The Cat Shifter (Book 1 of Shifter Series)

Chapter 80

Stephen hesitated and took a step toward his mate. His whole body grew tense, and he looked at me before he looked at King Philip. He didn't say a word, and I could tell that he was nervous about us talking about what Poa was.

I hesitated and licked my lips before I cleared my throat and shifted on the bed while my mother held me tighter. "Unfortunately, that is not something that I can tell you," I said and sat up taller while I held my cup tighter in my hand but not hard enough to break it. "We can talk about a few things, but that is not something that I want to discuss out loud unless our friend is comfortable with it," I said.

"Are we invited?" Stephen asked before King Philip could say anything, and he earned an annoyed look from the Warlock King. He hesitated and pressed his lips into a thin line while he bowed his head, but he didn't say a word to the king.

"Are you able to get away from him?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question while I looked at him, silently talking about his father, and Stephen pressed his lips into a thin line and looked nervous. "Or is that something that you will not be able to do that?"

"I will be getting Cornelius's help," Stephen said and slowly nodded, "I also will get my brother to help me so that I can meet you, Your Majesty. My brother does want to meet you and does want to make sure that we are all on the same page as to how to run the kingdom, Your Majesty." He cleared his throat, and his cheeks turned red while he submitted. "He is worried, but he does respect you and wants to serve you."

I bit back a small chuckle, feeling amused and not worried about his brother trying to take the kingdom away from me. "Is our friend free that day?" I asked and glanced at Poa before I looked at him, deciding that I would answer the brother's question later because this was what we needed to do first.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he said and slowly nodded in confirmation. "Our friend was the one that suggested it." He gestured toward Poa, and Poa bowed before she stood, biting back a small giggle.

"Then we can meet tomorrow," I said and nodded in confirmation. "Your brother, you, and I can meet at a later date to discuss everything else."

Stephen bit back a small sigh of relief and slowly nodded, and his shoulders slowly started to sink. "Yes, Your Majesty," he said. "I will let him know that we will meet at a later date." He paused and cocked his head to the side when Poa told him to ask me something before he looked at me. "Our friend is wondering if they can join us for that discussion."

I bit back a small smile and nodded in confirmation. "They can join us in the meeting," I replied. "I wouldn't mind it one bit." I cleared my throat and shifted on the bed, tapping the cup of tea, nervously. "If Cornelius would like to meet with us at this later date, then he can come, as well, but I do not want to make it too... obvious that we are meeting with each other."

Pain and sadness flashed through Stephen's eyes, and he slowly shook his head, silently indicating that would not be something that he could do. "Unfortunately I am going to have to decline on his behalf," he said, nervously as if he was scared about my reaction. "It will be hard enough for both of us to sneak out. With three of us sneaking out..." He shrugged and grimaced while he trailed off before he cleared his throat and shifted on his feet, bowing. "My apologies, Your Majesty. I hope you can forgi-"

"There is nothing to forgive, Stephen, so hush, and do not apologize to me about him not being able to make it to our meeting," I softly scolded, interrupting him with a shake of my head. "I understand. I just want to make sure that he is still safe."

Stephen breathed a small sigh of relief and seemed to grow lighter as if he had been worried about what I would say. "He is safe," he confirmed with a small smile and a quick bow. "Thank you, Your Majesty. We do appreciate it."

"Of course," I said and turned to look at King Philip and Austin. "Was there anything else that you wanted to discuss that doesn't have to deal with our friend, Your Majesty?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question.

King Philip and Austin looked at each other, and Austin subtly shook his head, biting back a soft smile. The king slowly nodded in confirmation before he looked at us. "We will talk about everything tomorrow," he said and bowed in respect before he stood.

The king paused and cleared his throat, shifting on his feet. "Is it ok if we check everyone over before we leave? I am sure that our friend has done a very good job, but for my peace of mind, I would like to as well." He looked at Poa and flashed her a small smirk and a wink, and Poa bit back a small giggle and curtsied without saying a word.

"Our friend thanks you and is fine with you checking them over, Your Majesty," Stephen said, speaking for Poa. "However they are wishing that you check out Her Majesty last so that she can finish drinking her tea." Stephen gave me a pointed look and raised both eyebrows in unison.

I bit back a tired sigh and slowly nodded before I started to drink the tea still weirded out by the taste of it.

King Philip bit back a small chuckle and slowly nodded before he looked at my mother with a soft sad smile on his face. "Then allow me to start with you first Your Grace, if that is ok with you, of course." He bowed and held out his hand for her to take.

My mother grew stiff but tried to make it seem like she wasn't nervous. She hesitated before she placed her hand in his and a look of nervousness flashed through her eyes that she tried but failed to hide, and King Philip's gaze seemed to grow softer.

"I promise that I will not hurt you in any way that the old king did," he said and bowed his head, submitting ever so slightly. "I swear it to the moon and to the stars that I will never hurt you in the way that he did."

You have my word...