Page 19 of Unwilling Queen (Kingdoms #1)

Chapter

Nineteen

Colbie

A fter the disaster that was dinner, I head down to grab my laundry and check my mailbox. The lights are on in my mother’s studio, but I have no more energy or mental capacity to deal with her. I’m sure she will make me something classy to wear, but it won’t be my style at all.

I call it a night and head to bed to read more of my shifter book. It’s fascinating learning about the different kinds of shifters and the different developmental stages. Shifters with animals like wolves and tigers can shift when they are very young, and they usually have their first shift by one, but shifters with mythical creatures like dragons, phoenixes, and unicorns don’t shift until they are in their late teens. I mean, it makes sense, since nobody wants a fire-breathing infant.

Then there is the information about bond groups and mates. I squirmed a little when I read about the mating rituals, something about knots and spurs that some male shifters have on their cocks, and breeding cycles called heats. It is all very overwhelming, but I can’t help but wonder if I will experience any of that. I’m not sure how I feel about it, but I can’t deny that I’m curious.

I learn that shifters are very long-lived compared to humans, but I kind of already knew that part, and because of that, they are not as fertile as humans. Most shifters only have one or two children in their lifetimes. The exception for that is bond groups. Bond groups usually share a singular mate, and she can have a child with each of her partners.

It’s very late once I finally put the book down and go to bed, and I groan at the thought of getting up in a few hours, but I can’t avoid the bakery any longer. I also needed to cram as much information about shifters into my brain as I could, because tomorrow, after I finish up at the bakery, I’m going to present myself to the castle. I can’t wait around for my mom to blab to anyone else, and I don’t want her to control any of my decisions. She is already forcing my hand a day or two earlier than I wanted.

The following morning, all three of us trudge to work. Unlike my perfectly sunny morning yesterday, the early hours are cold and overcast. It’s really starting to cool down now, and it won’t be long before the leaves change color and fall from the trees. All three of us are wrapped in coats with beanies on our heads.

“Damn neutral zone not letting us have our cars,” Grampy grumbles on the walk, his breath foggy in the cold morning air.

“Pfft,” Granny scoffs. “The drive wouldn’t be long enough to heat the car up. Stop being a princess.”

“There’s always the public transport service. On the days when the weather is really bad, I call a taxi,” I tell them. “They are free for neutral zone residents. I’ll contact the night watch today and get you added to my curfew permit and then call the council and inform them you are living and working here for now. That will give you the status you need to use the free service.” My to-do list today is rather large.

“That would be great. I’d rather not walk in torrential rain or snow if I have to be up this early in the morning.” Grampy rubs his hands together as we get to the door of the bakery, and I let us in. I turn the ovens on to warm up as they hang up their coats, then we get down to business.

By the time Olivia and Justin arrive, I feel confident between the four of them and Violet that my bakery will be in safe hands.

Justin and Olivia have met my grandparents before, so I only have to introduce Violet when she arrives.

I have to figure out a way of telling the three of them that I won’t be around for a while, if ever again. I’m pretty sure they can sense my inner turmoil, because just before we’re going to flip the sign over to open, Justin puts his hands on his hips.

“Damn it, Colbie, what’s wrong? You’re wound tighter than a top.” One of the things I appreciate about Justin is that he doesn’t beat around the bush.

“Come back into the kitchen for a moment,” I request as Violet lifts her hand away from the sign.

“But…” She looks at the locked door, and I wave a hand.

“A few minutes won’t matter. Nobody is waiting yet anyway.” The rain is falling steadily outside, keeping our early morning customers in bed or indoors.

“What’s going on?” Olivia asks cautiously as I lean against the prep counter, and the three of them join us in the kitchen.

Again, I’m not sure how to tell them, so I lift the necklace over my head, and my marks appear. Violet gasps and staggers slightly to the side. Justin puts out his hand to steady her, and she stares at me with awe in her eyes.

“So you can feel them?” I murmur, and she drops to her knees and bows her head.

“My queen.” Olivia and Justin gape at her before turning to look at me, their eyes locked on the marks around my wrists.

“You’re the next shifter queen,” Justin murmurs as Olivia gasps.

“Oh my god!”

“Get up, Violet. You don’t need to bow to me ever.” She doesn’t listen, so I reach out to her.

She takes my hand and rises, still not meeting my eyes. “Why haven’t you presented yourself at the palace yet? Rumors are flying around the shifter zone. Some are saying that Aramis messed up. Others are saying that the human thinks they are too good to be queen. The shifters are getting restless,” she warns.

“It’s a lot, you know. I just needed to take a few days to get my head on straight. I didn’t want this,” I explain, and she finally lifts her head and meets my gaze.

“And that’s what’s going to make you great, but you can’t delay any longer.”

I slip the pendant back over my head and nod. “I know. I just needed to make sure you were all going to be okay here. I would like you to work with Granny and Grampy to get them up to speed on everything. They won’t be able to stay forever, and I’m going to need the two of you to take over. If this isn’t what you want, then I need to start interviewing for a baker,” I explain to Olivia and Justin, who both visibly startle before they exchange a glance.

“I would be honored.” Justin bows his head to me.

“So would I. Don’t worry, Colbie, we will look after the bakery like it’s our own,” Olivia assures me, and I feel myself relax a little now that I know it will be in the hands of people I trust.

“Well, let’s open up then.” I clap my hands together, and Justin and Olivia jump into action and hurry to the front to open the bakery, but Violet just stands there and gapes at me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask her, looking from her to my grandparents. Grampy shrugs, not knowing what to say, but Granny is watching Violet carefully.

“Why are you waiting?” Violet asks, no judgment in her tone, only curiosity.

“It’s not like I asked to be queen,” I reply defensively. “I don’t have the first clue about what to do.”

“None of the royals did when they started. It’s why you have advisors and mates, to help you through all this.” She crosses her arms and has a stubborn set to her jaw. “Time to grow a set, Colbie, our people are waiting for you.”

I look at my grandparents, and Granny is doing her best to hide a smirk, but Grampy is outright chuckling.

“I like this girl. Maybe she can be your advisor instead of your mother.”

Violet’s eyes widen, and she shakes her head vehemently. “Oh no, I couldn’t possibly do anything like that. I’m not one of the upper class, and that’s whom Her Majesty will chose her advisors from.”

“Stop right there.” I hold up a hand. “I don’t ever want to hear you put yourself down like that again, and none of that ‘Your Majesty’ crap. I’m Colbie to you. Please give me that little bit of normality. And Grampy is right. I need someone I can trust, and you are the only shifter I know apart from Brock and Niles next door. I know you’re still in college, but I need you, at least to begin with.”

“I’ve actually finished all my classes for the semester, which is why I was looking for a job. All my friends are still going, and I didn’t want to be bored, but they only have a few more weeks left anyway.”

“Good, then it’s settled.” I look around my precious bakery and feel a wave of sorrow. Nothing is ever going to be the same.

“Okay, so how are we going to do this? Do I just walk into the shifter zone and announce myself?” I lift my apron off, hang it on the hook, and look down at myself. I wore jeans today, and they are still clean since Granny and Grampy did most of the labor while I organized all the paperwork. My top is also clean, so I’m not going to bother returning home. If I do, my mother might waylay me and force me to wear something that isn’t me.

She gasps and shakes her head. “Absolutely not. Humans are not allowed into the shifter zone without an official escort.” She cocks her head to the side like she’s listening to something, and her eyes light up.

“Well, how do I get an official escort?” I ask, and she doesn’t answer, just spins around and heads into the shop.

“What the hell?” Grampy grumbles, but Granny comes over and puts her hands on my arms.

“We are so proud of you, Colbie, and you know where to find us when you need us.” She pulls me into a hug, which Grampy quickly joins. He presses a kiss to my head.

“Give them hell, sweetheart, and don’t you dare take any of their crap. We will run interference with your mother, but I’m not sure how long that will last.”

Tears well in my eyes, but I swallow around the lump in my throat and nod just as the kitchen door swings open, and Violet returns with Hunter and Brodie in tow.

Brodie smirks at me and looks around the kitchen. “When Violet said we needed to see something, I was a little worried there was going to be another shifter cub back here.” His smile is warm and inviting, and I instantly feel lighter.

Hunter nods. “Glad to see you’re back,” he murmurs, and my eyes widen in surprise. They noticed I was gone.

“These two have been in both mornings and afternoons for coffee, hot chocolate, and lunch,” Violet tells me.

“So what did you want to show us?” Brodie turns his attention to the shifter girl, and she nods at me.

“Show them,” she demands, and I smile. The timid, shy shifter from before is gone, and I’m pleased.

Granny and Grampy nod their encouragement, so I lift the pendant and place it on the counter. I don’t want to lose it, because I’ll never know when I might want to sneak away and pretend to be human—that’s if it will even work once I gain the shifter magic.

I see the moment the two males notice the marks. Both of them stare for a moment before dropping to their knees in unison and bowing their heads. “Your Majesty,” they murmur together, and Violet snorts.

“Oh yeah, I can see that becoming annoying for sure.” She hip bumps me, and I feel grateful that she is in my life.

“Get up please, I don’t want you on your knees.” Unless it’s for another reason. I keep that last comment to myself. Both men rise with grace. “So, um, I guess I’m the next shifter queen, and Violet says I need an escort to the palace.”

They stare at me with no short amount of awe, and I feel the urge to squirm under such close scrutiny.

“I can’t believe you’re the next shifter queen,” Brodie murmurs, and I wince, not sure if he’s disappointed or pleased, but his next words make me feel so much better. “But I’m very happy about it.” His and Hunter’s eyes both glow with their inner animals, and I shuffle my feet, feeling awkward.

Violet clears her throat. “Escort?”

“Yes, of course.” Hunter is all business. Both of them are, in fact, and I mourn the loss of the casual, friendly way they were speaking to me. “I’ll let my father know, and he can make arrangements.” He pulls a phone out of the pocket of his uniform, and my heart starts to race with panic.

“No.” I hold up a hand. “Please, is there any way we can do this discreetly? Can’t the two of you just escort me?” I plead, looking between them, and Brodie’s eyes soften, even if he keeps his expression professional. He and Hunter exchange a look, and Hunter huffs a puff of smoke out of his nostrils.

“We can do that. My dad is going to kick my ass, but I will deal with it.”

“You boys look after my girl, okay? She’s going to need people on her side. Can I trust you to do that?” Grampy is staring the two shifters down like he has his own inner beast, and both men give him their assurance.

“I promise, sir. Our team has been assigned to watch her until her coronation and she chooses her mates. We will keep her safe,” Brodie sounds even more serious than when he found me with Archie. “We will go out back. Put the pendant back on for now. That will keep you hidden until we can get where we need to go.”

I give my grandparents hugs and kisses goodbye then follow the guys into the alley. Violet follows us, but she stays in the doorway of the bakery.

“Aren’t you coming?” I ask her, and she bites her lip, looking from me to the two men.

“It sounds like the queen has chosen you. Neither of us are going to stop you,” Hunter assures her, and she relaxes slightly.

“What about work?” She looks back, and I hear Grampy grumble, “Go, child. We might be older, but we can handle this.”

Violet whips off her apron and returns to the kitchen to hang it up. I hear the rumble of my grandpa’s voice as he says something to her, but I can’t make out what the conversation is about. It doesn’t take her long to return though.

“We need to get her to the edge of the neutral zone, then Hunter can shift and take us all directly to the palace,” Brodie says as the three of them fan out around me—Hunter at my back, and the other two on either side of me.

“Shift?” I can’t help the words from blasting out of my mouth, and Violet chuckles, making me feel very nervous indeed.

“Oh boy, Colbie, I hope you pulled up those big girl panties, because you’re about to ride a dragon.”