We reached the end of the crowd in front of a dais, which hadn’t been there earlier. When Tom stopped, I remembered the words of the maid. I wasn’t supposed to go any further.
A man stood in white and gold robes. He held his hands up and all went quiet.
“Welcome. We have lost a great leader in our time. Liam hasn’t left us alone. He has christened his grandson to follow in his footsteps. As we trusted him in life, we must trust his choice for successor.”
“Thomas Liam, please come forward.”
Tom released my arm. I stayed put as he moved forward in furs that looked vaguely lion like. When he got to the steps, he kneeled not climbing to the top.
The man held a scepter, and I had to give it a double take to ensure it wasn’t the one I’d brought from Fairy. It wasn’t. It was smaller, and the jewel inside was ruby red.
He said some words under his breath as he lightly tapped each of Tom’s shoulders much like his grandfather had. Was the ceremony all for show? Had the King crowned the future King before his death? A servant rushed forward on unseen cues and brought a crown, which was placed on Tom’s head.
“Rise, Thomas Liam, King of All Shifters.”
There was a roar from the crowd, and I clapped, noticing Flynn, Maggie and Tristrom, who stood off to the side near the front. They didn’t see me staring as their eyes were fixed on Tom. I turned back in time to see Tom had ascended the stairs. The man who’d performed the ceremony had already moved off to the side. When Tom raised a hand, everyone went on bended knee. I was one of the last because I hadn’t been prepared. The maid had warned me but didn’t tell me the signal that would warrant such an act.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I become your King. My grandfather was a great man. And I promise to continue his legacy. Stand with me as one.”
Everyone stood. Again, I was late to act. It was awe inspiring as Tom’s name was chanted by everyone in attendance. It was hard to imagine that some of these people were conspiring against him. However, from history class, I knew what the potential for power did to people. In history, kingdoms had been toppled for less.
“Let us feast,” Tom called.
The roar only got louder. Then there was a choreographed dance of sorts as tables were moved into place. At the same time, someone came to my side and ushered me up the stairs to stand next to Tom as everything was moved into place. No one was asked to leave, as long tables were maneuvered around to be placed on either side of the red runner. Chairs were set shortly after. Within five minutes, the room had been transformed into a dining hall.
“Let us feast,” Tom said again as he urged me forward with a hand at the small of my back.
A table had also been placed on the stage to face the room. It was fit for a king and queen with high back chairs. How weird was that? I was no queen, yet Tom was a king.
Chairs were scooted out by people waiting to seat us. Tom stood before the table.
“As we dine on the finest food, I want to introduce my second. Douglas from America.”
Doug? Maggie’s Doug?
And it was. The shaggy-haired boy stepped forward in clothing befitting an English or Irish Lord as it were. Doug hadn’t flown over with us. When did he get here? How long had I slept?
“And friend to my consort, Margret of America.”
Maggie appeared in a silver gown. They stood on either side of us. Once we were seated, the rest of the crowd sat.
I struggled not to fidget. I needed to talk to Tom. There was so much to ask. I glanced around for Flynn and Tristrom when Riona approached with a tray.
Maggie leaned over. “Will she ever give up?”
Riona’s eyes darted over. Maggie smirked, which shocked me. Riona kept a straight faced and bowed before Tom. He nodded, allowing her to speak.
“I’ve brought you spoils of my kill this afternoon. This is a tribute to prove I’m a worthy candidate to stand beside you as queen. If not first wife, then second.”
Her eyes landed on me. The chill was frosty.
“Thanks, Riona.”
She placed large plates of meat before each of us. The singed meat looked barely cooked. The smell made me want to gag.
“Is there a problem?”
I glanced up from the plate pooling with heated blood into the calculating eyes of Riona.
“No,” I said coolly.
“It looks good,” Tom said.
She bowed her head and took a few backward steps before turning.
“Just eat a little,” Tom said under his breath.
Maggie tapped my leg to get my attention. I turned to face her. Her narrowed gaze landed on me. There was nothing I could do. I didn’t want to eat it either. Besides what animal had it come from? We traded glances unable to speak because the roar in the room had dulled. I knew asking Tom any question could weaken me in the eyes of his enemies.
A knife and fork had been placed in front of us with a goblet by frantic servers. Tom didn’t hesitate. He begins to cut into his meat only to be stopped by Doug.
“Wait my King.” Doug used his knife cut into the meat on Tom’s plate and tasted it. He swallows and lets several moments pass before he added, “It’s not poisoned.”
Tom didn’t waste any time digging into the food. I took more time to cut. As I did, I saw that only the barest hint of the meat had been cooked at all. The rest was a bloody red mess. No hint of pink at all. I wasn’t sure how I would stomach taking a bite.
Considering all the things I’d done in my life, this wasn’t the worst. I cut and took a small bite to my mouth. I did my best not to gag as the meat was chewy, and every bite had blood trickling down my throat.
Maggie coughed beside me, taking the napkin to her mouth to spit out her meat. She ate burgers medium rare, but this was raw by cooking standards. It was as if they took the meat and seared it just long enough to burn any stray hair or fur left on the animal.
I forced myself to swallow and quickly brought the goblet to my lips to help swallow the bad taste down.
My eyes watered on impact. A slow burn made its way down the back of my throat. We’d been given some alcohol. It certainly wasn’t juice, soda or water. It took every ounce in me, not to choke and show my age.
I knew I had an audience and looked up to see Riona focused on me. She sat at a table with Flynn, Tristrom, and Mia. I forced myself to take another bite and chased it with more of the drink.
Somehow, I manage to eat about a fourth of the meat along with drinking two goblets of whatever alcohol had been served.
It loosened my tongue, and I stood. “To the King!” I raised my goblet.
A course of shouts of Long Live the King followed. The room began to spin, and Tom became three of himself along with several arms as he waved them at someone.
“Can you walk with her back to her room? She isn’t feeling well.”
“Come on Mercy,” Flynn said taking my arm.
“Tom, make sure to come to my room later,” I said all too loudly.
It was all part of the game. I had to let that girl know who Tom belonged to, so she would leave him alone.
“Soon,” Tom said and winked.
“He winked at me,” I said, smiling into Flynn’s face. “He’s such a sweetie.”
“Let’s go.” Flynn wasn’t so nice.
“Why are you crabby all the time?”
We’d made it to the stairwell. Once we were out of sight, Flynn bent, and I was airborne.
“Hey,” I complained.
“You can barely walk. No one told you to drink so much.”
“I had to eat that nasty steak to save face.”
He glared at me. “You didn’t have to do anything.”
I closed my eyes because Flynn was moving way too fast. The spiral staircase was dizzying. “You know the last time you carried me like this. You wouldn’t kiss me. Will you kiss me now knowing how much I love you?”
We stopped abruptly and set on my feet. Flynn perched me against the wall and h
overed above me.
“What did you say?”
I had no clue. So I just said what was on my mind. “Are you going to mate with Mia? Is she better than being with me? Am I so bad?”
His blue eyes melted on me. I reached up to touch his cheek but only felt air. “Are you real? Probably not. You’re just my imagination aren’t you?”
Then I felt my knees begin to buckle. “I’m falling for you,” I said with a giggle.
I rode on a cloud until I felt something solid beneath me. I fluttered my eyes open and found my prince above me. “God, you’re pretty. Do you know that? Of course, you do? I wish I was that pretty. Then maybe you’d love me the way I love you,” I rambled.
“Mercy, you are—”
“Uh oh. I think I’m going to be sick.”
I lifted up and began to gag. When the toilet appeared before me, I puked my ever living guts out into a toilet. I wanted to face plant on the seat, but someone held me up. My stomach rolled again, and I yacked up some more.
For a long time, I knelt in front of a porcelain god and gave tribute. The room spun along with me. When the dry heaving finally subsided, a damp cloth was placed on my head.
“She poisoned me,” I rasp.
My throat felt raw, and a cup was pressed to my lips. I turned my head away, not liking the idea of anything in my stomach.
“Drink Mercy. It will help.”
I shook my head. “No, it won’t.”
Flynn persisted until I drank. Only I lurch to the toilet as soon as the liquid hit my throat. It had been cold going down, but it burned coming back up.
“She poisoned me,” I said again. “You know we can’t get sick.”
Flynn’s hand was on my back. “How much did you drink?”
“Two glasses shouldn’t make me sick, right?”
His brows furrow. “Where is Luke? Shouldn’t he be here to make you better?”
“That’s the question. I’m not even sure he’s real. Maybe you’re not real, and I’m still in Fairy.”
“You’re not in Fairy.” He stood. “Come on. Let’s get you in bed.”
The effects of the alcohol hadn’t totally gone away. “You just want to see me naked.”
“I’ve seen you naked.”
“Have not,” I countered, thinking he was teasing me.
“Have too. In that room.”
“It’s was just a dream,” I protested. “Besides, if it wasn’t, why are you with Mia?”
“You went to Fairy to have a shot at finding Luke. He’s back. I won’t stand in your way.”
He stood and walked to the door. “Get some rest Mercy. Whatever caused you to be sick, needs to work its way out of your system.”
“Flynn, please…”
But he was gone.
Chapter Twelve
Too weak to move, I eventually fell asleep on the bed fully dressed. I dreamed of having a cool, damp towel on my forehead as my stomach flip-flopped throughout the night. It felt like I was dying.
When the sun’s cheery rays finally woke me up, I made a beeline for the bathroom to dry heave in the toilet. I had no idea how humans did it. Being sick flat out sucked.
There was one thing I planned to do once I felt better. I wanted to kill Riona for poisoning me. I sat on the cool tiles and was grateful the bathroom smelled fresh.
A tapping sound came from somewhere. I ignored it, not possessing the strength to stand on my own. When the tapping got louder and more persistent, I rolled to my side and tried to push up to my feet. I got halfway to standing when a voice stopped me.
“Mercy,” Tom said.
I faced the other way and couldn’t see him. He came up behind me.
“You’re still dressed from last night,” he said, helping me to my feet and walking me back to the bed. I sat even though the mattress begged me to lay flat or maybe that was me who begged.
“You look like hell.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled.
“Flynn said you weren’t feeling well. But I thought maybe you were jet lagged.”
I met his eyes. “If you call being poisoned jet lagged, then maybe.”
“Do you honestly believe you were poisoned? Flynn mentioned you said something like that.”
I gave him my best evil eye as I tried to let the nauseous feeling die away.
“I don’t know Tom. When do you and I ever get sick on our own?”
He thought about it. “I’ll have my people look into it. Everyone else is fine.”
“Don’t be dense. She wants me out of the way, so she can take my place.” He wilted and sat next to me with a heavy exhale. I didn’t want to beat him up. He had a lot going on. “Besides, I’m glad you’re here. Have you talked to Maggie since last night?”
“No. After you left, I was summoned into another meeting.”
“You’re a busy man.”
“I swear I miss going to class and homework. I never wanted this. I’m trying to find a way to hand over the reins to my mother. Otherwise, I’m destined to spend the rest of my life playing politics. I won’t be able to go back and finish school.”
I felt bad for him, but we were getting off track.
“A lot of people would kill to be in your shoes. But trust me, I get it.” I patted his hand. “There is something you need to know. Maggie didn’t quite fill you in on all that happened the night before Brent turned and got stuck.”
I told him the story Maggie had given me and how we saw the same guy downstairs in the kitchen.
“Why would he have been there?”
“Exactly,” I replied.
He got up and paced. “There is only one cook in the kitchen who fits your description. Her grandson is Huck one of my trusted friends.”
“It sounds like you didn’t send him to the US.”
He folded his hands behind his neck. “I didn’t.”
“Do you know why he would come and not contact you? I don’t want to blame him, but after he showed, Brent gets stuck in animal form. If your grandfather hadn’t been on the verge of dying, would you have brought Brent to Ireland to help him become human again?”
Tom glared at me, but I didn’t think he meant it in a bad way. He was staring off into space trying to figure this out.
“If I can’t trust Huck, I can’t trust anyone.” We heard a knock, but it wasn’t at my door. Tom sighed. “Duty calls.”
He walked around the other side of my bed towards the outer wall. Then stopped in front of a panel I hadn’t noticed before. He slid a pocket door into the wall and stepped through and closed it. Interesting.
I fell back on the bed, which turned out to be a mistake. Without a distraction, nausea made my head spin. The thought of food made me want to hurl. So, I lay there willing the dizziness to subside. It wasn’t long before I had another visitor.
“Eme, I heard. Are you sick?”
Maggie climbed on the bed and sat next to me.
“I feel awful,” I whined. “I take it back. I don’t want to be human if I have to go through this.”
She laughed some. “Let Mama Maggie get you some water.”
“No,” I protested, reaching for her wrist. “Nothing will stay down.”
She left anyway and returned with a cup from the bathroom which was meant for rinsing your mouth out, not for drinking.
When she came close, I shook my head, which made me feel worse, but I knew the water would push me over the edge.
“Fine, you’re acting like a five-year-old, Eme. I’ll find my way to the kitchen and see if I can get you a ginger ale. Mom always gave me some when I was sick. I’ll find some crackers too.”
“Maggs,” I said, stretching a hand out towards her. “You can’t go traipsing through the castle without a guard. That guy might corner you.”
“I’m not without the ability to protect myself. Besides, you look bad. If someone doesn’t get some food into you, you won’t be around to care if I’m dead or alive.”
Then she was gone. I closed my eyes su
mmoning the strength to follow after her. Just as I opened my eyes to will myself to get up, shining azure eyes were above me.
“Mercy. How are you feeling?”
“Like death warmed over,” I complained.
Luke’s cool hands swiped over my forehead. “You are very much alive.”
“Are you?” I asked in all seriousness. “You’re here, but you’re not. I’m starting to believe you’re just a figment of my imagination.”
He came closer causing my heart to race. I thought he might kiss me. Only, his lips ghosted over mine in his signature airbrush kiss. It brought me back to early in our relationship when I thought I couldn’t kiss him, and everything had been just that simple.
“Do I feel like a ghost?”
My hands gripped the sheets. My emotions were a roll coaster of ups and downs. He had to know how hard it was for me. I married him and told him to death do us part. Yet, I loved another and felt guilty even as my back arched off the bed, so I could get closer to him.
Like the riot of emotions I had, the door flew open, and Flynn stepped in.
“I guess I should come back.”
The moment was gone, and I felt like I was splitting in two. My back hit the bed as the breath left me.
“No, I have to go.” And Luke was gone before I could protest.
Flynn headed towards the door.
“Wait Flynn. I need to go after Maggie. She’s gone running around on her own.”
“Why?” he asked from halfway across the room.
“She’s trying to take care of me, but…” and I told him about the guy and Maggie’s suspicions. When I finished, he turned away from me abruptly.
“Wait. What about me?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “You’ll slow me down. I’ll send Tristrom to watch over you. Or if you prefer, I can send Mia.”
I gritted my teeth. Of course, he would say that. And there was no way I wanted to spend quality time with Flynn’s latest girlfriend. I’d rather claw my eyes out.
So I lay there waiting to see who would be next to come through my door. Part of me wished for Sebastian. He could help end my misery.
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