Page 158 of Kingdom of Aramis

“Jesus, it’s not like you won’t see them later,” Gracelin complains, and before I can say another word, the three girls bundle me out of the office, through the palace, and to a Roman bath style area. I still don’t have the whole layout of this huge place, but from the looks of it, I’m going to spend a lot of time in here. There’s a large communal pool with statues of women holding jugs with water flowing out of them. I see massage tables and chairs in a separate room with one-way glass for us to see out, but no one can see in. On the other side of the glass is an outdoor pool area, but it’s miserable outside, with snow flurries drifting through the air.

“Oh wow, winter has arrived,” I murmur as they hustle me into one of the massage chairs, and I stick my feet into the foot spa.

“Not quite. We will have a few days like this before the snow finally sticks to the ground. Thankfully the colosseum has retractable roofing, so if it’s like this tomorrow, no one will get wet.” Gretchin takes the seat next to me, Gracelin sits on my other side, and Violet takes the one next to her. “Now tell us everything that happened over the last few days, and don’t leave out any details.”

I watch as four beauticians approach us and take seats in front of the spas. I don’t ever remember having taken the time to have a pedicure before, so this will be interesting. I’m also kind of worried about sharing everything with the girls, because I don’t really want the four strangers to hear everything.

Gretchin must understand my dilemma, because she pulls out four stones and hands one to each of us. “Privacy stones,”she explains. “You can talk, and none of them will hear a thing, but we can still hear if they are talking shit about us,” she tells us, and I look at one, trying to ascertain if she heard what Gretchin said, but she doesn’t even lift her head.

“Don’t worry, this is a common thing for them. Our moms do it all the time,” Gracelin assures me, so I let go of my worry and share my very entertaining tale with my girls.

Chapter

Forty

Colbie

The next morning, I’m woken very early by the queens, their daughters, Violet, and a slew of maids. They kick Micah and Brodie out of my bed, the two mates who won the rounds of rock, paper, scissors they played last night. I rolled my eyes as I watched them play rounds and rib each other good-naturedly. Thankfully, there were no hurt feelings when I said I would only accept two in my bed. There’s room for more, but if there was ever a day when a girl needs to not wake up drenched in sweat, it’s the morning of her coronation.

I’m primped and prodded and stuffed into my gorgeous gown. It’s royal blue with short, off the shoulder sleeves, delicate beaded embroidery on the bodice, and a full skirt. I look and feel like a princess when they are finally done with me. My hair is down with gentle waves, and I have blue kitten heels on my feet.

“Okay, so usually challenge day happens before the coronation, but because we want this done as soon as possible, Lucas is going to ask the gathered crowd if anyone wants tochallenge you after your crowning,” Mia explains as we make our way through the palace to the waiting vehicles.

“Aramis was not happy about challenge day and said it was a shifter thing, not something she condoned,” I warn her, and she nods.

“Yes, but if she wants your reign to be successful, then she should allow it. The shifters will respect you more. If someone is brave enough to go against you, then shift into your hydra, and they will quickly concede. Hydras are basically unbeatable,” Evie recommends.

“Then you will be asked to appoint your council,” Layla advises me, and I wince. Shit, I haven’t had a chance to let the others know they will no longer be needed. Oh well, I didn’t like any of them anyway, so if they are pissed at me, it’s not a huge deal.

“Once you and your mates are crowned, the full power of the shifters will settle over you. It might be painful, but don’t show any weakness. The shifters won’t respect you if you do,” Gretchin tells me as the vehicles travel from the palace to the colosseum on the far side of the shifter city. My mates will meet me there.

“Then you can make any declarations you like to. Now would be a good time to announce repealing the crossbreed ban, as well as announcing your intention to create a more inclusive shifter nation by welcoming members of the mer, fairy, and equine shifters onto your council and into your bed with your new mates, who will be introduced and crowned just before you’re crowned.”

“Remember, anyone who beats you not only gets to claim the crown, but they can also claim your mates as well,” Gracelin warns me.

“What?” I screech. Have they told me this before? My creatures blaze with righteous fury. There is no way I am losing my mates to any asshole who thinks they can take them. “That’snot fucking happening,” I growl, and Gracelin smirks like she is pleased with my reaction.

“Hang on to the anger,” she taunts me.

“You did that on purpose.” I stab a finger in her direction, and she shrugs.

“Whatever works. I know you now, Colbie, and you’re too nice. You would end up losing to someone because you don’t want to hurt them. I gave you a reason not to lose. Shifters appreciate strength, and if you kill any challengers, you will be seen as that much stronger.”

“I don’t want to have to kill anyone.” My anger fades and is replaced with worry. Will I really be able to do this? It’s such a giant change in everything I have ever known.

“Well, they won’t have the same hesitation, so think about whether you want this or not.”

“And the fight is anything goes, so if the challenger is magical, they can use their powers to attack. Seriously, the hydra will be the best option. Sable discovered an obscure text that says a hydra is impervious to magical attacks as well,” Layla explains.

“Okay, hydra it is. Hopefully I can shift quickly enough.”

The queens exchange a look.

“Colbie, your shift is a lot quicker than most. You just seem to change in the blink of an eye, while the rest of us take at least a few seconds,” Evie explains.

“Once a fight starts, it doesn’t finish until one party dies or submits. Hopefully when they see your hydra, they will submit immediately, but a lot of shifters are arrogant and will see you as a major challenge. Be prepared to have to kill someone,” Mia warns.

Fuck, maybe I’m lucky Gracelin warned me about the winner getting my mates. The idea of killing someone is abhorrent to me, but my creatures are bloodthirsty little fuckers and areexcited about it. There is still definitely a disconnect between my human and shifter sides.