Page 43 of Fae Games

“Is this some kind of trick?” asked Flora.

“Wait a minute.” After licking my finger, I slipped it in my pocket, scooped up a few grains of salt, and slipped it in my mouth. When my vision cleared, Lady Aster threw her head back and moaned.

The curvaceous faerie cupped her left breast with one hand, rolling her prominent nipple between her thumb and forefinger. Her right hand lay wedged between her spread legs, with her index finger moving faster than a thumping jackrabbit.

“Well…” said the host, his cheeks reddening and a miniature sun emerging from the fabric around his crotch. “I believe this is Lady Aster’s way of communicating her readiness to mate and provide the Summer Court with dozens of strong heirs.”

“H-help me!” Her voice was breathy, choked, needy as fuck and could only mean one thing.

Prince August really had given my Emporium dress to Lady Aster.

That complete and utter wanker.

“Enough!” roared the Duke of Westerling, his cheeks brighter than his daughter’s. “This evil of which Lady Gala speaks has infiltrated our academy and afflicted my darling Aster.”

The host placed a hand over his mouth and coughed. “Thank you, Lady Aster of Westerling!”

She bent over double and grabbed the hem of her gown, looking like she wanted to yank it off. The pixies behind her squeaked, and four more of the small creatures flew onto the stage and carried her off.

The Duke and Duchess of Westerling followed Lady Aster around the back of the dining chairs and out of the doors.

“I’ll bet he regrets wearing that mood-suit,” muttered Flora.

My gaze wandered back to the host, whose crotch flared with the brightness of the sun at its zenith. The students around the table broke out in a mixture of giggles and scandalized gasps.

I glanced up at the higher levels of the stage. The dukes leaned forward, looking disappointed about Lady Aster’s departure, while the duchesses shook with rage. Upon the thrones, King Oberon held a hand over his mouth, which barely hid his grin, and Queen Titania’s nostrils flared wider than a centaur’s.

It took several moments for the crowd to calm, but after Queen Titania banged the end of her scepter on the armrest of her throne, everyone went silent.

Two pixies stood in front of the host, holding a table cloth with a hastily scrawled ‘BEAUTIE CUNTESST’ on its surface. It only drew more attention to his arousal, which now made the sun in his fabric shine through the table cloth.

The host clapped his hands together. “Now that we have seen the final candidate, let all the contestants—”

“Wait!” I raised both hands. “I haven’t had the chance onstage.”

His gaze snapped to my side of the room. “And you are?”

Flora gave me a firm shove between my wings, making me stumble forward. Maybe she thought I wasn’t pushy enough.

Straightening, I pulled back my shoulders. “Unity Quayle, the fifth candidate.”

The host turned to the throne and spread out his hands in a what-do-you-want-me-to-do gesture? King Oberon leaned forward and nodded.

“Very well.” The host turned to the audience. “The fifth candidate!”

My lips pursed. Just because I wasn’t Unity of Some-Noble-Dukedom, it didn’t mean he had to skip my name.

As I approached the stage, only the remedial students at the far end of the room applauded, and I turned to the princes’ table, where Princes Caulden and Rory remained slumped in their seats.

Concern gnawed at my insides, but I smoothed out my features. If this was Doolish and they were a few years younger, I would wonder if they had been replaced by changelings. The two princes had probably spent the night looking for me or something.

I stood next to the host, who stared at me with the blankest expression.

“Aren’t you going to ask me a question?” I whispered.

His brows rose, and his lips twitched with the beginnings of a nasty smirk that said he was going to leave me high and dry. What a bitch.

Plastering on an even bigger smile, I turned to the audience and swept my arm to the side in a graceful arc. I was on stage now, and I might as well play the part. “Thank you for the warm welcome!”