Page 34 of The Forsaken Heir
“I like her voice,” Vincent said.
“Bro,” Rasp said from across the room. “Did you know the freaking monster isn’t called Frankenstein? Frankenstein is the crazy doctor. What a mind fuck.”
I chuckled. “Elle, I’d like you to accompany me to my father’s throne room. Quickly, if possible.”
Her smile faltered as she put the book down. “Is something wrong?”
I gave her a thin-lipped smile, doing my best to hide my emotions.
“Not at all. Our envoy to your family is returning with news. He’ll tell me and my father what plan your family has for your return.”
Her smile vanished completely as she frowned. “Of course,” she said, rising from her chair.
“Are you all right?” I said, perplexed at her strange change in a wondering at her strange change in attitude.
I’d have thought she’d be excited to get back home. Even if she lived her life in the human world, surely she still visited her shifter family. She probably had as close a relationship with them as I did with my father. I was sure if I’d decided to venture away to immerse myself in the human world, we’d still remain close.
“I’m fine.” She gave me a half-hearted smile. “Let’s get this over with.”
She followed me to the throne room, staying silent as we went. I didn’t attempt conversation, too worried I might say something I shouldn’t. Something inappropriate. The last thing I wanted was to part with her on strained or awkward terms.
The throne room was much different from what must have been used in the old days back across the ocean. Instead of a massive stone-walled room and an ornate throne standing on a huge dais, the room was more like a large den. Rather than a true throne, the seat of honor was a large, wingback leather chair, surrounded by other smaller seats for visitors or people who’d come to bargain with my father or cajole him into bestowing favors on them.
My father rose from the chair as we entered. “Ah.” He beamed at Elle. “You must be the young lady I’ve heard so much about. I’m sorry it took this long for me to introduce myself.” He held out a hand to her. “My name is Cassius Decimus.”
Elle took his hand and lowered into an ill-practiced curtsy.
“Your Majesty,” she said, her voice low and filled with respect.
“None of thisYour Majestybusiness,” Dad said. “How are you, my dear? Have you found our estate to your liking? Has everyone treated you kindly?”
Elle blinked at him, a shadow of confusion flashing across her face.
“Uh, well, yeah, actually. Everyone’s been really great. I love it here. It’s beautiful.”
Dad eyed her speculatively, a twinkle in his eyes. “You assumed the evil dragon king would spit fire and rage at you? Perhaps youthought I’d shift and gobble you up where you stood, the filthy wolf that you are?”
“Father,” I cried out. “Stop.”
Instead of being scandalized or offended, Elle burst out laughing. Dad chuckled along with her, leaving me gaping at the two of them.
“When I was a kid, everyone always talked about you as if you were some mad tyrant,” Elle said. “You don’t look so scary to me. Not here, anyway.”
“Yes, yes, I am a bit soft around the edges,” Dad said, still chuckling. “Nothing like I was at my peak. Though, I’m sure the wolves always exaggerated my true nature. The same way many dragons think you all are nothing but bloodthirsty pack animals bent on destruction.” Dad put a hand to his heart and looked up at the ceiling wistfully. “Ah, the drama and grandeur of political rivals. So lovely, and such horseshit.”
He and Elle shared another laugh. I looked between the two of them, feeling completely confused. Elle had a way of getting under people’s skin and making them reveal their true selves. It was a remarkable gift, and she’d done the same to my father. He was no fan of her family or the tactics they used, but he was a kind man. If Titus had given him all the information we had, he knew she was not involved in any of the plans or machinations her family used against us. She was an innocent bystander living apart from this strange magic world we were entrenched in.
“Father,” I said, trying to steer the conversation back on track. “Has Karinius arrived yet?”
Dad pulled his gaze from Elle to look at me. “Only moments ago. Titus tells me he’s on his way down from the upper levels now.”
Almost as if his name had summoned him, Titus walked into the room, his heels clicking on the wooden floor.
He bowed. “Your Majesty, I give you Karinius Barcona, royal envoy.”
Karinius looked harried and uncomfortable as he approached my father’s chair. He glanced at me, and the look on his face told me I probably wouldn’t like what he had to say. Had the Laurents taken offense to my dumbass friends kidnapping their beloved daughter? That was my greatest fear, and what I’d hoped to stop by sending him with our apologies. Perhaps they’d sent him with outlandish requests to make up for the slight?
“Your Majesty,” Karinius said, bending down on one knee before my father, who’d retaken his seat.
