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“What did you say?” I gasped, surprised that Phillip would dare to scold the king, let alone yell at him.
The king leaned forward. “I fell onto the counter and laughed at him. Told him he scared me more than the queen herself and made my way back to my room for the evening.”
His laughter was contagious and I was soon caught up in swapping stories of sneaking around and trouble. Mine were few and far between, but the king had quite a few from his younger days, and the more he talked and spoke with such carefree grace, the more I wondered if this is what it would have been like to have a father figure around.
“I’m sure you frightened your parents plenty of times sneaking around the city,” the king chuckled.
The smile on my face fell slightly, but I threw forth extra effort to clench my teeth so that something of a humored expression remained on my face. But the thought hit me hard. No one had cared what I was doing, not anywhere. Save for Joe if I tried to drink or smoke cigarettes in the park.
“Cora?” the king asked.
The tension in my body had stiffened my position. I was frozen and couldn’t even fake the ridiculous grin I’d tried to keep on my face.
“There wasn’t anyone to worry about me.”
As soon as I said the words, some of the anxiety and force keeping me rigidly in my seat disappeared.
The king scooted forward in his chair and placed a hand on my shoulder. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything about your time in your world when I know nothing of it or the circumstances of your arrival here. Forgive me.”
I shook my head. “There’s nothing to forgive. And it’s okay. I—" I hesitated, but one look at the sincerity in the king’s eyes had me sure that he was someone I could trust. Someone who wouldn’t lead me wrong. “I enjoy talking to you, Your Majesty. I didn’t have anyone I was very close to, at least most of my life. I don’t know who my parents are, I grew up in foster care. It’s where an agency decides where you live. I went a few different places and ended up in a bad situation with a man who hurt me. And a drunk foster mom.”
King Driscoll sat so still, continuing to watch me but not moving a muscle. Somehow he was both giving me space and supporting me as I got this out.
“Being here, it’s the first time I’ve had real friends. The first time I’ve felt protective of a place and people I lived with. And the way you’ve helped me, and Noah, it’s like—” A soft hiccup-like sob escaped my lips, and tears I didn’t realize were pooling fell down my cheek gently.
I cleared my throat, wiping at them as quickly as I could. I hated weakness. Hated the tears. I just needed to get this out. “Like I see what a positive male role model could do, what it could be. And why it’s important. I’m grateful for someone to talk to, is what I’m trying to say.”
Before I could make another motion to wipe at my tears, a soft lace handkerchief was being pressed into my hands and the king pulled me in close. His embrace was protective and strong, and the thoughts of making him proud of me and having him see me as worthy were the most important things to me now. His reactions and the way he treated me served only to solidify my allegiance to him, to Noah, and to the Unseelie kingdom.
“No child should go through that. And yet here you are.” He pulled back and smiled, holding me by the shoulders. “A young woman who has learned to fight quickly. Who stood up against a powerful magic glamour that would have had her killed. And instead of fleeing you ran toward danger if it meant protecting my son. Protecting this kingdom. You may have been through hell and had no one as a good influence, but Cora, you have learned how to be loyal, true, honorable, and wise all on your own. Your past makes your present accomplishments that much more impressive.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I whispered.
The king took a step back. “You are safe here with us. Even with my prickly wife.”
My mouth parted in surprise as the king touched a finger to his nose.
“Yes, you heard me right, but don’t ever repeat that. And then there’s Noah, and he adores you, my dear.”
I looked immediately to the floor at the mention of Noah. The emotions swirling around his revelation of Vanessa in his life still had me reeling. My heart tightened at the thought of him sharing such a close relationship as we had with someone else.
“Well, I’m simply his feeder,” I replied.
“That’s a load of hogwash, that talk. You’re a good friend to him,” the king said, sitting back in his chair. He leaned forward, taking another biscuit and relaxing once more. “What is on your mind that has you feeling something like that?”
I rubbed my fingers together in my lap. “Yes, he is a good friend indeed.”
I reached forward myself, taking my teacup back into my hand and swirling another lump of sugar in.
“Have you ever thought you knew where you stood with someone, Your Majesty, and then they started treating you differently, and then you weren’t sure how to act around them anymore?” I peeked at the king, who was enjoying his own tea and biscuits. He was preoccupied but still engrossed and engaged somehow in a silly conversation I shouldn’t have started.
Who was I to think I had a right to speak so openly with the king about his own son?
“It’s funny. One of my closest friends asked that very question when I was about your age. Now that seems like a lifetime ago.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Oh, it wasn’t about a friend like Noah, of course, but about the queen.”
