Page 90 of Kingdom of Aramis

“So what are you?” I ask, realizing I never got an answer to my question.

“Polar bear,” he replies and growls at me, a deep rumble that comes from his chest. “And he’s dying to meet you.” I let him return to his seat and fan my face, trying to cool down. Holy crap, a polar bear. I’m pretty sure they eat people. Or are those grizzlies? I’m not sure, but sign me up for Liam eating me, I’m just not sure about his bear. My creature is waiting to be let out so she can play with her mates, but I know for sure that’s not a good idea. She’s so much bigger than all of them, except maybe Hunter’s dragon. They are similar in size.

“What are you, if you don’t mind me asking? It seems fair.” Micah smirks at me, dragging my attention away from the bad boy shifter.

I return to my seat and wink at him. “How about I surprise you?”

“Let’s go to the waterfall, and then Micah can be there to help Colbie in the water. Your creature might enjoy a swim,” Hunter suggests, and I widen my eyes in surprise. Do hydras like water? Shit, I know nothing about the creature I house. Maybe I need to go to the archives and ask Sable for some help. Another thing to add to my to-do list.

“You’re a water creature?” Micah sounds surprised. “There aren’t many water shifters. There are a few krakens, sharks, and whales, so are you one of them?”

Brodie laughs and slaps a hand on the table. “Man, you have no idea. You are going to lose your shit, I can promise you that.”

Chapter

Twelve

Micah

Ihadn’t expected to fit in with this group of shifters. I’m almost double their age, and they are a well-known bunch due to the fact that the prince is in the group. I’ve worked with them before, but we’ve never been close, yet they welcomed me like I’ve always been part of the team. There’s no posturing like there often is with a bunch of males, and I can’t say I hate the dynamic. I’m still blown away by the fact that I now wear a bond mark.

I probably don’t participate in the conversation while we’re eating as much as I should, but I can’t take my eyes off the queen, my mate. She’s gorgeous. Watch Team One grills her for all of her favorite foods, colors, and things to do, and I’m surprised to learn she owns a bakery in the neutral zone. Although I haven’t been there, it’s a popular place where a lot of the military teams eat. They always rave about the delicious treats they can get there. This past week, they’ve been bringing back coffee with floating marshmallow animals, which have been a big hit.

Throughout the whole meal, she’s open and bubbly and nothing like I expected a new royal to be like. I just hope and pray that doesn’t change with all her responsibilities. The absolute delight on her face when she found out I was a mer left me speechless. It’s gotten better, but for a long time, learning I was a mer was met with derision and scorn. She was actually excited, and to learn that she is an aquatic creature as well has me bristling with anticipation to swim with her this afternoon.

I’m not really sure what I have to offer her. I have no inner animal to shift into to defend her. My warrior skills are excellent, and in the water, not many can best me, but I still doubt what I can bring to the team. Mer are looked down on by a high percentage of the influential shifters, and me being Colbie’s mate could be detrimental to her rule.

Watch Team One explained she’s only shifted once, and that it’s our job to get her used to it over the next few days. They also told me that I am not the only new member of their team. Apparently, they’ve always known there are six of them, but the final member had been missing. When the magic activated today and I almost drowned on dry land, two more were added to their group—me and another unknown.

General Bryson ordered for me to join Watch Team One, saying he will inform my old team of the switch. He assured me I will retain my title as captain, but that my responsibilities now lie in keeping the queen safe. That’s not all it entails though. No, this woman is my mate, and not only do I want her to feel safe, but I also want her to feel the same kind of unconditional acceptance that she showed me. Unlike an animal shifter, there’s nothing inside me pushing to be near her, but I feel it all the same—the pull to my mate and urge to hold her close and never let her go, amongst other more carnal desires, which will have to wait for now. We have a job to do, and making sure she hasa handle on her new abilities is at the top of the list, as well as retrieving this other shifter.

It didn’t surprise me when they explained the reasons they think he stayed away. More mer than I can put into words feel the same way, but my cousin Elliot and I could see that it was not productive to continue to shun the rest of shifter society. It builds animosity and hate, and a civil war between species won’t do any of us any good, especially with the rise in feral shifters. We don’t need to be fighting a war on two fronts. The two of us joined the shifter military in hopes that we could attempt to foster better relationships.

King Lucas has made every effort to reintegrate the mers, fairies, and equines into shifter society, but he has forever been rebuked. Hopefully with the new queen, we can usher in a change that is so desperately needed. When Colbie said she invited mer and fairy representation to the council, it renewed my hope in our cause. I can only pray that the mer council doesn’t reject her offer, but I know my people are stubborn. Hopefully seeing her with a mer mate will be the chance we need, especially one whose father is head of the mer council. I will send my own missive to my father, asking for him to consider the offer. I just hope whoever he selects to interview aligns with the same ideals of fostering better relations.

“Come on. I don’t know about you, but I’m dying to get my eyes on Colbie’s gorgeous creature again.” Brodie, who is a bit of a clown, stands up and stretches before grinning at us. “Let’s shift and run there.” His grin drops, and he frowns at me. “Right, you can’t shift on land.”

“Neither can Colbie if she’s a water creature,” I point out a little slowly. Maybe he’s taken one too many hits to the head.

“Colbie’s animal is as comfortable on land as she is in the water,” Hunter replies, also getting to his feet. “But I don’t think she should shift so close to the palace. We’re trying to keep hercreature under wraps for now, so she has a card up her sleeve on challenge day, but I’ll shift, and Micah and Colbie can fly with Gem and me to the waterfall.”

What kind of animal is she that is at home both in the water and land? I rack my brain, trying to think of one, but come up with nothing.

“How about we make this interesting then? First one there gets to have the queen in their bed tonight.” Liam stands up and is already walking toward the exit.

My eyes widen, and Colbie’s mouth drops open in shock as Brodie and Gryffin jump to their feet and hurry after him, stripping off their shirts as they go. Gem huffs and rolls his eyes.

“Well, the palace staff are in for a treat with Watch Team One half naked in the halls. Rumors will be flying within minutes.”

“Not going to join them?” Hunter asks with a gleam in his eye as he reaches out and tugs Colbie to her feet, dragging her along behind him.

“What the fuck?” she splutters, struggling to keep up with him as he all but drags her through the palace.

“One thing you need to know about us is that although we love each other fiercely and are loyal to one another beyond anything, we’re competitive as fuck,” Hunter explains as Gem and I hurry after them.

“Yes, and Hunter and I have a distinct advantage in that we can fly,” Gem gloats. “They need all the head start they can get.”

“Is my bed going to be a regular incentive?” Colbie asks, sounding exasperated. “I don’t want you fighting with each other.”