Page 14 of The Shifter's Queen

He lowered Elizabeth onto the plush stool with care, kneeling down to face her. Her hand, heavy with fatigue, reached up to smooth back her messy hair, revealing the bruise on her cheek. With a touch both tender and sorrowful, he followed the course of her tears.

“Father,” she choked out.

“I’ll find him. I promise. Polar is searching for him as we speak,” he replied.

She nodded and released a shuddering breath. “You came for me,” she murmured.

His eyes crinkled playfully as he offered her a gentle smile. “I will always come for you, my beautiful fairy queen.”

Her eyes darkened with confusion and she shook her head. “You keep calling me that. Why?”

“Because I am the shifter king who has fallen in love with the human. This will be our adventure, Elizabeth,” he said, lifting her hand and pressing his lips to the back of her fingers. “We will have many. Hopefully, they will be less dangerous.”

“But… if they are, we will fight them together,” she murmured.

“Yes, we will fight them together.”

“Sire, we’ll take care of her now,” a maternal maid said.

Or’Ang nodded a silent acknowledgment, and rose with a sigh. He reluctantly released Elizabeth’s hand, stepping away with regret before he turned and exited his chambers. He needed to find out if Polar had returned.

Chapter 7

Elizabeth surrendered to the women's gentle care, closing her eyes and allowing them to tend to her. Despite her initial resistance, Anna's warm embrace and gentle words eased her defenses, and she broke down, consumed by sorrow. Their gentle touch, a balm to her wounded spirit, had soothed her.

She leaned back, the scent of lavender soap, rich and calming, wrapped around her, blending with the delicate steam that rose in lazy swirls. The scent of her newly washed hair filled the air around her, a comforting aroma that did little to ease the heavy ache in her chest. Or'Ang had come for her, a thought of joy that sat alongside the grief for her father, both emotions pressing down on her, almost a physical weight.

With a trembling hand, she brushed away the tear that slid down her cheek, leaving a cool trail behind. She couldn't believe how drastically her life had changed within the space of a single day. She tilted her head back, letting it rest against the copper tub, and closed her eyes.

Yesterday had been magical, filled with the scent of wildflowers and the laughter of children. Or’Ang’s smiling face, the amusing stories he told, and the wistful expression in his eyes when he spoke about his parents, all replayed in her mind like a vivid dream. It felt as though she were watching their meeting from the outside, a silent observer in the spirit realm.

She touched her lips with her fingers, remembering the gentle pressure of his kiss and the way it had made her heart race. A smile touched her lips as she recalled his guilty look when the actual Bobbin arrived. It suddenly dawned on her why he had felt the need to lie about his true self.

He wanted to be seen for himself, not his title.

With every glance, every whispered word, their meeting felt as if it was unfolding in one of her stories, full of captivating details and hidden meanings. The thought struck her so funny that she couldn't help but let out a strained, amused laugh, the sound a little shaky but full of mirth. She opened her eyes, sat forward, and swirled her hands through the warm water, feeling the gentle ripples against her skin. She sniffed, wiped her cheek again, and then slowly pushed herself out of the water, her skin still tingling from the warmth. Stepping over the side, she felt the cool air on her skin and wrapped the drying sheet around herself.

A slight blush rose in her cheeks as Anna and two other young women entered, swooping in and taking over, treating her as though she was a young child needing help getting dressed. The sight of the deep bruises, a stark contrast to her pale skin, made them mutter with alarm. Her laugh, a choked sound barely audible above Anna's furious whisper of curses directed at the shifters, betrayed her amusement at Anna's fierce indignation.

Twenty minutes later, she emerged, clothed in a shimmering emerald green silk gown, the soft underclothes whispering against her skin. She followed Anna down the winding stairs, the stone steps cool under her feet, while the stewardess's voice painted vivid images of castle life and the castle's history.

Shadows danced in the vast foyer, seeming to whisper secrets as they approached the imposing dark oak doors. Anna pushed open the heavy doors, stepped into the room, and turned, a gentle smile creasing her face. The crackling flames in the fireplace cast dancing shadows on the wall, highlighting Or’Ang’s tall figure as he turned, his every movement filled with an unspoken power that made her heart race and her breath hitch.

“Lady Elizabeth, sire,” Anna announced as if she were introducing someone of grand importance.

Elizabeth crossed the threshold, her eyes immediately drawn to Or’Ang. His own, brimming with such raw emotion, caused her smile to tremble, replacing her uncertainty with the need to be wrapped in his arms. The quiet click of the doors closing as Anna left was barely audible over the swirling thoughts in her mind.

“You are exquisite, my fair lady. I trust that Anna and her warriors took good care of you,” he murmured.

With synchronized strides, they walked towards each other, their footsteps muffled by the woven carpet until they met. Her small hands fit perfectly into his, and she nodded silently. He gently pulled her towards the crackling fire, his fingers warm against hers, leading her to the matching chairs placed before the hearth.

“Father? Have you-has Polar returned yet?” she asked.

“Nay, nothing as yet. I have sent two guards to meet up with him and the others,” he said.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

She sank down onto the plush velvet chair, the luxurious softness enveloping her, and folded her hands in her lap. Her eyes followed him intently as he backed away a few steps, his movements slow and deliberate, to stand nearer the crackling warmth of the fireplace. Watching his face, she saw a series of conflicting emotions flit across his features, each a silent battle within himself.

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