Page 31 of The Shattered Kingdom (The Cursed Kingdom #2)
A look of shock crosses Alpha Theon’s expression, but it vanishes almost immediately. What makes Kie think Lill isn’t with Alpha Theon? I have many questions, and I expect a full debriefing when we get home.
“What do you intend to do with our lands?” Alpha Theon asks, changing the subject. “Now that you’re king, I’m interested to hear how you plan to handle the Redstall Forest.”
“I intend to make no changes to our land agreements.”
Alpha Theon scoffs. “Our numbers were decimated by Zaha, and we haven’t had the opportunity to repopulate because your beloved faeries have trapped us within this forest. We aren’t thriving.”
I don’t see how the forest is preventing the shifters from repopulating. The trees aren’t stopping them from humping, and the forest is huge. I suppose they have to share the area with the trolls, but I’m under the impression the trolls aren’t much of a threat.
“Repopulate?” Mason cocks his head to the side. “That’s an interesting concern coming from the man who left his child for dead.”
Ah. Here it comes.
Alpha Theon blinks, his eyebrows furrowing together. He doesn’t know what Mason’s referring to.
Mason reaches into his pocket and pulls out the crumpled letter he found in Queen Gitta’s desk. I didn’t realize he brought it, and I press my lips together as he tosses it toward his dad. Alpha Theon takes two seconds to read the letter before shrugging and dropping it to the ground.
I can practically feel the last remaining bit of Mason’s patience vanishing.
Alpha Theon was in a great position to manipulate Mason. Had he come to this meeting with a better attitude, perhaps the promise of reconciliation, even if not earnest, he could have very likely gotten Mason to do just about anything for him. I’m sure he’ll realize later it was a huge mistake.
Alpha Theon didn’t think Mason held any loyalty toward the shifters. He didn’t realize the lengths to which Mason went to defend his family.
Mason shifts his weight from foot to foot. His back muscles tighten and loosen with each movement, and I continue stroking my fingers over them. I’m not sure if it’s helping, but it doesn’t hurt to try. It’s better than nothing.
Kie speaks, killing the quiet that’s fallen over us.
“Callie must be desperate to find her daughter,” he says. “That’s why you agreed to meet with us, isn’t it? You don’t know where Lillian is, and you’re hoping Abby can give you information.”
Alpha Theon grows stiff. I now understand why Kie was adamant about coming to the meeting.
I’m not sure Mason is in a state of mind to read all the hidden things Alpha Theon is saying with his silence and snarky responses.
Kie’s perceptive, though. He’s making accusations, and judging by Alpha Theon’s physical response to them, he’s on the right track.
“Lillian was given a black stone necklace as a child,” Alpha Theon says. “She was told to use it if she ever needed access to magic. Callie failed to mention that it was gods’ magic she’d be using. ”
What? I blink, faintly recalling Lill using a necklace to help her open the portal.
I knew every article of clothing and jewelry Lill owned, but I’d never seen the necklace before then.
The way the gold chain shimmered in the sunlight caught my attention, and there was a small black stone in the center of it.
I was so preoccupied with Lill opening the portal that I didn’t think twice about it, and she wasn’t wearing it when Kie brought her to the faerie realm.
Alpha Theon continues. He’s smiling, his lips curling into a cruel smirk. He’s pleased with whatever he’s about to say. “You’re correct that Callie knew who Abby was, but Lillian didn’t. When that magic made her feel a mate bond with Kie and Mason, she would’ve had no reason not to believe it.”
It feels like I’ve been punched in the gut. I’ve been punched, kicked, scratched, burned, and fucking frayed. Lill thought the bond was real.
Alpha Theon doesn’t give me time to recover before continuing. “You’re also correct that she’s not with us. We don’t know where she is.”
We. He said we . So Callie is still alive? Did Lill know that? It doesn’t matter. I betrayed her. She thought Kie and Mason were hers. She was telling the truth.
A hand lands on my back. It’s Kie’s. He’s removed his glove, and he’s touching me the same way I’m touching Mason. He’s afraid I’m going to do something. I bite my tongue until it bleeds.
“I agreed to this meeting because I need your help,” Alpha Theon says. He’s talking to me now. “We must work together to find Lillian.”
That’s not right. Lill’s a strong and capable faerie. If she wanted to be with her mother and Alpha Theon, she would be. She could’ve easily opened a portal to the shifter lands and found her way here .
Kie trails his fingers up and down my spine. I do the same to Mason.
Mason hasn’t spoken in a suspiciously long time, but I can’t bring myself to look at him. I’m frantic, and I don’t want his emotions to rub off on me.
“I believe we’re past the point of helping one another,” Kie says.
“I’m speaking to your mate,” Alpha Theon snaps. “She’s the one who knows Lillian, and—”
Mason interrupts. “Kie.”
His tone is sharp, and within half a second, a portal is violently ripped open and I’m shoved through. I land on my hands and knees, and two heavy bodies follow immediately behind, crushing me.