The Cat Shifter (Book 1 of Shifter Series)

Chapter 75

Poa bit back a small giggle but did what I told her to do and pulled her hood over her face. She didn't say a word and placed her hands behind her back and clasped her hands together.

As soon as Poa was finished pulling her hood over her face, the tent flap was pushed open, and we all looked that way to see that Derrick stood in the entrance, bowing his head and looking at the ground. "Your Majesty, the Witch King and Prince are here to see how they can help the High Queen," he said.

"Prince?" Brody asked and raised an eyebrow in question while he looked at me. "I didn't know that they had a son. Why wasn't he at the meeting? The other princes were there, right?"

I shrugged and grimaced, pressing my lips into a thin line. "They were," I said. "I do not know why he wasn't there, but I think he was doing something else, which was why he wasn't. Their other kids were."

Derrick looked up as soon as I said something, and his eyes grew wide while relief washed over his face. "Oh, Your Majesty," he said and bowed his head a little, and his whole body instantly grew relaxed. "I didn't realize that you were awake. Are you ok?"

"I am, now," I said and slowly nodded, biting back a small smile, amused. "Thank you, Derrick. I do appreciate it."

"Of course," he said and bowed before he cleared his throat and bowed deeper, shifting on his feet. "Now, would you like me to send them away, or are you wanting to go ahead and talk to them?"

"They aren't going to go away," I said and shook my head, licking my lips. "They will be waiting for us to let them in to help me. I do need to talk to him also because unfortunately, we are going to be facing something much worse than we thought at first."

Derrick nodded and pressed his lips into a thin line. Worry flashed through his eyes before he looked at the rest of the people in the room before he looked at me again. He didn't say a word and slowly blinked, and I had a feeling that he wanted to know what he needed to do.

I bit back a tired sigh and rubbed the bridge of my nose before I started to get out of bed because I knew that I was going to have to greet them, even though I had been the one they were wanting to help.

"Are you sure?" Brody asked and grabbed my arm to try and stop me from standing all the way. He frowned and furrowed his brows while he cocked his head and studied me, and worry flashed through his eyes. "I mean, you have been in a coma or something like that before all of this, and I don't think it's a good idea."

I bit back a small laugh and shook my head. "I feel fine, Brody," I said and shook my head again before I cleared my throat with a small smile on my face while I looked at him, tucking my head closer to my chest. "I want to go ahead and greet them."

"Then I want to come with you," Ray said, and I nodded and pressed my lips into a thin line, biting back a small sigh of relief because I was grateful that she wanted to come with me without me having to say a word.

"You can," I said and looked at Brody, gently pulling him to a standing position. "You're coming with me, too."

"And I am as well," Ro said and took a step closer to us. He looked at his sister and looked at me, pressing his lips into a thin line. His eyes flashed in annoyance while he slowly blinked and set his jaw, silently daring me to say anything different.

I nodded in agreement before I looked at Amity, growing serious. "I'm going to have to ask you to stay here, Ams," I said and silently told her that I wanted Poa to check on her while I brought the king and prince here because I knew that they would not leave until they got the "whole" story about what happened to me.

Amity hesitated before she slowly nodded, knowing full well what I meant. "Yes, Your Majesty," she said, her voice barely above a whisper while she looked away from me, and I held back an eye roll while I pressed my lips into a thin line, annoyed.

"Amity, please," I said softly with a small scowl on my face and narrowed my eyes while I shook my head. "You know better."

Amity bit back a small smile and slowly nodded, not saying a word. Amusement flashed through her eyes while she studied me before she looked toward Derrick, who was watching us with a nervous look on his face, and I had a feeling that he hated keeping the Warlock King and Prince waiting.

I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet before I looked at Carver. "I want you and Trevor to stay and make sure that everyone else stays safe until we return. I know that Stephen is going to stay, and I trust him enough not to do anything stupid or to leave the safety of the tent without one of us near him." I flashed him a small warning look, and the Jaguar Prince bit back a small smile before he bowed while Poa giggled, amused.

"I will stay put, Your Majesty," he said before he cleared his throat and stood, putting his hands behind his back and clasping his hands behind his back. "I do not want to leave our friend by themselves, for I do not believe it is safe."

He didn't want to leave his mate...

Poa didn't say a word out loud but through the bond they shared, and a small smirk appeared on the Jaguar Prince's face while he slowly nodded.

"And I will keep an eye on everything and everyone inside of here," Carver said and slowly nodded. "Go ahead and get the Warlock King and Prince because I am sure that they are getting antsy with staying outside of the border thinking that you are dying, Your Majesty."

I rolled my eyes and pressed my lips into a thin line because I knew that what he said was true; they were getting antsy and annoyed with Amity and whoever else was with me because they wanted to help make sure that I stayed alive and well.

I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet while I looked at Derrick. "Then let's go ahead and get going, Derrick," I said and gestured for him to lead the way to the Warlock King and Prince. "Lead us to the entrance. Everything else will be fine here."

Derrick slowly bowed and nodded, not looking at me. "Of course, Your Majesty," he said. "Follow me."

And with and without another word, we left, leaving everyone behind and watching us leave while Brody placed his hand in mine and rubbed up against me, silently telling himself that I was still safe and alive.

Oh, Gods keep us safe...