Page 10 of Unwilling Queen (Kingdoms #1)

Chapter

Ten

Colbie

I chat with them both a little longer, but they have to get ready for their night out, so after dumping my bag in the spare bedroom I always use, I wave goodbye and walk down the street. I’m going to check out the little shops along the boardwalk before walking along the beach to my favorite cove. It has this amazing rock I can sit on and look out at the ocean as I contemplate life. I take a blanket and the book I was reading last night.

I am doing everything in my power to pretend the marks under my cuffs aren’t there, but it isn’t working. It’s constantly in the back of my mind, like a specter haunting my every thought. How am I going to get out of this? I wonder if the fae or the witches can help me. Would one of them have a spell strong enough to override a goddess’s magic? Probably not. I’d most likely need help from another goddess, but the idea of appealing to one of the others is terrifying.

I fiddle with a cuff as I make my way through the little shops on the boardwalk. There are clothing and bookshops, a new age shop with crystals and self-help books, and my personal childhood favorite, the candy store. I stand at the window and watch as the man pours molten hot candy onto a table before adding flavor and color, then it gets pulled on machines, changing its color, before it eventually gets rolled, cut, and wrapped in colorful paper wrappers.

I head in to get a sample of the fresh taffy. It’s coconut and delicious, but instead, I buy a huge bag of mixed taffy. There isn’t a flavor I don’t love, and it’s too hard to pick, so mixed is the perfect solution.

I pop a piece into my mouth and keep walking. I consider grabbing something more substantial to eat, but I’m not all that hungry. Instead, I buy a frozen cola slushie and walk down the steps onto the beach. It’s afternoon, and the wind has kicked up even more, chasing away any possible beachgoers. There’s only me with the gulls and sand whipping across the shore.

The waves crash against the shoreline, and the sound goes a long way in drowning out all my thoughts. I kick off my sandals and place them in the bag with the taffy, my book, and phone. I wrap a towel around my neck, and I start moving. There is something so calming about just putting one foot in front of the other, not worrying about where you are or where you have to be. It’s freeing.

I’m thankful for my sunglasses, because they protect my eyes from the blowing sand. Most people would think I’m crazy enjoying the beach like this, but it’s my favorite way.

The sound of a dog barking hits my ears, and I look up. Farther down the beach, I see three dogs racing around, chasing a ball thrown by someone. I can’t make out if it’s a male or female because they are too far away. It doesn’t bother me though, and I’m sure by the time I get to them, they will have had enough and left.

I look out at the ocean, and I see clouds starting to build up, growing darker. The storm is still a while off, so I have time to finish my walk before I have to head home. I love watching storms from my grandparents’ enclosed porch. I wrap myself in a blanket, and Granny brings me tea and cookies while I count the flashes of lightning and the claps of thunder.

My mind returns to my problems, and I grimace. Ugh, I came for a walk to forget all my issues. I wonder if there has ever been an occasion where another human who was selected didn’t want the job. Maybe I’ll do a computer search or head to the library and look through some history books. I feel a tear trickle down my face, and I quickly wipe it away, but more join it. Fuck, what am I going to do? My stomach rolls, and my heart pounds. I can’t be the shifter queen. I have to get out of this.

A dog barks again, and I look up. The woman and the dogs must have turned and started walking in my direction, because they are a lot closer now. In fact, all three of them ignore the last throw of the ball and come barreling toward me. I chuckle as the three little poodles surround my legs, wagging their tails furiously and pawing at me for cuddles. I crouch down and scratch their ears. They are adorable. I always wanted a pet, but my mother would never let me have one because she didn’t want fur all over her fabric. I tried to argue that poodles don’t shed, but she still wouldn’t let me have one, and now as an adult, my hours are so unsociable it wouldn’t be fair for any creature I decided to bring home.

“Oh my goodness, aren’t you adorable and sandy… So sandy,” I say to the three dogs.

“Yeah, it’s a nightmare to get the sand out of their coats, but they love it.” I look up as the woman approaches me, and my mouth drops open. She’s gorgeous. Her beautiful blonde hair whips around her face in the wind, her hazel eyes sparkle with joy, and her lush lips are turned up in a grin.

“Sorry about them. They are man whores who will do anything to get a pretty girl’s attention.” One of the dogs yips at her, and she chuckles. I stand as she picks up the ball and throws it again. The three dogs take off after it, and we watch them as they tackle each other, trying to get to the ball first.

“They look like a handful,” I murmur to her, and she grins at me.

“They are the loves of my life, but yes, they can be a lot to handle. Luckily I’m good at juggling. Are you okay? I couldn’t help but notice you looked a little sad,” the woman says as she turns her attention back to me.

“Ah, yeah, I just got some unexpected and unwanted news this morning, and I’m trying to figure out what to do about it,” I reply, surprised by my honesty. What the hell, Colbie? Why are you telling a stranger about your problems?

She frowns at me, and her eyes slide to the cuffs on my wrists. I wonder if she thinks I’m trying to hide cutting scars or something. It really is slightly unusual to be wearing these on the beach.

“Those are fae wedding cuffs. Are you being forced into something you don’t want?” she asks, and I consider denying it, but instead, I shrug.

“Kind of.” I’m never going to see the woman again, so there’s no real need to lie to her.

She purses her lips and sits down, patting the sand next to her. “You know, I’ve always been of the opinion that we are never given more than we can handle.” I consider whether I should just keep walking, but there’s something about this woman that makes me feel comfortable. Maybe I can talk about my problems without actually telling her the whole truth.

I sit next to her as her dogs come racing back. The red one has the ball, and he drops it at her feet before lying down and putting his head on his paws, his tongue hanging out as he pants. The black and white poodles do the same. The white one places his head on the red one’s back, and the black one rests his head on the woman’s feet. She reaches out and runs her hand through his fur.

“But what if I don’t want to do what I’m being forced to? What if I’m no good at it?” I’ve always had these insecurities, even growing up. Huh, I guess I have a lot more issues than I thought—abandonment and inadequacy. I’m sure it comes from Dad leaving and my mom’s attitude toward me. Add in the recently remembered friends abandoning me, and it’s no wonder I became withdrawn and doubted myself.

She looks out at the ocean. “So is the problem that you are being forced to do something you don’t want to do, or are you worried you are going to fail at what you are being asked to do?”

I think about it for a moment and shake my head. “I don’t see how I can do something I have no understanding of. That’s the problem. I’m being asked to do something I don’t know anything about, and what if I fail? What if I do so badly that it has far-reaching consequences?”

The woman turns to look at me, her hazel eyes serious. “It’s okay to ask for help, you know. I’m sure you aren’t expected to do whatever it is on your own. You need a support system, someone who will have your back no matter what.” She reaches out to stroke a hand over each of her dogs. “Kind of like my guys. I know no matter what happens, they will be right by my side.” The black one licks the back of her hand before all three of them tackle her, almost like they planned it. She bursts into laughter as she falls backward, and they lick her.

I can’t help but smile. I think our situations are different though, and I’m not sure a dog will help me rule a kingdom. I shake my head. “I just think there is someone else out there more suitable for the job.”

She sighs and stands up, brushing the sand off her pants. The wind has died down, and the sea has settled, but a rumble of thunder can be heard on the horizon as the clouds darken even further.

“Colbie, take another few days and think it over. I have no doubt that once you stop doubting yourself, you are going to do amazing things. Come on, boys.” She picks up the ball and tosses it down the beach. The dogs chase after it, and they suddenly disappear like they walked into thin air.

My mouth drops open in shock, and I scramble to my feet, looking from where the dogs disappeared to the woman who laughs.

The woman I just realized I never gave my name to turns and winks at me. “I have all the faith in the world for you. You just need to believe in it and trust that I have put all the support you need in place.”

I gape in surprise as the woman follows her dogs and also disappears in the blink of an eye, her voice carrying on the wind. “You have a week before I make you go, Colbie.”

Holy fuck. I think I may have just been visited by the goddess, and from her words, there is no way I am getting out of this.

My heart races, and my breathing picks up as I start to panic. I feel tears well in my eyes at the realization that there’s no getting out of this.

I start to run down the beach, my movements jerky in the deep sand, my tote bag flapping against my side with each step. I get to the end of the cove and scramble over the large boulders that jut out into the ocean like a handful of marbles rolled by a giant. The sounds of the ocean and the coming storm become a background blur in my panic. My thoughts are chaotic as I still try to think of a way out of this, but deep down, I know it’s futile. There’s no where I can escape to where the goddess won’t find me—not even one of the other kingdoms.

I reach the next secluded cove, one where I’m even less likely to see anyone, and collapse onto my favorite rock. It’s flat and perfect for sunbathing on a sunny day. This cove backs up to a forest that is private land. There’s a cottage up in the woods, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone there, so maybe it’s a holiday home.

I bury my face in my hands and start to sob, letting out all the fears and emotions that have been building since this morning. If that really was the goddess who visited, because who else could it be, then there is no getting out of this. Everything I’ve ever worked for is about to go up in smoke. My stomach rolls when I think about my bakery. I’m pretty sure they are not going to allow the shifter queen to work a normal job. Hell, what does being the queen even involve? The thought of ruling over a society I know nothing about is terrifying, and I haven’t even considered the rest that comes along with being the queen of the shifters.

Magic is something I have never even really thought about. I’m human, and I was never going to be anything else. I was happy with my lot in life. Now, all of that is going to change. My entire being is going to change. I’m going to be gifted with magic that will allow me to shift into an animal form.

I wipe at my cheeks and look up as another crack of thunder booms across the bay. The storm arrived a lot sooner than I expected it to. The sky is dark and ominous, and I can see the sheet of rain racing toward me as a couple of drops land on my cheeks. A bolt of lightning streaks across the sky, striking the ocean far out. Fuck, there is no way I’m going to make it home without getting soaked. What was I thinking?

Oh, that’s right, I wasn’t. I was operating on fear and emotions. I scramble to my feet and look for shelter, but there is none—only the beach, the boulders, and the woods.

There is also the cottage in the woods. I guess that’s as good a place as any. It has a porch I can shelter under until the rain eases. I grab my tote and start to scramble over the last couple of boulders before I hit the sand, then I run up the beach toward the woods and the cottage nestled amongst them. The sky opens up, and I groan as it pelts against my back as I run the remaining distance. The rain is cold against my skin as the sand gives way to gravel, and I’m able to move a little faster. My breath heaves out of my lungs as I reach the cottage and scramble up the steps and out of the rain. I turn around as another boom of thunder rolls across the sky, followed by another flash of lightning. The wind has picked up again, and I shiver as it blows against my wet clothes.

Well, this sucks. I lean against the railing and catch my breath, pushing the bedraggled tendrils of hair out of my face. I look down at my body. My sundress is plastered to my skin, and my tote bag is soggy. I groan and drop it on the floor before looking around the porch. There’s a surfboard rack on the far end with a couple of boards sitting in it, as well as a wet suit tossed haphazardly across them, like the owner took it off and threw it there without any other thought. There are a couple of chairs, but they have cushions on them, and I don’t want to get them wet. I consider removing them and sitting on the bare chair when I hear a voice behind me.

“Can I help you?”

I scream and whirl around, grabbing my chest in fright.

I stumble backward a little, staring at the man leaning in the doorframe of the cottage. He’s tall, maybe six-two, and has the most amazing chestnut-colored eyes with flecks of gold in them. He pushes a lock of dirty blond hair back over his shoulder, which is almost as long as mine and has that went swimming and let air dry look about it. It’s windswept and a little messy, but it suits him perfectly. His skin has a beautiful golden tan, like he sees the sun regularly, and I guess he does if he surfs. He has a cord around his neck holding a pendant made up of black and gold stones, and above his heart is a tattoo, but I don’t stop to inspect it too closely. My eyes drop lower, and I lick my lips as I take in his naked chest and eight-pack slab of muscles. Holy shit. Unlike the shifters, he’s long and lean, and his muscles have a sleekness to them rather than bulk. I reach the waistband of his gray sweatpants, and I realize what I’m doing, so I shake my head and bring my gaze back to his face. He has a small smirk on his full lips, and his own gaze slips lower. His expression heats when he sees my sundress plastered to my body, but then his gaze catches on the cuffs on my wrists and his eyes widen minutely. When his gaze returns to mine, he looks closer and obviously notices the remnants of my sob fest. I bet my eyes are red and my face is blotchy. I am not a pretty crier, so it’s ugly sobs and snot all the way for me.

The smirk drops, and he pushes off the frame and steps forward, holding out a hand.

“Are you okay?” I can hear the concern in his voice, and I almost start to cry again, but I bite my lip as the wind picks up, blowing straight through my dress. The rain falls even harder, and I can’t stop the shiver that racks my whole body.

“I’m sorry. I got caught in the rain, and I was just going to stand under here until it cleared enough for me to return home,” I tell him as my teeth start to chatter.

He looks away from me and out at the storm and frowns. “I don’t think this is going to ease anytime soon. Do you want to come inside? You can dry off and wait until it clears.”

I bite my lip and look from him and out to the storm again. He’s right, it looks like it settled in for the evening.

I shake my head. “I’ll just call a rideshare and get out of your way. I’m sorry I disturbed you,” I say as I feel my hair drip down my back, and I wince.

He chuckles. “I’m not sure anyone will let you in their car soaking wet.”

Ugh, he has a point, but I don’t know this guy, and for all I know, I will walk through his door and never walk back out. Before I can make a decision, I hear a plaintive meow, and a cat slinks between his legs, weaving in and out of them. A wide smile brightens his face, and I stare, stunned at how gorgeous he is. He bends down and picks up the fluffy gray and white thing and holds it up, rubbing his head against the cat’s. “What do you think, Stormheart? Shall the pretty lady come in and get dry?” He talks to it in a baby voice, and I can’t stop the snort of amusement that comes from my mouth. It’s so freaking adorable and kooky.

He turns to me, tucking the cat under his arm, and the two of them look at me. I swear the cat narrows its eyes on me in warning, like it’s saying don’t you dare, but the guy still looks welcoming.

“I’m Nox, and this is Stormy. Come on. I’m not going to bite.” He doesn’t wait for a response, just heads back inside, leaving the door open.

I glance back at the storm and shrug. What do I have to lose? If he kills me, at least I won’t have to worry about the shifters.