Page 12 of Unwilling Queen (Kingdoms #1)

Chapter

Twelve

Colbie

I spend the rest of the afternoon and late into the evening hanging out with Nox. It was not what I planned for my day, since I was totally going to wallow in my misery, but it turns out it was exactly what I needed. I was able to switch off all my worries and ignore all the drama in my life for a few hours in the company of a handsome, interesting man.

Shifter Quest was awesome. You would think it would make all the current drama in my life swirl around in my brain, but I was so busy doing quests and trying to level up that everything else became unimportant. I can see how people can become addicted to video games.

The two of us worked well together as a team. Our characters blended seamlessly with one another and the other avatars that were on our team, and together, we were able to push back the rebel forces and defend the castle and shifter nation. We didn’t make it all the way to the end, but we were reluctant to give up, so I’m going to come back tomorrow and hang out a little while in the afternoon again after he’s finished his work for the day.

The food was delicious, and the storm raged on outside, but eventually, I had to go home, so he offered to drive me. It was too wet and dangerous for me to scramble back over the boulders.

On the car ride home, we’re both quiet, lost in our own thoughts, but it’s not uncomfortable at all. He pulls up to my grandparents’ place, and I really don’t want to get out. Sighing, I unbuckle my seat belt and open the door.

“Thanks for the ride,” I say as I climb out of the car, feeling a pang of loneliness. In a short period of time, I have become very attached to Nox. He’s handsome, kind, funny, and a balm to my turmoiled soul.

“So I’ll see you tomorrow after lunch?” he asks, and I feel slightly better. He seems as reluctant to part as I am.

“Yeah, I can’t wait,” I tell him, leaning against the doorframe of the car and peering back at him. His handsome face is illuminated by the interior light, and the gold flecks in his eyes are more prominent, almost swallowing the rest of the brown.

“Good, because I think with a few more missions, we might reach the boss level, and we can take out the bad guy,” he gushes, and I smile at his nerdiness. He put on glasses to play the game, but he took them off again to drive. He looked super cute in them too. It kind of gave me some naughty schoolgirl and professor fantasies. I had to stop myself from squirming on the couch while sitting next to him. I was worried I said something out loud at one stage, because he inhaled deeply, stiffened, and gave me a weird look, but he didn’t move away from me or comment, so I might have been imagining things.

“I can’t wait. Hopefully the weather clears tomorrow, because I’ll walk down the beach again. If not, I’ll catch a rideshare. Can you give me your address so I know which way to send him.”

“Oh, how about I come and get you instead, and we have a meal somewhere before going back to my place and playing games? There’s this amazing little café up on the cliffs on the other side of my place at the lighthouse.” Nox’s cove ends in large cliffs that are inaccessible, and a lighthouse sits on top of them. It’s a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike. My grandparents took me a couple of times when I was younger.

“I can’t believe it’s still there. I’ve been a few times when I used to visit my grandparents,” I tell him as the wind swirls around me, and I shiver, wrapping my arms around myself.

“It closed down for a while but was recently purchased and renovated. They do good, wholesome home cooking, and it’s really popular for dinner, but I should be able to get us a late lunch, early dinner reservation. Shall I pick you up at about three?” he suggests.

“I’d like that. I’ll see you then.” I reach out and give his hand a squeeze, and I get a jolt of static. He frowns as I pull away. “Shit, sorry,” I apologize, and he shakes his head.

“No reason to apologize, it’s not like you did it on purpose.” He puts his truck into gear. “Go inside, it’s starting to rain again. I don’t want you getting sick and not being able to come out. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I step back, slam the door shut, and look down at my hands. The stupid marks beneath my cuffs are tingling, and all of my previous worries flood back like a tidal wave. He drives off, and I wave as the lights of his truck disappear. The rainfall becomes steadier, so I hurry inside and sneak through the house quietly, not wanting to wake Granny and Grampy. The lamp on the bedside table of the bedroom I’m using is on, and I quickly strip off my sundress. I reluctantly replaced the clothes Nox lent me before I left. They smelled so good, like a warm churro, and it made my mouth water. I’m so glad nobody saw me sniffing them when I first put them on, because they would have thought I was crazy.

I throw on the tank top I use for pj’s, unclasp the wedding cuffs from around my wrists, and place them on the bedside table. Sitting on the bed, I study the marks around my wrists. They seem to have gotten a little darker, the gold color looking more prominent. I have no idea how I am going to hide these for a long period of time. I can’t wear the cuffs while I’m at work. I sigh and drop my hands into my lap.

The feeling of dread has returned as I climb between the sheets and shimmy down, shivering at how cold they feel. The storm has settled a little, since the thunder and lightning has blown past, leaving only rain behind. The gentle pitter-patter sound against the roof is soothing, but I toss and turn, and my thoughts return to the beach this afternoon.

I’m almost certain I got a visit from the shifter goddess Aramis. Who else could it have been? She made it sound like there was no getting out of this at all. As much as I want to run away from this whole situation, I don’t think she’s going to let me. She made it sound like she would come and get me if I didn’t present myself to the shifters.

I heave out a sigh and roll over, pulling the blanket up over my head so only my face pokes out. I feel tears prickle in my eyes as I try to come up with some kind of solution, but I can’t think of a single thing. She didn’t even give me a chance to argue with her, just disappeared into thin air with her dogs. Who would have thought the shifter goddess would have poodles?

I don’t get much sleep, and eventually, I come to the conclusion that I’m going to have to accept this is my destiny, but I’m going to take a couple of days to enjoy being free first. I need to make arrangements for my bakery, because I bet they are not going to allow me to continue working there, and I want to enjoy the company of a man whom I choose, not one the goddess has chosen for me. That’s a whole other bone of contention—one I think that annoys me even more than being selected as the shifter queen. I’m going to have to choose complete strangers to be my mates, men who have been marked by the goddess, and I’m just supposed to say, “Hey, want to be my husband for the next forty years?”

Do shifters even have divorce? If I don’t like them, do I get to try again? How am I expected to know, and how long do I get to choose? Maybe I can take my time, like I can get to know the men the goddess selected before I have to make a choice. How am I supposed to deal with three husbands? That’s how many wives Lucas has. I mean, they seemed happy, and they looked like they got along, but what if the men I choose hate each other or get jealous? I wonder if there is an option to choose none. I can be the spinster queen. It’s not like I need to produce an heir.

I finally fall into a fitful sleep full of growling, pissed off shifters and the pretty brown and gold eyes of the human man I spent the day with.

When I wake up the following morning, my head hurts, and my eyes are sticky, like I’ve been crying in my sleep. Not even a hot shower makes me feel any better.

“You look like crap, Colbie girl,” my grampy says as I enter the kitchen. He’s sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in front of him and the newspaper in his hand. Granny is washing a few dishes at the sink, and she turns to look at me with a raised eyebrow.

“Ugh, I slept so badly. I need coffee,” I mumble, and she grabs the pot off the warmer and pours me a cup. I wrinkle my nose, spoiled by having access to the coffee machine at work, but I thank her. The two of them chuckle at my dramatics.

“What did you get up to yesterday?” Grampy asks, putting his newspaper down as I take a seat next to him at the table.

“I went for a walk and got trapped in the rain. When I tried to take shelter under someone’s porch, they invited me inside to warm up. I ended up playing video games and having dinner with him.”

Grampy’s eyebrows jump. “You went inside a strange man’s house?” He sounds a little surprised. “You don’t usually make rash decisions.”

I shrug and look between them. “I don’t know, there was something about him that made me feel comfortable.”

Granny’s eyes narrow, and she nods. “You’ve always been a good judge of character.”

“I’m hanging out with him this afternoon too,” I tell them, and Grampy purses his lips but doesn’t argue with me. I appreciate that. Although they worry, they acknowledge that I’m an adult who can make my own decisions.

I lift up my coffee mug to take a sip, even if it’s a little sludgy, and my granny gasps.

“What are those?” she asks, hurrying over to me and snatching the hand holding my coffee mug. Coffee sloshes over the side and down my hand, but thankfully, it’s not too hot. I grimace as she runs her finger over the marks. Fuck, I forgot the cuffs.

Grampy jumps to his feet and grabs my other wrist as Granny releases the one holding my coffee mug. “Colbie girl, is there something you need to tell us?” he growls, shaking the hand in front of my face.

I put the mug down and snatch my hand back, then I sigh and close my eyes, trying to control the tears that want to burst free. When I open them, they are both staring at me with a mixture of worry and sadness.

“They appeared on my wrists on Saturday night,” I tell them, and Granny gasps, pressing a hand against her chest in shock.

“You were chosen?” Grampy says flatly, and I nod, a tear rolling down my cheek.

“Yes, I’m the next shifter queen,” I confirm, and Granny lowers into one of the chairs and gapes at me, speechless.

Grampy doesn’t say anything, he just scoops me up and holds me against his chest, hugging me tightly. The tears I’ve been holding back flood out, and I sob, surrounded by the warmth and strength of my grampy. Neither of them says anything, they just give me silent support during my meltdown, but eventually, I run out of tears and pull away, wiping my face. Granny passes me a box of tissues she must have retrieved while I was sobbing.

I sit down, blowing my nose, and Grampy retakes his own seat. “I know this isn’t what you wanted in life, but if you want my two cents, you’re going to be the best damn queen the shifters have ever had,” he tells me confidently, and I feel a rush of warmth and support as Granny agrees.

“Of course she is. There is no one more compassionate, kind, and intelligent as our Colbie. Does your mother know?” she asks me, and I shake my head.

“I haven’t told anyone. I was hoping there was a way out of it,” I admit, and Granny gasps in surprise, but Grampy nods.

“I understand. I would probably feel the same way.”

I tell them about my visit with the goddess on the beach and what she insinuated.

“So what are you going to do?” Granny asks, and I groan, placing my head on the table.

“I’m going to take a couple more days to adjust to this life-changing news, and then I’m going to make arrangements for my bakery and apartment before I present myself to the shifters, but I’ll do it in my own goddamn time.” I growl that last bit, and I feel a hand brush over the back of my head.

“You take as much time as you need. They can wait, and if they don’t like it, tough,” Grampy agrees, and I lift my head and raise an eyebrow. He laughs. “I mean, you are the queen, right?”

A small smile reaches my lips as he chuckles, and Granny nods her head.

“That’s right, you’re the one in charge. Don’t let them walk all over you, because if you give them an inch, they will take a mile. Don’t let your mother do it either. I’m sure she will insist you present yourself as soon as she finds out. She’s such a stickler for rules, but stand your ground. You need to be ready for this, because your life is about to change dramatically. Take all the time you need. Be sure, and be ready.”

“What if I don’t like any of the men who have been chosen for me?” I ask quietly, sitting up and taking a sip of my coffee.

“I forgot that you would have your mates selected for you. That’s bullshit.” Grampy starts pacing back and forth across the kitchen. “No woman should be forced into an arranged marriage.”

“Easy, Joseph. The goddess would not bless her with mates that weren’t compatible, and she gets to choose from those selected.” She turns her attention back to me, ignoring her husband.

“Go with your heart, my girl, and if none of them are suitable, then don’t pick any of them, but I’m certain the goddess will be looking out for you. Maybe talk to King Lucas about it. He will be there to advise you. He’s been through exactly the same thing as you, so lean on him.”

I heave out a sigh. “Okay, but can we just forget about it for another day or two? Today I’m going to hang out with my new friend again and pretend that my life isn’t going to change completely. If the weather is good tomorrow, Nox is going to give me a surfing lesson. I’m just going to pretend to be regular, boring human Colbie for a little longer, then on Wednesday, I’ll return to the neutral zone and make arrangements for my bakery. I don’t know how I’m going to find a baker at such short notice. Olivia, Justin, and Violet are great, but they are not going to be able to manage on their own.”

Granny’s eyes light up, and she and Grampy exchange a glance.

He nods, chuckling. “How about Jenny and I help out? After all, you stole most of your recipes from her,” he teases, and I sit up straight, hope welling inside me.

“You would do that?” I ask, and Granny nods eagerly.

“I would love to. Retirement is great and everything, but both of us are bored. There’s only so much gardening you can do, and I’d rather pay someone to paint the fence than do it myself. Running the bakery would be exciting and exactly what we need—at least until you can hire someone you trust.”

“Yes, yes, a hundred times yes. That would be amazing, thank you. You can have my apartment too, so you don’t have to travel back and forth everyday if you want.”

“That would be nice, like a mini vacation,” Granny says, and I wrinkle my nose.

“Not much of a vacation when you’re getting up at four in the morning.”

Gramp groans. “Ugh, I forgot you have such early hours.”

Granny laughs and shushes him. “It will be fine. If we are both going to go in, we won’t need to be there so early because there are two of us doing the work.” He cheers up, and I laugh, feeling a little lighter now that I know my baby is going to be looked after by someone I trust.

“How about we spend the morning going over the recipes I use, since they are not all Granny’s?” I suggest, sticking my tongue out at Grampy, and he laughs. “I’ll need to give you a lesson on our new marshmallow treats too.”

“Pfft, what is so hard about marshmallow? That was one of the first ones I taught you,” Granny scoffs.

I open my phone and show her the photos of the animals, and her eyes widen with surprise. “It’s not the actual recipe, but what I do with it that matters,” I explain. “I might make a video of myself, making them step by step so you have a guide.”

“Look at those. They are amazing!” Grampy exclaims, and I can hear the admiration in his voice. “Think of all the different things we could do!” He sounds excited.

I tell him about the white board in the shop that people leave suggestions on, and he starts to search the kingdom-wide network, which is a computer network that links the four kingdoms, allowing us to share information and ideas.

The three of us spend the morning going over my recipes and writing a list of all the things we produce for both breakfast and lunch. They are practically giddy with the idea of playing in my café. My grandparents are where my love of food came from. I have to keep distracting my grampy when he keeps going off on tangents, trying to come up with wild and wacky ideas. I’m pretty sure my customers are in for a fun experience over the next couple of months, but at least my baby will be in safe hands.