Page 36 of The Shattered Kingdom (The Cursed Kingdom #2)

ABBY

A SHIFT IN the mattress wakes me, and I peek open my eyes just as Kie slinks out of bed. He’s trying to be sneaky, and he’s unsuccessful.

We changed positions during the night. I’m still between Kie and Mason, but we’ve flipped. Kie’s now behind me, hugging me to his chest while I hug Mason to mine. It must be a comical sight. I’m smaller than the two, and our bodies don’t align properly.

Both men easily wrap around me, but I can’t do the same. My knees dig into the tops of Mason’s thighs, and my face is buried against his shoulder blades.

“Come back,” I order Kie, my words muffled as they vibrate against Mason’s back.

“In a minute,” Kie says. “I have to use the restroom.”

Quiet footfalls patter away, and I dig my face into Mason’s shoulder with an exaggerated yawn. Last night was arguably the best sleep of my life, and I hate to admit it might have something to do with the two men who shared my bed.

Mason flips over, half-rolling on top of me in the process. He’s warm, and I frown as I’m pushed onto my back and a sleepy, mussed-hair shifter flops over me. His morning erection is pressing against my hip, incessant and needy.

Mason seems satiated, though. He’s not looking at me with the crazed, horny eyes I’ve grown familiar with seeing these past few days. I’m sure he’d have sex with me in a heartbeat if I asked for it, but he won’t be disappointed when I push him away.

Which I intend to do.

I buck my hips and shove at his shoulder, lifting him just enough that I can wiggle out from underneath him. He drops more weight onto my chest, playfully fighting. His refusal to release me typically flares my anger, but I play along.

I fight Mason, twisting and shimmying until I’m on my stomach. Then I attempt to army crawl off the bed, practically fighting for my life as I slide onto the floor. I’m panting by the time I land on the hard ground, and Mason beams at me from over the side of the bed.

“You’re weak,” he says. “Weak and small and frail.” He raises both his eyebrows. “It’s good that you have a strong mate to protect you.”

“You’re right,” I admit. Pride practically emanates from him in waves, and I shoot him a sickly-sweet smile as Kie returns to the room. “I’m so grateful to have you, Kie .”

The faerie shoots me a look, then flicks his fingers in a gesture I’m pretty sure means fuck off in faerie.

Mason huffs. “I’m stronger than Kie.”

“I’m not getting involved,” Kie says, sauntering past me.

Mason slinks off the bed, all long limbs and smooth movements. He’s a predator, and I can’t take my eyes off him. I had sex with him last night. It’s all I can think about as he changes into a fresh pair of underwear.

I needed the sex to be good. I needed to know I betrayed Lill for something.

I know now .

I owe Lill a giant apology for doubting her, but I’m not the one who betrayed her. Callie gave her that necklace. Callie tricked Lill into igniting the gods’ magic, making her feel a mate bond with Kie and Mason. Callie betrayed Lill, not me.

Mason tugs on a shirt. “I have a meeting with Anox this morning. I suspect he’ll demand again that you be formally crowned as my queen consort…” He shoots me a sideways glance. “How would you like me to respond?”

My heart lurches. This is the first time either of them has taken my feelings into consideration.

I clear my throat. “I would be… agreeable to that. I’m not interested in dying, and if the formal title offers me some protection, I’d be a fool not to take it.”

After last night, I’m fairly certain I will be staying here. I don’t think I’ll ever find peace in the human realm, not when I know what and who awaits me here. I agreed to give Kie and Mason a chance, and I meant it.

“And should he demand more?” Mason urges. “Anox will scent you on me, and it’s only a matter of time before they begin asking about heirs.”

Heirs? Children? I haven’t even begun to think about that.

“I want a child someday,” I admit. “But not now. Not anytime soon.”

Mason sits on the edge of the bed. He’s staring at me, but I can tell he’s lost in thought.

What’s he thinking? Has what I said shocked him?

I’ve gathered that faeries and shifters don’t wait long to have children, shifters especially.

It seems it’s the cultural norm for them to begin popping them out with a frequency my vagina will never know.

“ A child,” Mason eventually says. “Just one?”

Understanding washes over me. “I’m willing to tentatively commit to one each ,” I say, “but I won’t agree to anything more. Not until I better understand what I’m signing myself up for.”

Mason visibly perks up, his head bobbing.

Kie returns to the room, a white dress thrown over his arm, and Mason wordlessly takes that as his cue to leave. He pats Kie’s shoulder as he passes but says nothing. Did Kie overhear our conversation? I assume he did, but he doesn’t address it.

“Can I dress you?” he asks.

Dress me? “Why?”

Kie’s lips twitch, the shadow of a smile appearing. “It’s symbolic to the faeries. If we’re to be mates, I want to do it right. I want to dress you.”

“Okay.” I eye the white fabric in his arms. “Sure.”

Kie beams, offering me a rare full smile as he straightens out the dress and tugs it over my head. I lift my arms, helping Kie slip the lightweight cotton fabric over me, and obediently spin so he can tie the laces in the back.

I’m not nearly as comfortable around Kie as I am with Mason. The shifter forced his affection on me, and he was persistent enough to break through my defenses. I’m still adjusting to Kie, but it seems he’s making a genuine effort.

“All done,” Kie says, patting my back.

I clear my throat. “Thank you.”

“Jackie and I have a scheduled meeting this morning. An update on your attack.” Kie’s words come tumbling out, almost like he’s scared to say them.

“I’d like you to come with me. I’m going to tell her the truth about us, which I should’ve done from the beginning.

She’ll be angry, and I fear she might say things meant to hurt you.

I don’t know what they’ll be, but we have a long history and there are a lot of truths for her to pick from. ”

Truths.

Kie takes a deep breath before continuing, not giving me time to think. “She probably won’t want to help us after she learns the truth, but—”

“Does she love you?” I ask. I speak without thinking, but I don’t regret the question.

Kie pauses. My question has caught him off guard, and he takes a long moment to think before answering. Every second feels like a battering ram to my chest.

“I don’t think so,” he eventually says. “She likes power, and I’ve always been an easy way to access it. I believe she likes who I am as a person, but she doesn’t love me. I fear she won’t help once she realizes marriage is off the table.”

I don’t understand why we even need her help. Is there nobody else who can investigate the issue? Is Jackie truly the most connected person here?

I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me. A tentative marriage agreement was in place between Jackie, Kie, and Mason. They were going to marry her. Jackie was raised to fill the role of queen consort, and she’s positioned herself accordingly.

She’s well-connected, and she’s smart.

She’s so well prepared for the role that we have no choice but to come to her with our tails tucked between our legs, begging for help. If she were in my position, I doubt Kie and Mason would be dealing with this. She’d have it handled herself.

She’d made a good leader.

“You should offer her a position on the council.” The words are bitter on my tongue. “Do you think that would make her happy?”

Kie shakes his head, immediately dismissing the idea. “Council members are active members of court. If Jackie were given a position, she’d become a permanent fixture in our lives. I’ve already made so many mistakes, Abby, and I won’t do that to you. We’ll figure something out.”

Jackie’s been rude the few times we’ve met, and I can confidently say I’m not a fan of her, but I’m capable of remaining objective. She’s an important asset. Our desperation for her to look into my attack proves it. Kie and Mason should be working to secure her loyalty.

The faeries are already so upset with the recent turn of events. They’re displeased with Mason’s new title, and I doubt they’ll be happy to learn I’m Kie and Mason’s mate. We need all the support we can get. We aren’t in a position to be picky.

“You need her,” I push.

Kie purses his lips. I can’t help but smile, my cheeks growing warm. I secretly like Kie’s hesitance. Jackie throws herself at him, and I don’t want him taking her up on her advances. Humans don’t have mating bonds, and cheating runs rampant within relationships.

“Abby,” Kie starts. He closes the distance between us, his movements filled with a nervous energy. “I’m scared she’ll say something to hurt you when she discovers you’re my mate.” He’s returning to his earlier conversation. It must be weighing heavily on his mind.

I grab Kie’s hands and pull them to my waist, silently telling him it’s okay to touch me. He curls his fingers around my hips, his grip tight.

“I’ve dated other men, Kie,” I say. “I’ve had good sex.

I’ve been in love.” Kie looks like he’s about to combust. I continue.

“I don’t like Jackie, but I won’t be devastated to hear you fingered her at a dinner party or fucked her underneath a waterfall.

Annoyed? Yes. Jealous? Probably a little.

But I’ll be okay. We’re both adults with pasts, Kie. ”

“I’ve never had sex underneath a waterfall.”

“That’s not the point of what I was saying.”

Kie sighs, pressing his forehead against mine. “I know.”

I don’t get the feeling that he believes me, but I don’t know what else to say to assure him. Mason told me before that humans don’t feel the mate bond as strongly as faeries and shifters, and maybe this is a part of it.

I have no interest in sharing Kie and Mason, but I won’t lose my head over being around Jackie.

I can handle a few rude remarks. I’m the one who shares a bed with the men she wants.

Kie held me last night while Mason fucked me, not her.

He’ll never hold her, and she’ll never feel Mason. I’ve already won.

Kie and I leave the room, only to find Mason lingering in the kitchen. He’s standing in the center of the room, a piece of pink fruit in one hand and a broken wooden spoon in the other. He points the snapped end at me.

“Don’t ever talk to me about other men.”

I snort. “Don’t eavesdrop on my private conversations.”

I would never acknowledge other men with Mason. I’m not stupid. Kie and Mason are wildly different people. Kie can handle adult conversations, and Mason is a toddler who breaks spoons.

“I was a virgin before you,” I tell Mason. “I’ve never so much as laid eyes on another man.”

Mason stomps out of the kitchen. “Obviously.” He grabs my chin and tilts my face toward his, urging me to look him in the eye. “I was a virgin, too. You’re my only.”

He’s such a liar. He’s been with plenty of women, but I like pretending they don’t exist. I’ll never meet any of his lovers, and he’ll never meet mine. The lie is harmless, and we both know it.

There’s a sharp knock on the front door.

I’d bet money it’s Anox, or a guard sent by Anox, to remind Mason of his council meeting this morning.

It’s enough to ruin the mood, and I let out a quiet sigh as Kie and Mason snap into work mode.

Their teasing smiles disappear, now replaced with stern expressions and purposeful movements.

Here we go.