It’s hismemories.
And all I have to do is spend a few afternoons without him.
For the man I love? Yeah, that’s the leastI can do.
“Oh, my darlings, I am sorry. We are hosting a picnic in the front gardens tomorrow.” Queen Plume shakes her head. “You will have to wait until the next day. I’ll have the staff clear the calendar. A few lunches and tea parties can wait, especially with such an important reunion.” Her smile gleams across the dining table, and as always, her tone leaves no room forargument.
“Very well,” Holly agrees with a dip of her head. “It will be the first time we’ll be seen as a family in too long.” She nods her head more enthusiastically after the realization.
Moth bites his bottom lip, rising from the table with a bow that suits him more naturally than I would haveexpected.
“’Til tomorrow then,” he says simply. Wait a second, is he just going to leave me with them? No, no, no! I need him as a social buffer while I get to know his family!
I flash a grin, poking at the plate of salad greens and edible flowers. To my relief, the menu has been fully vegetarian, so I haven’t had to make any special requests. The conversation is slow until the meal is over, and I dip out into the hallway in search of Moth.
When I find him, he is looming in the doorway of what I assume is the parlor. It’s draped in a canopy of blue flowers, and a white piano sits in the center. Rows of books line the shelves, and in comfy chairs sit unfinished embroidery projects.Huh. I wonder if they belong to Holly or Queen Plume.
Moth traces the keys, an intense look on his face. If he sat down right now, would his fingers remember a long-gone melody?
“Do you want to play me something?”
“No, my flame,not now.”
We don’t discuss it for the rest ofthe night.
5.
The ball at the end of the week isn’t the only thing going on while we’re stuck in the faerie realm. Moth’s family neglected to mention that Eclipsica is in the height of its social season and The Moth Court is this year’s host, which seems likea lot toleave out.
At breakfast, Queen Plume briefs us on the jam-packed week’s activities and planning. Does it sound like it’s going to be a stunning week filled with gowns, dessert, and dances? Yes. Am I fully swooning over the idea of Moth twirling me around a ballroom? Also, yes. But as we stand together on the front lawn, surrounded by banquet tables filled to the brim with teacakes and flowers, I’m grateful for all the moments we’ve stolen together so far. Not only do the memories of our picnic make my hair stand on end, but the evenings may be the only time we’re alone until the week is over.
As Moth guides me through clusters of well-dressed nobles raising glasses of honey-colored wine to their lips, the smell of peony and cinnamon hangs heavy in the air.
Hungry gazes are cast in Moth’s direction as we walk toward the head table. Queen Plume and Holly sit in two of the fanciest wicker chairs I’ve ever seen in my life. My heart catches at the sight of the creatures scattered throughout the crowd. Instead of focusing on the yellow eyes and sharp claws, I turn my attention to the crystal chandeliers dangling from treebranches.
When transformed, Moth is objectively more terrifying, but I’ve grown used to—even fond of—him in any skin. Seeing claws, beaks, feathers, and fangs in such numbers is more unnerving than I expected, but it’s the ones hidden behind wide smiles and feather fans that circle Moth like he’s a new dessert at the cake table thatworry me.
“It seems I am to be gawked at, no matter what realm we land in,” Moth says in a low voice.
“I honestly can’t blame them for trying.” I scan him from top to bottom. The way his biceps are screaming to be free of the sleeves of his white billowy shirt every time he bends his arms is criminally sexy—and those pants…ugh. “Not only are you the total package, but who wouldn’t want to beroyalty?”
“Do you?” He dips low and leans forward so that his breath tickles my ear.
“Do I what?”
“Want to be …royalty?”
“I want to be with you,” I say, squeezing him with a tight hug. “Whatever that means. I look good in a tiara, but let’s be honest, royalty or not, I’ve already found excuses to wear those.”
“You are one of a kind.”
“And that’s why youloooveme.”
“One of the many reasons.” He plants a kiss on my cheek. “Now, shall we see why my sister is waving us over from the head table or feign ignorance?”
“You go ahead.” I nudge him, not exactly eager to spend more time with Holly than I have to. “I’m going to inspect the snack table.”
“A noble quest indeed,” he says jovially, his fangs peeking out in my favorite goofy grin. “I would like to join you, but it has been said I wanted to rule this place.” He glances at the crowd. “I would like to learn why.”
