The Shattered Kingdom by Invi Wright

Here is a summary with spoilers for The Shattered Kingdom by Invi Wright

Abby Williams returns to the faerie realm with her best friend, Lillian Collins, after the events of the previous book. Lillian is weak from her time in the human realm, and the two women are placed in guarded accommodations while Kieran, known as Kie, and Mason investigate Lillian's connection to the death of King Malcolm. The situation becomes more complicated when the princes claim that Lillian is their shared fated mate. Queen Gitta is suspicious of Lillian and wants to control what information reaches the court, particularly the revelation that Mason is expected to become king after Kieran surrendered his claim in a bargain with the goddess Zaha. Abby reveals the bargain to Gitta, forcing the queen to confront the political changes taking place within her own family. Mason, meanwhile, wants answers about Lillian's mother, Callie, and the circumstances surrounding Malcolm's death.

Lillian explains to Abby what she remembers about her childhood and her mother's involvement in the conflict between the faeries and the shifters. Callie had been involved with Alpha Theon, Mason's biological father, and had passed information connected to the faerie military and the shifters' delysum supplies. After an attack on the shifters' stores failed, resulting in the deaths of many faeries, seven-year-old Lillian became involved in the events that led to King Malcolm's death. A servant gave Lillian tea containing delysum, and she delivered it to the king without understanding what it would do. Malcolm died after drinking it, and Lillian fled with Callie to the human realm. Lillian says that Callie later died after sacrificing her remaining magic to help her daughter survive. However, Lillian avoids giving a complete account of the servant's identity and the circumstances surrounding the poisoning. Kie and Mason investigate her story and discover evidence of delysum in her blood. They decide that Lillian should not be punished simply for an act she committed as a child, although doubts remain about whether she has told them everything.

As Lillian's health improves in the faerie realm, Abby continues trying to understand what is happening between her friend and the princes. Lillian's apparent mate bond with Kie and Mason is accepted by the court, but Mason does not experience the connection he expects to feel. He suspects that something about Lillian's story is false and begins investigating her past. During an outing to the hot springs, the princes accompany the women, and the encounter becomes uncomfortable for Abby as she feels exposed and humiliated by the way the men behave around her. Mason remains particularly possessive of Abby despite his hostility toward her, and his behavior becomes increasingly difficult for her to interpret. Abby later searches Mason's room for information and discovers a map of the Redstall Forest, revealing that he is still trying to understand the family and circumstances that led to his abandonment. Mason catches her and admits that he does not believe Lillian is truly his mate. He also suspects that Callie may still be alive, reasoning that Lillian's behavior does not fit the story she has told about her mother's death. Abby initially defends her best friend, but the inconsistencies begin to trouble her.

The conflict between Abby and Mason eventually leads to a confrontation about the mate bond. Abby demands the opportunity to touch him so that they can determine whether Mason's suspicions are correct. Mason warns her that genuine skin contact could awaken a powerful bond and overwhelm her ability to think clearly. Abby nevertheless forces contact by placing a bare finger in his mouth. The response confirms that Mason is her mate, not Lillian. The revelation changes their relationship, and Mason finally drops some of his hostility toward Abby. They become intimate, acknowledging the attraction that has been building between them. Before Abby can explain what she has discovered to Lillian, however, news arrives that Lillian has escaped and Queen Gitta has been murdered. Lillian has killed the queen and fled through a portal, leaving the court in chaos. Abby is devastated by the revelation because she has spent the entire story trying to protect her friend and has difficulty reconciling the Lillian she knows with the person now accused of murder.

Following Gitta's death, Mason assumes the faerie throne because of the bargain Kie made with Zaha. He completes the royal blood ceremony at the black coronation stone, formally accepting his position as king. His succession is controversial because he is a shifter raised among the faeries, and many faeries do not trust him to rule them. Kie remains beside him, despite having lost both his mother and his expected future as king. The royal traditions also leave little room for Kie to grieve openly, requiring him to return to his duties almost immediately. Meanwhile, the princes must deal with Lillian's disappearance, the murder of the queen, and the possibility that the supposed mate bond was deliberately manufactured.

The political situation becomes more dangerous when someone attempts to kill Abby during Mason's first public court. She is struck by magic designed to stop her heart. Kie intervenes, using his magic and bare-hand contact to keep her alive, while Mason nearly loses control and comes close to shifting and attacking everyone around him. Abby uses her connection with Mason to calm him, and Kie begins investigating the attack while the grounds are secured. The attempt makes it clear that Abby is now a target because of her connection to the new king and her place in the royal succession. Kie and Mason must investigate the assassination attempt while also trying to locate Lillian, and they begin relying on information from people connected to the court's political and social networks.

During the investigation, Mason receives a summons from Alpha Theon, his biological father, requesting a meeting in shifter territory near the Traul River. Mason has spent much of his life wondering why Theon abandoned him, and he hopes the meeting might provide answers. While searching Queen Gitta's office, Mason discovers a letter that she had intended to send to Theon when Mason was ill as a child. Theon's response makes it clear that he deliberately rejected Mason and did not want further contact. The discovery confirms that his father's abandonment was not simply the result of political circumstances. Despite the revelation, Mason decides to attend the meeting, believing that Theon may have information relevant to the kingdom's crisis. Abby insists on accompanying Mason and Kie rather than remaining behind while they take the risk without her.

The journey into Redstall Forest turns dangerous when shifters ambush the group. Kie fights off attackers while Mason returns from fighting others in the forest. When they finally meet Theon, the alpha attempts to negotiate by offering delysum in exchange for Abby. He also mocks Mason's upbringing and treats him as a political asset rather than a son. During the meeting, Theon reveals a major piece of the mystery surrounding Lillian: Callie is still alive, and she knew that Abby was the princes' true mate. Callie had given Lillian a black necklace containing magic from the gods, which could imitate a mate bond. Lillian therefore believed that her connection with Kie and Mason was genuine, even though Mason could not feel the bond. This revelation changes Abby's understanding of her friend's actions. Lillian's apparent mate relationship was manipulated by her mother, and Lillian herself was not necessarily aware that the connection was false. Theon also confirms that Lillian is not hiding with him. Mason returns to the faerie kingdom and publicly challenges Theon's leadership, naming Kalix, Mason's younger brother, as a more legitimate successor.

Abby struggles with the knowledge that Lillian's mother is alive. She also has to confront the possibility that her loyalty to Lillian prevented her from recognizing the inconsistencies in her friend's story. At the same time, her relationship with Kie and Mason becomes more serious. Kie acknowledges that his past treatment of Abby has hurt her, while Mason struggles with the discovery that his biological father intentionally rejected him. Abby does not want their relationship to be based solely on the mate bond or on their guilt about the way they have treated her. She wants them to choose one another willingly, and she makes it clear that she does not want to be controlled or treated as someone who must simply accept the decisions made by the men around her. She eventually accepts the possibility of remaining in the faerie realm and asks the princes to meet her human family. The three share an intimate night together, and Abby acknowledges her love for both men. They also agree that decisions about their future, including children, must be made together rather than dictated by royal expectations or the mate bond.

While Abby's relationship with the princes develops, the investigation into the assassination attempt continues. Kie brings Jacqueline Rowe, a former potential royal match with connections throughout the noble families, into the investigation. Abby offers Jacqueline a position on the council in exchange for her assistance, recognizing that Jacqueline's ambition and contacts could be useful. Jacqueline eventually identifies Lord Bishop as the person responsible for arranging the attack. Bishop had accumulated substantial debts and accepted payment from a shifter to kill Abby. He used a piece of magic from the gods to attack her heart, expecting that Kie would be unable to stop it and that the death of an ordinary human would not matter to the court. Bishop admits that he did not know Abby was the true mate of the princes. His arrest exposes how easily the political conflict between faeries and shifters can be exploited by individuals motivated by money and personal advantage. Jacqueline gains influence through her role in uncovering the plot, while Abby demonstrates that she can participate in court politics rather than simply depend on the princes to protect her.

After Bishop's arrest, the court determines that Abby needs to be formally crowned so that her position beside Mason and Kie is publicly recognized. Abby requests that her family be brought from the human realm to attend the ceremony. Lady Cassandra retrieves Abby's parents and her brother, Aaron, who are shocked to discover that Abby is alive after her disappearance. They are relieved to see her and learn about her experiences in the faerie world, her relationship with the princes, and the circumstances that have brought her to the throne. Abby does not tell them every detail of Lillian's actions, but she explains enough for them to understand why she is staying. Her family chooses to remain near her rather than return permanently to the human realm. Abby then participates in the royal blood ritual at the black coronation stone. Kie uses his magic to seal the cut required by the ceremony, and Abby becomes formally recognized as queen alongside her mates. Her coronation establishes her position within the royal family, even though the court and the kingdom remain divided over Mason's rule and the threat posed by the shifters.

Mason's reaction to Bishop's crime creates another conflict within the royal household. Rather than leave the matter entirely to the authorities, Mason secretly removes Bishop from the cells and takes him to an abandoned tower overlooking the gardens. Mason has been keeping Bishop there, and Bishop loses a hand during a confrontation with him. Mason's anger is driven by the attempt on Abby's life and intensified by his father's rejection, but Kie confronts him about taking justice into his own hands. Kie reminds Mason that Theon's treatment of him does not make him worthless and that they must act together if they are going to rule effectively. Mason eventually agrees to stop handling the punishment privately. Bishop is returned to the formal legal process and ultimately executed. The execution closes the investigation into Abby's attempted murder, although it does not resolve the larger conflict with the shifters.

With Abby crowned and the immediate threat from Bishop dealt with, the three begin adjusting to their life as a family. Abby's parents and brother remain nearby, giving her a connection to her former life and allowing the princes to experience the presence of a loving human family. The domestic moments are relatively ordinary compared with the events surrounding the throne: Abby spends time with her family, and she and the princes share nights together while continuing to navigate their relationship. Mason and Kie become more comfortable with the idea that their relationship with Abby must be based on mutual affection rather than the bond alone. Abby, in turn, becomes more secure in her place beside them. However, the court continues to debate how to respond to the shifter kingdom, and the princes cannot separate their new family life from the political responsibilities that come with their positions.

The final conflict centers on Callie and the deteriorating relationship between the faerie and shifter kingdoms. Mason announces that Theon is harboring Callie, whose involvement in the events surrounding King Malcolm's death and the false mate bond has become a major concern. He gives Theon one week to respond before the Sylvan Harmony Treaty is declared void. Faerie troops begin moving toward the border towns, and the council debates whether to pursue negotiations, seek Kalix's support, or prepare for the possibility of war. The council is divided over the risks of acting against the shifters, particularly because the shifters have had years to prepare for a conflict while the faeries are not necessarily ready for one. Abby begins learning about the kingdom's finances under Anox while settling into her new responsibilities as queen. Her family remains close, and she continues sharing her life with Mason and Kie as they prepare for the consequences of Theon's actions. Theon does not provide an answer before the deadline, the treaty is considered broken, and the kingdom begins preparing for war. Lillian remains missing, Callie is still free, and the conflict between the faerie and shifter kingdoms remains unresolved.