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She swallowed. “I was… I was one of the Brid’s maidservants.”
“Did you enjoy it?”
She looked terrified. Her eyes darted about frantically, hands twisting her dress harder. “I… I…”
“I mean do you want a new job?” Ash asked patiently. “Or do you want to work for me?”
“I’d like to be—to keep my job,” she blurted immediately. “If you’d like me to.”
Ash nodded before looking around with a frown. “Sure. But… there are a lot of staff here.”
I squeezed his hand. “You don’t have to keep them all. You can do what you want.”
Jora’s eyes flicked to mine and narrowed slightly in suspicion, making me fall silent.
But Ash noticed.
“Prince Lonan will be living here with me,” he told her in a hard voice, making her eyes flare with fear. “Everyone will show him the same respect they show me. And Nua and Gillie.”
“Of course,” she said quickly.
The two female fae reappeared carrying a big pewter jug and four crystal glasses. Four broon followed behind them, heaving over a dainty gold table with legs shaped into twisting vines.
“They didn’t need to bring a fucking table,” Ash muttered, but smiled politely at them when they set the table down in front of us.
His smile dimmed when the broon all glanced at him in terror before bowing and hurrying off. My heart ached for him. I knew killing the broon that night had traumatised him. I could tell when he was having nightmares. His sleep would grow restless, and his skin would get hot and damp. Though he’d never said it, I knew they were about what he had done.
“Can I speak with you?” I murmured, gently pulling on his hand to get him to step away.
He came easily, turning to face me and resting his free hand on my hip as he stepped close.
“You don’t have to address it—what the Brid made you do,” I murmured, glancing over at the staff. “But I know you don’t want them to be scared of you. Tell them the Brid used your name. Word it carefully. They will understand.”
He swallowed, face going pale. “But I didn’t technically have to do it.”
“That’s why I say to word it carefully. Make them think you did.” I gave him a tiny smile. “Sometimes small untruths are for the better.”
He clenched my fingers tighter as he nodded. When he leaned in and kissed me, the front hall went utterly silent. Ash made a low sound of amusement against my mouth before pulling back.
“I’m guessing this will be the thing they struggle with the most,” he muttered.
I swallowed, nodding as I glanced behind him at the Folk still gawking. They looked away quickly when they saw me watching, but I could see the disgusted expressions on some of their faces.
I looked back at Ash, stomach clenching into a tight knot. “If it stops them from accepting you… If—”
“No.” His voice was hard. “Don’t. I don’t care about being fucking… adored or whatever. I’ll just do my job—whatever that actually is—and they can deal with it.” He grinned at me. “I’ll get rid of any staff who don’t like it. And if that’s all of them, who cares? I’m used to doing things for myself. I don’t need Folk to light a fire or cook my freaking breakfast for me.”
Before I could answer, a large group of tall, willowy seelie Folk swept out of a side door and glided towards us.
“King Ash,” one at the front drawled, his long brown hair swept back in complicated braids and his forest green tunic gleaming with gold accents. “It is an honour.”
“Is it?” Ash said dryly as he tugged me back over to Nua and Gillie at the little table.
Several pairs of green, gold and brown eyes darted down to our linked hands before tightening with disdain. Ash finally let go of my hand to pick up the jug and pour four glasses of water, and I resisted the urge to curl my fingers into fists.
The fae who’d spoken recovered, his face smoothing out into an ingratiating smile. “Of course. Our new king. We look forward to getting to know you better.”
“You’re all the courtiers the Brid kept around, aren’t you?” Ash asked flatly as he handed me a cup of water. “You live in a wing of the palace?”
