Page 12 of The Shattered Kingdom (The Cursed Kingdom #2)

MASON

KIE’S AN IDIOT. Getting him to hand over Abby’s underwear was almost too easy. I’ve never been jealous of the faeries, but I’m admittedly upset I can’t manipulate portals. I’d love to go to Abby’s home and look through her things.

It’s not fair that Kie got to do so and I haven’t.

“It’s a gross invasion of Abby’s privacy.” I can’t believe he fell for that. I don’t care about Abby’s privacy. Just a few days ago, she stabbed me in the stomach. I could’ve died .

My pace is fast as I shove open the door to my bedroom, letting it slam behind me.

I can count on one hand the number of personal items I own.

It’s never been something I’ve cared much about, but Abby’s underwear is most definitely being added to the list. I just need to store them somewhere Kie won’t find them.

I’d like to believe he doesn’t look through my things, but you can never be too certain. I’m sure he thinks I give him privacy, but I have no issues searching his room and office whenever I suspect he’s hiding something.

I run my fingers over the red lace, then pull off my gloves so I can touch them with my bare hands. They’re clean, which isn’t surprising. Kie may be hoarding Abby’s possessions, but he’d never steal her dirty underwear. It would be too far, too invasive.

Even I wouldn’t do that.

Clean underwear is different, though. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.

The lace is rough, nothing like what women here wear.

I should hate it, but I find myself entranced by the cheap material.

Is Abby poor? I’ve never considered the possibility.

The quality of her underwear suggests that she just might be.

We can’t send her back to the human realm if that’s the case. Has she ever gone hungry? Does she struggle to meet her basic necessities? Sending her back into that situation is not an option I’m willing to consider.

I’ll discuss the matter with Kie later, once things have settled. It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that I’ll be crowned king tomorrow, not that I’ve had much time to think about it. Abby and Lilly have been keeping me busy.

I should return to them soon.

I don’t like leaving the human alone with Lilly, and if it weren’t for the faerie’s aggressive actions toward Jackie yesterday, I’d never consider doing so. I want to kill Jackie for laughing at Abby. I was so pleased to finally glimpse Abby’s bare skin, but the memory has been tainted.

The human’s shoulders rolled forward as Jackie mocked her, and I just knew she felt humiliated.

I was moments away from stepping in during the exchange, but it’s best that Lilly took the initiative to defend Abby. There wasn’t time for me to cover myself, and word would’ve spread that I touched Jackie’s bare skin while drowning her.

Although I suppose it doesn’t matter as much anymore. The faeries heavily suspect that Lilly is our mate, so touching another woman isn’t quite as scandalous. There’s no risk of igniting a bond, everyone would think. Only I know there actually is, if our real mate is out there somewhere .

I liked how Lilly held Jackie’s head under the water. Lilly’s a dirty fucking liar, but I don’t think she’s going to hurt Abby. She seemed genuine in her anger.

I’ll give her and Abby a few minutes of privacy.

I have business to attend to. My gaze flickers around my bedroom, from my freshly made bedsheets to the wardrobe pushed up against the left wall. I pace the length of my room, my feet pounding against the ground. I could hide the underwear in my desk, but that’s the first place Kie would look.

I drag my thumb over the lace, searching for an adequate hiding spot.

Has Abby worn these for another man? I’ll kill him.

I groan. “Fuck!” What am I doing?

Something clatters, and I freeze as I snap my head toward my ensuite bathroom. Somebody’s in there, and I’m willing to bet the culprit has buggy brown eyes, clenched fists, and an infuriating knack of getting on my every damn nerve.