Page 70 of The Shattered Kingdom
I think we should’ve told Alpha Theon to fuck off and suggest a meeting that doesn’t put us at such a disadvantage, but Mason is convinced this is our only option. Kie seems to agree with him.
“We go together,” Kie grumbles. “And I let Mason lead the conversation, at least to start.”
Mason huffs in agreement, then pauses and transforms out of his animal form.
I dig through his bag for his clothes, freezing when I noticethe giant gash on his torso. It trails from the center of his chest to his hip, and it’s still bleeding. He’s hurt. He’s been hurt this entire fucking time. Why didn’t he say anything?
“You can’t—” I huff, too angry to finish my lecture. “You’re stupid, Mace.”
Mason heals quickly, and I can’t imagine how deep this gash must’ve been if it’s not already healed. I’m brimming with anger. It’s uncontrollable, and I fight back several snarky comments as I trail my fingers alongside the wound, careful not to touch it.
“I’m okay,” Mason says. He pulls his clothes from my hand. “You can fret over me later.”
I’mnotfretting.
We abandon our bags to travel light the remainder of the way. Mason takes the lead. “We’re almost there,” he eventually says. “About ten minutes away. Watch what you say.”
Because there are shifters nearby. It goes unsaid, and I manage a jerky nod as the three of us resume walking. The sound of running water grows louder as we head toward the river, and Mason places a hand on the small of my back as we finally reach the meeting spot.
I expected more fanfare.
There’s a man up ahead. He’s standing on the water’s edge, his back to us. He’s alone, but he’s not vulnerable. He’s fucking massive, and he has the same build as Mason. This must be Alpha Theon. I take this moment to study him. He and Mason look similar from behind, but Alpha Theon’s hair is shorter. Mason’s wavy dark strands touch his ears, but his father’s ends close to the skull.
I thought we’d be surrounded by shifters. Maybe we are.
We come to a halt a few feet behind Alpha Theon.
“And here I thought this would be a private meeting with my son.”
Alpha Theon turns around, his gaze landing immediately on Mason. The two may share a physical build, but Mason must get his looks from his mother. Alpha Theon is one ugly motherfucker, and he looks like he’s sucking on something sour.
“You brought your human,” he says. His gaze shifts to me. My heart stops. “Are you looking for a trade? I heard Zaha didn’t want her, but I might be interested.”
Disgust roils through me. We’re off to a great start.
Alpha Theon smiles.Are you looking for a trade?What a loaded question to begin this meeting with. He’s trying to rile us up, and he’s not even bothering to present himself as a nice guy.
It’s not what I was expecting—not that I had high expectations to start. It’s so much worse.
Alpha Theon isn’t going to offer Mason any sort of kindness. Not for a second. He’s going to be callous and cruel, and it’s going to kill my mate. I want to grab Mason’s hand, but I don’t want to initiate physical contact in front of the shifter alpha.
Nobody knows we’re mates, and Kie and Mason intend to keep it that way.
I chew on my bottom lip instead, scanning Alpha Theon from head to toe. Had Mason never been sent to live with the faeries, he’d probably be alpha by now. He’d have taken a shifter wife, and he’d likely already have a child or two.
I would’ve never met him.
Queen Gitta would still be alive. Kie would be the faerie king.
Alpha Theon exudes confidence. Not one part of him looks nervous or worried about meeting his son for the first time in over twenty years. Is he planning to kill us today?
Mason and Kie would win in a fight against Alpha Theon. The alpha is built like a truck, but so are my mates. Kie’s at a disadvantage because he can’t use magic here, but after seeing what he did to the two shifters who attacked us, I won’tunderestimate him. He can hold his own.
“I’d be willing to give you delysum in exchange for the human.”
“No.” Mason’s answer is curt. I appreciate it.
Alpha Theon finally shifts his gaze to his son. “I wished to meet with you alone.”
