.”
I believe I will.
I finished the glass and took another from the shaking tray.
A guard attired in red dipped low before me, in a deep bow. I wanted to reach out and slice his pointed ears off…but I behaved. From his lowered position, he requested, “If you will follow me, Your Royal Highness? I have been instructed to show you to the ballroom.”
I took a smaller sip from my new wine flute, staring down at the back of his head where he stared at the spotless floor, steady and calm. This elf held no fear of me—stupid. “The other rulers are already meeting?” They were nowhere in sight.
“They are, Your Royal Highness. My king and his soul mate will be making their appearance shortly.”
The entrance was getting too full for my liking anyway. I tapped the top of his head with the bottom of my flute. “You may rise.”
The elf straightened. A small spark of terror flittered in his eyes before he could hide it. Perhaps he wasn’t utterly foolish. His voice was unruffled, though, as he stated easily, “Follow me, Your Royal Highness.”
Bishop and I trailed behind him, weaving between elves who sputtered and jumped out of our way when they detected us.
With my wine flute dangling down by my side, I chuckled maliciously, lifting one eyebrow at a woman who appeared close to fainting. “So fucking easy.”
“They may look like prey right now, but don’t kill any of them tonight,” Bishop warned gently.
The guard’s shoulders tensed in front of us, but he didn’t comment as he led us down a maze of hallways.