Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
Colbie
W hen I went to bed, only Brodie, Gryffin, and Nox were with me. Liam returned just before we turned out the light to let us know the others were going to be delayed. Gem was in the med wing, helping Sable and the healers with the children we rescued. They are going to have to be questioned, but we aren’t ready to push them yet. Hunter and Micah were going to join Titus and General Bryson with interrogating the prisoners.
I’m restless, and I don’t fall into a deep slumber until I hear the others return, their familiar scents filling my nostrils as they all climb quietly into my bed. I needed them all, needed to know they were safe before I could finally relax.
When I open my eyes the following morning, I’m all alone. I have no idea what time it is, but when I reach out to feel the sheets, they are cold. My mates have obviously been gone for a while. I frown and sit up, discovering a note on the bedside table.
Cookie, meet us in the conference room. We are gathering to discuss what we learned from the prisoners last night. There will be food. XOXO, your mates.
I feel a broad smile cross my lips for the first time since lunch yesterday. My mates think they are funny, trying to bribe me with food. I mean, it works, but I don’t want to encourage them too much.
I throw the covers back and make my way into the bathroom to take care of an insistent bladder. Looking over at the shower, I expect to see the mess left behind by us yesterday, but there isn’t a spot of blood or ruined clothes to be seen. Someone has been busy this morning, because I know it didn’t get done last night. How did they manage it without waking me? I was obviously completely exhausted not to hear it.
Once I pee, I wash my hands but don’t bother with a shower. I just run a brush through my hair and decide I’m good. I am not donning queen clothes today, and anyone who doesn’t like me in sweats can suck it.
I wander through the deserted hallways, pleased that I don’t have to speak to anyone right now. I bet my guys warned everyone to stay clear of our wing. When I get to the rest of the palace, though, it seems just as deserted. Maybe they gave the staff the day off. I can’t say I’m unhappy about it.
Although I’m still sad, I made peace with my mother’s death last night. I’m sad for the missed opportunity of being loved unconditionally by my father who I’m pretty sure would have been an amazing parent if he had been allowed to be a part of my life, but I had and will continue to have my grandparents in my life for years to come. Although I don’t believe they will choose to become shifters, they may surprise me. They aren’t too old, in their late fifties, as they had my mother when they were still very young, so they might make the change, and I won’t stop them if that’s what they choose. They would be extending their lifespan, so they would be able to be with me much longer.
When I reach the conference room doors, I can hear voices behind it but can’t make out exactly who is there. Taking a deep breath, I push the doors open, and all conversation stops as everyone looks at me. I find the usual cast of characters, the ones I have come to call family, waiting for me—Hunter’s and Griffin’s parents, as well as Gracelin, Adam, and Violet. Neither of Hunter’s siblings are here, but that’s fine, as neither of them are involved in the day-to-day running of the kingdom. Gretchin isn’t here either, but again, I hadn’t expected her to be since she so recently found her mate. The two unexpected guests are the Coldicotts, but it makes sense that the rest of my council members are here for this debriefing.
“Colbie!” The three queens, Gracelin, and Violet jump to their feet and swarm me, fussing and cooing and generally loving on me like it’s been months since they’ve seen me and not a matter of a day. They basically shepherd me into a seat, placing food and drink in front of me, then return to their own chairs. My mates watch on with amusement, sending me feel-good vibes through our bond.
“I’m fine,” I tell them before anyone else can say anything. “I’ve processed my trauma and tucked it away, and I am ready to focus on the future.”
Gem and Sable eye me skeptically, and I allow them that, but my words seem to reassure everyone else.
“We were just discussing what we learned from the prisoners we captured,” Lucas explains, looking more relaxed than he’s been since I met him. I guess having the pressure of his position removed has lifted a huge weight off his shoulders. I should know because that weight is now firmly on mine.
I pick up my fork and start eating, waving a hand for them to continue.
“The most important thing we learned is Tideman is not the mastermind,” Bryson announces, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers together.
I blink in surprise, the fork halfway to my mouth. “He’s not?”
“No, apparently he’s nothing more than a lackey. There were others involved, but the guards didn’t know their identities. They said there were five or six who would visit the facility regularly, but they wore masks and kept themselves covered with cloaks. They even had voice modulators so they would be harder to identify. One of the prisoners said he didn’t think they were all shifters, though, because he saw them do things no shifter, even a mythical, could do.” Titus sounds annoyed. “It makes sense, considering the wards surrounding the facility—no shifter could have set them—but we’re no closer to finding out who is involved than we were yesterday.”
“What about their plans? Were the prisoners able to tell you why they were trying to change all those humans?” Audrey Coldicott asks, leaning forward.
“Just that an army of warriors would be needed, and humans were easy cannon fodder. Once they are feral, they lose all inhibitions and are happy to kill indiscriminately,” Micah answers. “They had high hopes that they could use Malina to open the spell book to access the spell to fix the ferals, because she shared the same blood as Colbie.”
“But without the shifter queen magic, it isn’t possible to use the spell,” Mia argues.
“One of the prisoners said that the rumor floating around the complex was that maybe any one of the other kingdoms’ royals should be able to use the book, since they all have access to goddess magic.” Bryson looks disturbed at the idea, and once again, I stop eating.
“What do you know about the royals in the other kingdoms? Would any of them entertain this idea?” I ask Lucas, but it’s Titus who answers.
“As soon as I heard that, I reached out to my assassin brothers in the other kingdoms. The witch and fae royals are already in their transition phase, so the majority of their magic is in flux until their new queens can be crowned. As of yet, neither of them have been identified or presented themselves to the palaces. I informed my brothers to be wary of possible assassination attempts when the new queens become known.”
My heart skips a beat at the mention of my half-sisters. I haven’t even wrapped my head around that little nugget of information that my dad imparted on me. That was a future Colbie problem, but I guess future Colbie is now.
“And the vampire kingdom?” Evie asks, wrinkling her nose. “The king is an alright person, but his wives are fucking vicious. I don’t like them at all. He kind of lets them push him around. I think they are the true ruling faction in that kingdom.”
“But their sons are hot.” Gracelin fans her face, and Violet giggles, which lightens the atmosphere in the room.
Lucas scowls at his daughter, but she just shrugs. “What? They are. It’s a pity they are all so fangy and drink blood. I bet their breath smells rotten.” She mimes fangs with her front fingers in front of her lips, and Lucas shakes his head in exasperation.
“I don’t know, being bitten isn’t so bad,” I murmur absently, looking at Titus, and the room falls dead silent.
“I said that out loud, right?” I feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment as Nox chuckles and nods. “Crap! Ignore me and carry on.”
“I wasn’t able to get a hold of my brother in the vampire kingdom.” Titus is looking at me with a smirk. “But as far as I know, the transition phase hasn’t started there. They were supposed to have another year, I think.”
“But Aramis said her sister Eryx was going to change that. What about reaching out to the kingdom’s ambassador?” I suggest.
“Because we rushed your own crowning, there wasn’t time for the royals or their new representatives to arrive. We don’t know who they will be, and the previous vampire ambassador has gone radio silent,” Mia says, worry in her tone.
“And the prisoners couldn’t tell you why? They were shifters, right? What cause could be so profound that they would betray their nation for?” Emmett Coldicott asks.
“Money. They were guns for hire with no morals and were happy for an easy payday. They were too low on the totem pole to know why. They just followed orders and got paid.” Bryson sounds disgusted. “All three of them were rejected by the shifter army because none of them passed their mental evaluation. They were holding a grudge.”
A new set of concerns plagues me. The sisters I have only recently learned about are going to be in as much danger as I was until they can get their crowns. I only hope all of them are incorruptible. If this rogue faction can get their hands on one of them and turn them to their cause, then we will be in for a world of hurt.
The table falls silent as we all contemplate the possibilities. I wonder if we can send teams into each kingdom to help guard the new queens when they surface.
“We can’t interfere in other kingdoms’ politics.” It’s like Gryffin plucked the thought directly out of my head, and I give him a look of surprise.
“Did you read my mind?”
He chuckles. “No, I think I’m just starting to know you. I would want to do the same thing if my family was involved.”
I had given the guys permission to share Loki’s story with anyone they deemed relevant, so I’m guessing everyone at this table is considered such.
“For now, we are going to monitor the situation. Titus is in constant contact with his brothers, and your father has the rest of his assassin’s guild gathering information. There is nothing we can do until they surface once more, but I have a feeling when they do, it won’t be here in the shifter kingdom. They’ve blown their chance,” Bryson surmises.
“And my parents are going to continue their search, this time focusing on the Tideman family. General Bryson had soldiers grab some of their belongings from their abandoned rooms to make it easier for them to be tracked. If we can find them, hopefully we can get our hands on that book,” Nox tells me.
“What if he doesn’t have it? What if he gave it to whoever is in charge?” Liam asks, playing devil’s advocate, but Layla shakes her head.
“Vallen is a weasel. I bet he will hang on to the book and use it as leverage, because the minute he gives it up, he becomes dispensable.”
“That’s very true,” Evie agrees.
“So what now?” I ask, looking around the table.
Gem stands up. “Now, we let the rest of these people run the kingdom, because we are owed a honeymoon period.” All of my mates get to their feet, but I frown.
“As much as I want to, I can’t drop everything and let others deal with it because of a biological need to spend time with all of you. I would be failing my first few official days as queen,” I argue.
“Actually, you can. It is expected. It’s why the council is announced on the same day as the new royal is crowned. They take care of the kingdom during the royals’ honeymoon period, which is a biological need that can distract them from making smart choices.” Lucas smiles at me. “Go and enjoy your mates. All of this will be here when you return, but you only get to enjoy the new bond frenzy once.”
“Let me get this right. You are giving me time off to go fuck?” I ask bluntly, and he winces but inclines his head.
“Yes, although I would rather not think too hard about it.”
“Quick, let’s go before they change their mind.” Brodie grabs my hand and pulls me to my feet before dragging me out of the room.
“But my food… I haven’t eaten,” I complain half-heartedly.
“Trust me, we made sure to have plenty of food on hand where we’re going. You’re going to need every single bit of energy you can get,” Liam says behind me. Our bond suddenly blazes, and I feel my core clench and the need to clamp my legs together.
“Holy shit, what is that?” I mutter as my skin erupts in goosebumps and my nipples become rock hard.
“We all agreed to block the lustier side of our bond since we mated so you could focus on everything that needed to happen. We don’t have to do that anymore, and you are finally feeling what newly mated shifters feel,” Gryffin explains as we make our way through the palace to our living quarters.
“Micah made sure our wing was cleared of all staff this morning, telling them they couldn’t return until they were advised to do so, which means we are going to worship you like the queen you are,” Nox says, his voice husky with desire.
Hunter chuckles wickedly. “And no one will be around to hear you scream and beg.”
Although there is so much still up in the air and a lot we don’t know about the plot against us, it seems like it might not be restricted to a shifter thing. I think the next step involves me reaching out to my sisters once they are crowned, and for the four kingdoms as well as Chaos to work together.
None of that can happen immediately, though, so I am going to take a moment to breathe and enjoy my mates and my newfound status as shifter queen. The rest is a future Colbie problem, and now Colbie is very, very interested in exploring her mates’ attributes a little more thoroughly.
I snatch my hand out of Brodie’s and start to run, looking back at the surprised expressions on my mates’ faces. “What are you all waiting for? Last one to our room has to clean the toilet for the rest of the month.”
I giggle and run faster. I hear them shout as they begin to give chase.
“But we have staff for that,” Brodie says, sounding confused. I just laugh and don’t look back, a feeling of immense joy filling my chest. I never wanted the job, but it’s good to be queen.