Page 10 of The Shattered Kingdom (The Cursed Kingdom #2)

“What are you doing?” It’s Mason who asks the question.

I’d also like to know what Kie thinks he’s doing. I expected them to get angry with Lill and force us to leave, not join us. I would’ve never agreed if I had known this was how her half-cocked experiment would turn out.

“I’m joining our guests in the bathing pool,” Kie says through clenched teeth. “Get. In.”

Mason shakes his head. “No.”

I love it when Kie and Mason argue, and I settle into the water as their explosive anger unfolds. I hope it’s dramatic.

“Get in, Mace. They’re already here and forcing them out will draw attention.”

Mason shifts his weight from foot to foot. “I don’t want to.”

My lips twitch. He sounds like a pouting child.

“Very well,” Kie finally says. “You can stand there and watch.”

Kie’s trying to poke at Mason’s jealousy, but I can’t tell if it’s going to work. It doesn’t seem likely. Mason is pissed, but his anger doesn’t scream, ‘I’m angry my naked mate is in a public bathing pool with Kieran.’

My observation appears incorrect, though, as Mason glances between Lill and me one final time and stomps out of the room. He returns a minute later, and I avert my gaze as he slips into the water between me and Lill. He keeps a safe distance between the two of us.

I tilt my chin up, staring at the ceiling. This is awful, and I count the seconds until it’s over. I’d dunk my head under the water if Kie and Mason’s exposed balls weren’t currently soaking in it.

Lill clears her throat. “Have either of you ever been inside the baths?”

“No.” Kie and Mason speak at the same time, but Kie is the one who elaborates. “It’s untraditional, and noblewomen can be opportunistic.”

The water comes to the tops of my shoulders but ends at the center of Kie’s and Mason’s torsos.

Both men are muscular, with broad shoulders and strong arms. Kie’s frame is leaner, like maybe he was a runner at some point.

Mason’s bulky, which I suppose fits. He very literally turns into a wild animal.

Kie leans back and spreads his arms along the pool edge. His bicep is dangerously close to the back of Lill’s head, his fingers ending near Mason’s face. The shifter adjusts, moving farther away from the faerie. It brings him closer to me, so I stretch out my leg.

It has the intended effect. Mason jolts, darting away when my toe gets within a foot of where I assume his thigh to be. I want my space.

“Abby,” Lill lightly scolds.

I won’t apologize.

The action draws Kie’s full attention, though. He meets my gaze before darting lower, the motion so quick, I wouldn’t have noticed if I weren’t watching. I know he and Mason can see through the water, and I hug my knees closer to my chest.

I’d say something about him keeping his eyes to himself if it wouldn’t make things weird with Lill. Kie’s her mate, and I’m not going to make snide comments about Kie trying to look at my bare body in front of her. That’s wildly uncomfortable.

Kie finally looks away, his eyes squeezing shut. “And it begins.”

And what begins ?

Two women enter the bathhouse, their voices echoing off the stone walls. They’re naked, which isn’t surprising. Faerie women are tall and lithe, like they spend hours a day in a Pilates studio. It’s bullshit.

They look around the room, and matching smiles spread over their lips as they spot Kie and Mason.

“Your Highnesses,” the woman on the left says.

I faintly remember her from yesterday. She was reporting Kie’s whereabouts to Queen Gitta, and she wore a red dress.

I think her name is Jackie. Her hair is tied up at the nape of her neck, probably to keep it from getting wet, and she bows politely toward Kie and Mason before stepping into the pool.

She submerges herself to the neck before standing so her entire upper body is exposed. Water drips down her chest and waist, and I fight the urge to look away. The faeries are comfortable with nudity, and I don’t want them knowing I’m uncomfortable.

Jackie faces Kie, and I exchange a look with Lill. Is she getting the same energy from the woman? Jackie hasn’t done anything wrong, at least not outwardly, but I’m no fool. I know when a woman is attempting to stake a claim on a male, and Jackie is attempting to do so with Kie.

Jackie gestures toward Lill. “Who’s this?”

She ignores me, which is to be expected. I’m a safe distance from the princes, but Kie’s bicep is almost touching Lill. Kie makes no attempts to move it.

“This is Lillian,” he says. “And that’s Abby.”

I guess I appreciate the introduction, but I’m happy fading into the background.

“Lillian,” Jackie repeats. “How nice to meet you. I’m Jacqueline Rowe .”

She overemphasizes her last name. I’m unimpressed. If Lill notices, she doesn’t let it show.

Lill offers a smile. “I’m aware. It’s nice to meet you.”

I sink low into the water, waiting for Jackie to ask about the relationship between Kie, Mason, and Lill.

She turns toward me instead. She looks down, openly scanning my body beneath the water.

It takes everything in me not to react. I may not look like the faerie women, but I won’t be made to feel ashamed of myself.

I lift my chin as the corners of her lips twitch. She’s laughing at me. I’m horrified.

There’s a splash of water. Kie.

Four women step into the room, momentarily capturing my attention. They look around just as Jackie and her friend did, and they perk up the same way when they spot Kie and Mason. It almost makes me feel bad for the princes. They’re treated like broodmares.

I’m sure they use that to their advantage, though. It’s not an accident that there’s a drawer full of condoms in their spare bedroom.

“That’s enough, Jackie,” Kie orders. “Take your seat.”

Jackie’s face turns red. The faerie prince is taking a human’s side over hers. That must hurt.

“I’m only looking to meet the human who—”

The water shifts again.

“Sit.” Mason’s voice is lower than I’ve ever heard it. “Now.”

Jackie’s chest heaves, and she works her jaw side to side as she looks between me, Kie, and Mason. I’m surprised she’s even debating continuing to argue. She must not know what Mason looks like in his animal form. If he ever used that voice on me, I’d be petrified.

Jackie’s gaze travels back down my torso.

“Why does she—”

There’s a flurry of movement as Lill storms past me at a speed I’ve never seen from her before. Jackie looks just about as surprised as I feel, and within a second, she’s being bent in half and her head held under the water.

“Laugh at her again,” Lill spits. “Do it.”

Water splashes as Jackie tries to rip Lill’s hands off her, but Lill somehow manages to maintain her grip. Jackie’s friend is of no help as she scampers back against the pool wall.

Mason laughs, because he’s a maniac, and Kie runs his hands down his face.

“Enough!” Kie’s voice bounces off the walls, and Lill takes that as her cue to release Jackie and step back. “We’re leaving.”

He exits the pool in one swift movement, and Mason doesn’t hesitate to follow. You’d think the water were burning the shifter alive with how quickly he climbs out. I remain where I am.

Mason turns toward me. “Come.”

His dick is out for the entire world to see, and I cringe at the sight of it. He’s soft, thank fucking god, but it’s at eye level and a little modesty would go a long way. I must admit I grudgingly respect his size, though, and I feel a tang of pity for Lill. That’s going to be painful.

“In a second,” I say.

My naked body was just publicly mocked, and I need a moment to collect myself and work up the courage to climb out of this pool. Everybody will see me, and I’m not prepared for that.

Mason hovers beside me, waiting for me to get out, and I avoid eye contact as I flick water at his feet. He’s got surprisingly nice feet, and I wonder if he maintains his toenails himself or if there’s a faerie who does it for him.

Mason crouches, bringing his soft penis even closer to my face.

I pointedly avoid looking at it.

“Do you mind?” I hiss .

Mason smiles. He knows exactly what I’m talking about.

“Why should I?” he asks. “Get out of the fucking pool before I drag you out myself.”

He won’t. If there’s anything I’m certain of, it’s that he’s not going to touch me. He’ll barely even touch Lill, and she’s his mate. I’m prepared to call his bluff when Lill walks over with a towel.

Mason frowns. “Oh.”

Lill can read my fucking mind, and I climb out of the pool and wrap myself in the towel with more speed and grace than I thought possible. Kie waits by the exit, and I brush past him and into the changing room.

“Stay here,” Lill says from behind me. “Give us a minute to change first.”

They listen, thank the fucking heavens, and I yank on my dress before waiting outside the building with Lill.

“I want to go home,” I admit. “This place sucks.”

Lill opens her mouth, then snaps it shut with a quiet click. “Of course. You should ask Kie to bring you home. I doubt he’ll force you to remain here.”

Kie and Mason emerge from the bathhouse, and I fall silent. If they heard our conversation, they don’t address it. They also don’t address our interaction with Jackie.

Mason shoots Lill and me a venomous glare instead. He’s pissed.

“Never again,” he hisses. “I have spent thirty years of my life avoiding public bathing houses, and you will never force me to enter one again.”

I roll my eyes. “Nobody forced you to get in. Stop being such a drama queen. It’s unattractive.” I shove past the shifter, my shoulder slamming against his. “Move.”

Kie snorts, and I only make it two steps before a hand is pressing into my spine and pushing me forward. I stumble, but the push isn’t hard enough to completely topple me over. I know immediately that the shifter is to blame.

Lill gasps. “Mason!”

I knew it. I spin around, my budding anger growing as I lock eyes with the smirking shifter.

“Don’t push me!”

Mason blinks, not looking the least bit apologetic. I may have technically pushed him first, but I’m half his size and he didn’t even stumble. I almost ate shit.

“Don’t be such a drama queen, Abby,” he taunts. “It’s unattractive.”

I grind my teeth, mentally picturing his death as he saunters past me, taking the lead. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.