All of us looked up to see a massive shifter sauntering in, his wide shoulders swinging arrogantly. Like the king, he wore no shirt and his body rippled with muscle. Muscle that was a canvas to the inked artwork that covered every single piece of his body that was bare. Even his head, that was completely shaved, was covered in exquisite artwork. Obvious silver bar piercings decorated his tapered ears but neither the piercings nor the tattoos were the most striking feature about him. No, it was his stunning deep purple eyes that glowed bright in the streaming sun.
“Cat got your tongue beauty.” He grinned and folded his arms over his chest.
“My name is Remnant Dark, not beauty.”
“GeneralRemnant Dark.” Emon corrected me.
My hands fisted in my lap. “Former.” I snapped, not bothering to spare Emon the murderous glare I directed towards his friend. “There is no crown for me to serve anymore.”
A deep rumble emitted from the king. “You forget our alliance so easily, General Dark.”
Violet eyes of a predator, looked between Emon and I with an amused smirk.
“So it’s like that, huh?” He commented dryly, allowing his eyes to trail lazily over my body.
I recognized the look. He was assessing my weaknesses. I had already done the same. He favored his weight to the left, there was a slight decrease in his muscle girth of the right upper chest, but he made up for it in the light way he stood on the balls of his feet. Ready to pounce at moments notice.
He lowered his massive body into a chair at the far end of the table, his eyes never leaving mine, and leaned back stretching his body on full display.
“It is exactly like that.” Emon snarled, leaning over me. “Knock it off before I’m forced to kick your ass in front of everyone here.”
Bright purple eyes shifted to his king. “You've been gone too long without training, I don’t think it would be my ass that would be getting the kicking, your majesty.”
Penina grinned, her mouthful of masticated apple on full display.
“I’ll be happy to prove it to you later, asshole.” Emon’s claws snapped open and dug into the table.
Bared fangs responded back. “Dickhead.”
“Twinkle Toes.”
The newcomer leaned in slowly with a grin. “Pussy.”
“Good Morning Mistress Dark.” The master healer, Jarquinn Riss, swept inside the room. Emon straightened quickly back into his chair as did his friend. “I have just seen our patient and she is doing very well. Still asleep, clearly, but well.” The healer's eyes narrowed on both the shifter king and his friend with reprove, even glancing at Penina who suddenly started to close her mouth while chewing.
“Thank you Master Riss.” I inclined my head to his son that had come along with him, “good morning Quinn.”
Quinn smiled. “Good Morning, Mistress Dark, you look well rested this morning.” He sat next to the sulking Eshe while the healer took a seat next to the purple eyed shifter.
The room was full.Too full. I fisted my hands in my lap, feeling trapped.
Conversations broke out all at once, each one attempting to talk over one another as if they hadn’t been in one room together in a long time. While Emon was the center of gravity drawing them together despite their differences.
I fisted my hands in my lap. The buzzing noise of their chatter being replaced by that familiar roaring once again. Fog clouded my vision and a cold sweat broke out across my temple. My chest seized when I attempted to inhale, finding no air to relieve the gripping tightness.
I needed to leave. I didn’t belong here. I was better off alone.
Always alone.
My legs went numb, trembling beneath the table.
“Breathe.” The shifter king leaned towards me whispering low enough that only I could hear him. To anyone else it looked as if he were exchanging secrets about his friends.
“I can’t. I can’t control it.” The soft vulnerable confession barely whispered across my lips.
Chapter 45
Emonhummedagainstmyear and reached down to my trembling fists, flattening it out with his own like he had done the night before in his study.
