Chapter Eleven #2
“I do, and I happened to run into King Lucas and the general as they were heading back to the barracks to check on everyone. They explained the situation and sent me this way.” He absently rubs a spot above his heart, which I’m assuming is where his new mark is.
He shakes his head. “I can’t believe I was marked.
I’m forty years old, so I’d given up on being marked for a mate or bond group years ago and was focused on serving my kingdom, despite my community’s reluctance to get involved in shifter affairs. ”
“Well, we can’t really blame them.” Gryff winces.
“It isn’t like the shifter nation has given you anything to fight for, but we think that’s going to be different.
Colbie is going to bridge the gap my parents were unable to.
” He beams at me with pride, and I shift uncomfortably.
Everyone has so much faith in me, but I have my doubts.
Until recently, I was happy with my lot in life and determined to find a small amount of joy in my career and make new friends.
Everything has changed. I’ve made new friends, but that came with a life completely removed from what I planned.
“What are you?” I ask bluntly, giving up on all attempts to be subtle.
So much is up in the air, I think the least I deserve is to know what each of my mates shift into.
“Actually, can you all share with me what you are? I know that Gryff is a tiger and Hunter is a dragon, and you told me you’re a phoenix, Gem, but what are you?
” I look at Brodie and Liam before switching back to Micah.
I know it’s not polite to ask, but I figure since we’re mates, I deserve to know.
Micah is still gazing at me, half bewildered and half amazed, like he can’t believe what’s happened, but then he frowns and his eyes take on a look of distrust. “I’m a mer,” he announces like he’s bracing for a reaction.
“Like a mermaid?” I ask carefully, desperately trying to control the squeal inside me that wants to break free.
“Well, merperson or merpeople are the proper terms, but yeah. Is that a problem?” He crosses his arms defensively, and I bounce up and down on my chair in glee and clap my hands.
“Do you have a tail and everything?” I ask, unable to control my excitement anymore.
The distrust in his eyes fades, and he looks at me in wonder. “Uh, yeah, I do.”
“And gills and you can breathe underwater?”
He starts to chuckle. “Yup, that’s usually how it works. It would be pretty bad if we couldn’t breathe underwater.”
“Oh my god, that’s amazing!” I turn to the others. “Do we have a pool so we can go swimming and he can show us?” I feel like a kid whose dreams have come true. I was obsessed with mermaid books when I was a tween.
“Huh?” Micah shakes his head with amazement. “She doesn’t care,” he mutters.
“Shit, man, neither do we. You’ll find that none of us are like those assholes who made you feel worthless.
King Lucas and his queens have been trying to stamp out that ridiculous prejudice against humanoid shifters for years,” Hunter tells him.
“No one in the service gives you a hard time, do they?”
“No, but General Bryson doesn’t tolerate any of that crap. Anyone who did have issues was dishonorably discharged.”
“That was due to my dad’s orders,” Gryff replies.
“The problem is the voices of the few with issues are basically louder than anyone else’s.
Most of us animal shifters don’t give a shit, and our new queen comes with an even blanker slate.
Look at her, does she seem disappointed that you’re a mer?
” Brodie is laughing. “Hell, I don’t want to tell her what I am now.
I bet she’ll be nowhere near as excited. ”
“What are you? Hang on, let me guess.” I study Brodie, and if I had to guess, I would put him as a golden retriever.
He has happy-go-lucky energy, but I know there are no domesticated animal shifters.
“I bet you’re a wolf. I can practically see your tail wagging,” I tease him, and he beams at me, though I remember one of the queens something earlier.
“Yup, you guessed it. Aren’t you a clever girl?” He winks at me, and I can’t help but feel proud of myself and a little turned on by his words of praise, so I turn my attention to Liam in the hope nobody notices it.
“Well, darling, are you going to take a guess at what I am?” He smirks at me, and I smirk right back, deciding I’m going to give him shit.
“Hmm, I know monkeys are especially promiscuous, so I’m going to go with a chimpanzee or maybe a gorilla.”
His mouth drops open in shock, and the rest of the guys burst into laughter at his reaction.
“You think I’m a fucking monkey?” He sounds hurt, and I shrug.
“Well, you all admitted to being manwhores, and they said you were the worst.”
“Oh, so you’re coming to us as a lily white virgin, are you?” He arches an eyebrow and folds his arms across his chest defensively. I feel a little guilty.
“No, but I haven’t had many past relationships.
Being a baker is not very family friendly, and the ones I have been with all wanted me to change.
I like who I am and don’t feel like I have to change to fit someone else,” I admit, and I see his anger soften.
Liam is so bristly on the outside, but there’s an inner softness that occasionally breaks through.
“To be honest, this scares the crap out of me. We’re fated, but what if you don’t actually like the person I am?
What if we’re mated, and we all end up completely miserable?
I mean, you five have been together for years, but Micah and I are going to change that dynamic.
What if it doesn’t work and we end up fractured instead? ”
All of my fears come writhing to the surface, and instead of bottling them up, I share them. Hunter did say communication was the key to a healthy and happy bond group.
Liam jumps up, comes around, and takes my hand, pulling me out of my chair.
He turns me to face him and cups my cheek, his eyes locked on mine.
“Trust in the goddess. Things may be a little rocky while we all adjust to this, but I have no doubt that it’s going to be amazing.
” He presses a kiss to my forehead, and I hear someone sigh.
“Well, who the fuck knew he had it in him to be romantic?” Gem mutters to Gryffin.
“His bear has been pushing him for a mate for a long time. It’s no wonder he’s all in,” the prince replies.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m starving. How about we eat up so we can get to the shifting part of the program? I’m dying to see Colbie’s creatures again,” Brodie suggests, and Liam pulls away, but I grab his hand, and he faces me again.
“So what are you?” I ask, realizing I never got an answer to my question.
“Polar bear,” he replies and growls at me, a deep rumble that comes from his chest. “And he’s dying to meet you.
” I let him return to his seat and fan my face, trying to cool down.
Holy crap, a polar bear. I’m pretty sure they eat people.
Or are those grizzlies? I’m not sure, but sign me up for Liam eating me, I’m just not sure about his bear.
My creature is waiting to be let out so she can play with her mates, but I know for sure that’s not a good idea.
She’s so much bigger than all of them, except maybe Hunter’s dragon. They are similar in size.
“What are you, if you don’t mind me asking? It seems fair.” Micah smirks at me, dragging my attention away from the bad boy shifter.
I return to my seat and wink at him. “How about I surprise you?”
“Let’s go to the waterfall, and then Micah can be there to help Colbie in the water.
Your creature might enjoy a swim,” Hunter suggests, and I widen my eyes in surprise.
Do hydras like water? Shit, I know nothing about the creature I house.
Maybe I need to go to the archives and ask Sable for some help. Another thing to add to my to-do list.
“You’re a water creature?” Micah sounds surprised. “There aren’t many water shifters. There are a few krakens, sharks, and whales, so are you one of them?”
Brodie laughs and slaps a hand on the table. “Man, you have no idea. You are going to lose your shit, I can promise you that.”