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I rose, taking Nicole’s words to heart. Maybe I could let go and enjoy a moment of celebration. We almost hadn’t survived it after all.
I handed my goblet to a man closer to the fae side of the room than the servants’ and he bowed his head as he filled my cup. I turned and was met by the king and queen standing next to me.
“Oh.” I coughed, lowering my goblet and praying my light splatter from my choke hadn’t been witnessed.
The king’s gloved finger over his mouth told me he had caught it, and I sucked in my lips trying not to laugh myself.
The queen took me by further surprise, raising her glass once again, this time from beside me.
“Before my son and his friends cause a ruckus in celebration—”
“As they should,” the king chided and nodded to the crowd of male fae that had gathered together around Noah. They let out a hoot and sounded more like a group of frat brothers than fae royalty.
The queen tilted her head and the rowdiness died down. “Ms. Fray went through much during the haze that hit our castle and was instrumental in fighting it at the end. She turned around and chased down a once-esteemed member of the royal guard, somehow defeating him and bringing him to the prince.”
The heat rose in my cheeks and I wasn’t sure where this was going. She had, after all, given a short toast already. What was this one about?
“Let it be a reminder to all of us that no matter how small your role is here in Unseelie, you can be of great use in times of need.”
And there it was. A public reminder that I was a mere feeder. And that while we celebrated what I’d done, I was still a lowly servant.
I bit my tongue as I raised the goblet to my lips.
The king touched a gentle hand to my arm but didn’t look at me and he walked away, across the room and back to his seat at the head table.
My gaze met Noah’s as I followed the king’s movements to his seat, and the prince cocked an eyebrow and raised his glass toward me again.
The queen watched over the rim of her glass before following her husband.
I returned to the table, knowing I’d be up again very soon to get another refill if I was going to make it through this evening with her eyes boring down on me like they had been.
A few times over dinner I glanced toward the head table. Noah and I locked eyes more than a few times and I hoped I’d get some private time with him. To understand or explore. Something.
The party turned out to be fun. I enjoyed laughing with Nicole and the others, and the more I drank, the more relaxed I became. This place was worth saving, and my time here was only just beginning. The fact that I could be here long term and potentially continue building on what these few months had brought me warmed my entire body.
A tap on my shoulder from a guard stifled some of the laughter at our table.
“The queen would like a word, Ms. Fray,” the guard said as he stepped back.
I excused myself from the table and followed him to a small alcove behind the head table. Noah was with the other fae a safe distance away across the room and the king was sitting a few feet in front of us, watching his court enjoy themselves.
Upon seeing the queen, I curtseyed, holding it slightly longer than I needed to before standing before her. The last thing I needed was any additional tension between us. She was angry at my presence in the council meetings, and Noah hadn’t backed down, and I doubted he would. Hopefully that could be put behind us.
But rising meant meeting the queen’s gaze, and it was cold. She looked like she was sucking on lemon drops and couldn’t stand to behold me.
“Your bravery and loyalty to the crown during these trying times are very much appreciated Coraline,” she said. She was still standing and made no motion for me to get comfortable. Perhaps this was just to be a short meeting then.
“It’s an honor, Your Majesty,” I said lowering my head quickly before meeting her eyes once more.
The queen looked past me, and I turned slightly to see where her attention was drawn to.
Noah.
He had thrown his head back in laughter and I watched the queen smirk as she took in her son, but as soon as she remembered my presence, the pursed lips returned.
“The prince is many things, my dear. Kind, compassionate, sometimes to a fault. He forgets his place in certain things. So, instead of reprimanding him for the friendship that seems to be beginning here, I’ll speak bluntly with you.”
I was frozen in place, with millions of thoughts racing through my mind. The one at the forefront though was whether the queen had heard the rumor Aleita was spreading about Noah’s kiss.
