darkly. “We won’t be able to make shelter at this point.”
There was no fighting this... Oblivion captured me.
* * *
King Elon snorted. “You are going to drop your heir, King Traevon. You can’t keep this up.”
The side of my head bounced against a hard shoulder, and my arms and legs dangled from trembling, protective arms that held me against a heaving male chest. What in the Fae was going on?
Father panted, “To Fairy and back with you. I am perfectly capable of taking care of my daughter.”
Queen Alora sighed heavily. “It’s been two days, King Traevon. You must consider that she is not going to come back from this. If she cannot eat or drink—”
“Shut up!” Father roared. “She will be fine.”
My father was carrying me. I could tell that now.
Where were we? Why couldn’t I open my eyes?
Why were they talking about me?
King Athon stated gently, “Give her to me, King Traevon. I will carry her for only a little while, so that you may catch your breath.”
“Fuck you. You almost killed her two days ago.”
King Athon chuckled. “Fine. Drop your daughter then.”
This was the most bizarre dream…
I wanted to wake up from it. I didn’t think I liked it.
King Elon stated happily, “I will carry her if you would like me—”
“King Athon, will you take her for a moment so that I may catch my breath,” Father asked brusquely, cutting off the other king. “But if you hurt her, I will slit your throat while you sleep.”
“Always with the threats,” King Athon snarled. “Will you just shut the Fae fuck up and give her to me before you collapse from exhaustion? We do not need another liability on our hands. One is enough.”
Queen Mikko grouched quietly, “Well said, King Athon.”
Any time now, my eyes are going to open from this nightmare. But there is this beautiful numbness right over here…
My body was jostled into a much larger male’s embrace, and my head rested against a brutally stiff chest while my frame was engulfed in bulky arms that held me soundly in the same child’s hold my father’s had. Who was this supposed to be?
“There,” Father sniped. “I will take her back in ten minutes.”
King Athon growled, “You’re welcome.”
His voice had vibrated against my ear.
I was in the shifter king’s arms now.
I really wanted to wake up from this horrendous delusion.
But were we walking? Were we walking before?
This was most odd.
Queen Mikko asked softly, “What are we going to do if she doesn’t—”
“Be quiet!” Father barked.
Was that honeysuckle I smelled? I didn’t fancy it. There was something off-putting about it. It smelled disgusting, extremely offensive.
My nose twitched.
Wait…
Oh my Fae, my nose twitched.
I inhaled the honeysuckle scent once more, holding it in.
Holding it. Holding it… Holding it in some more…
I cannot take it anymore. I choked it from my lungs.
Ugh, that was dreadful.
Why did I think that was a good idea?
“Trixie!” Father bellowed. “Is she awake?”
“She coughed,” King Elon stated curiously. “That was new.”
Father patted my face hard. “Trixie! Wake up!”
I wanted to try again. I could do this.
I pulled ferociously at my eyelid—it was Fae damned hard—managing to peek open my right eye.
“Oh, thank you, Fae,” King Traevon prayed reverently. His warm palms cupped my cheeks, and his emerald eyes glistened with unshed tears in the low light. “Stay awake, Trixie. All right? I need you to stay awake for me.”
I croaked, “Father?”
“Yes, it is me.” My father nodded grandly. “Can you open your other eye? I want to see both of your beautiful eyes, Trixie.”
“They look just like yours,” I slurred, creaking open my other eye. I achieved a decent squint, but not the glare I’d set out for. “You are a vain man.”
Father’s laughter sounded hysterical. He snapped his fingers frantically to the side, trying to grab someone’s attention. He was very odd sometimes. Father stated quickly, “Keep talking. Keep telling me off. I don’t care. Just keep speaking.”
“All right,” I slurred. I lifted one trembling finger into the air. “You banished me. Who does that to their own kid? I’ll tell you who. A Fae fucking dickhead. All in the name of this wonderful freedom I didn’t even want. I wanted you.”
Father stalled in taking a canteen from someone’s outstretched hand, his emerald eyes catching mine. “One day, my daughter, you will realize what I did was for you and that you have always had me.”
King Elon choked. “I think I am getting sick.”
“Did you eat those Fae damned berries again?” Queen Alora shrieked.
“No,” King Elon