I was rinsing off my hands when I heard the unmistakable sounds of someone being sick. I knew I needed to get back, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t leave someone alone when they were sick.
“Hello?” I called out quietly. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” A girl replied. “Thanks though.”
“Can I get you anything? Water or something?”
“Water would be great.”
“Ok, hold on one second.” I walked back into the lounge area of the bathroom and filled a small cup with water. I returned to the bathroom and held it under the door. “Here you go.”
“Thanks. This is so embarrassing.”
“Why? You’re sick.” She didn’t say anything. “Do you want me to leave?”
“Oh, no. that’s not what I meant.”
The door opened and the gorgeous girl from the proceedings walked out. The queen.
“Oh my gosh.” I looked down. How was someone supposed to behave around a paranormal queen?
“What? Is there something on my face?” She asked with concern.
“No.” I looked up. “I just uh, haven’t met a queen before.” I left off the paranormal part.
“I don’t feel like a queen today.” She washed her hands and dried them before holding out a hand to me. “I’m Allie.”
“Mary Anne.”
“What brings you to the courts today?”
“I had to come for a friend.”
“A friend?”
Wait. This was the queen. She was going to hear my testimony. “Well my mate, but he’s also my best friend.” I looked down. My nerves were getting the best of me.
She looked at me skeptically for a moment before her expression softened. “I’m human too. You don’t have to be nervous talking to me.”
“Really? You’re human?” I looked at her in a new light.
“Is that surprising?”
“A little.”
She laughed. “I guess it comes from spending so much time with Pterons.”
“I guess.” I still didn’t really understand what a Pteron was, but I had a feeling I wouldn’t want to see one transformed.
“Is there anything else I can do to help you?”
“That’s so sweet of you.” She took a seat in one of the plush chairs. “I’ve been feeling under the weather lately.”
“How long has this been going on?”
“Over a week now.”
“Just nauseous and stuff?”
“Pretty much.”
“Not to be forward,” I prefaced nervously, “but could you be pregnant?”
She touched her belly. “Uh, that’s possible.” She looked away. “It’s frighteningly possible.”
“I don’t know much about this paranormal mating stuff, but I’m guessing humans and Pterons have babies?”
“Of course.” She smiled. “You really don’t know much about The Society, do you?”
“Not at all.”
“Didn’t your mate explain anything? Didn’t he tell you it works like humans?”
“We never discussed it.” Wow that sounded bad.
“I thought he was your best friend?”
“He is. We just never discussed that stuff.”
“Are you all right?” She watched me carefully.
“Fine. I’m fine. I have to get on the witness stand and I’m nervous.” I already sounded ridiculous. Might as well give her an explanation for the nerves.
“Wait. Is your mate on trial?”
“Yes.” I swallowed hard. I needed to tread carefully.
“And you need to stand as a witness?”
“Unforunately.”
“Don’t worry about it. Answer the questions and it will all be over soon.” She sounded sincere.
“Thanks.”
“I need to get back inside. Are you heading that way too?”
“I am. The recess is probably over.”
“In less than a minute. Levi keeps these things on a tight schedule.”
“Levi. That’s the king’s name?”
She smiled again. “Yes. You’re the first person I’ve met in a long time who’s learned my name before my husband’s.”
Husband? So they married too. I kept that realization to myself. She already thought I was a complete airhead when it came to paranormal stuff.
“It was nice meeting you, and thanks so much for the water.”
“Not a problem. I hope you feel better…and well get the answer you want if you test.”
“Thanks. That’s cool of you.”
“What is?”
“That you don’t assume I want it to be one way or another.”
“Everyone has their reasons.”
“Exactly.” She held open the door, and Denny was standing there waiting.