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I dried my face, quickly dressed, and looked toward the clock on my nightstand. Noah should be coming to feed within the next five minutes if he was coming at all. I’d bank on the fact that he wasn’t. And that was okay with me. I wasn’t sure how to face him, and I certainly didn’t want to argue and spit out my accusations without knowing where I was going with things.
No, it would be better if he didn’t show up.
I braided my hair, moving slowly and stretching a bit before deciding that he definitely was not coming. Which meant it was time to face the snake herself.
I knocked on her door and it opened. Vanessa was already in a fresh set of undergarments from the rose lingerie she had me set out the night before. And given the fact that she didn’t hiss any orders at me immediately or glare at me, perhaps her evening went…well.
She waved her hand toward the wardrobe. “I’m having tea with the ladies who live in the palace. Grab a few items for me to choose from.”
Knowing that the other royals here were, for the most part, fairly vapid, at least the females, I knew Vanessa would want to pick dresses that impressed. Though looking at what she brought, almost everything was over the top. She stood out everywhere, which was a good thing among the catty women of the fae court.
I held four options in my arms as Vanessa held up each. She grabbed a solid coral dress that fanned out at the waist, which I was sure would make her already fantastic figure look even more amazing.
We got ready without speaking, and as I zipped her up and she turned, I knew why she’d picked this dress. It showed off her assets quite well.
Vanessa leaned down and watched herself in the mirror, staring intently as she turned her head from side to side.
She pouted her lips once and then rose, walking to the door. I followed like an obedient dog and hated it. Being ignored was better than having her attention on me though, and I knew her well enough to know that I should take the luck I could get at this point.
We hurried to one of the grand parlors and sitting areas where trays of tea and desserts had been placed around the room. The walls held magnificent painted portraits of the grounds of the castle, and the delicate silver and blue touches made it an airy and calming place.
Everyone else had arrived already, judging by the number of teacups left in place on the trays. The fae stood, speaking among one another. Vanessa entered the room and most of the talking stopped. A few of the higher-up fae walked over and kissed her on each cheek. Once they’d welcomed her, the free-for-all was open for the rest to approach.
Most of the younger, less titled fae rushed Vanessa to see her ring and gush about how handsome Noah was.
Drowsiness threatened to overtake me, and I widened my eyes a few times, like that would somehow change what no sleep was doing to me..
As I stirred her lady’s tea, I wished Nicole had a female fae she was assigned to sometimes instead of Gabriel. Then she’d be at these events with me. Sadly, I was usually on my own unless Lizette had a break from her duties.
I hoped she would. She was always chattering with gossip she’d heard, like she couldn’t bear to keep something in once she found it out—whether it was relevant and exciting news or not.
But I hadn’t seen her among the other staff working with me.
I handed Vanessa her cup and saucer and took a few steps back. Before I could retreat to the far wall though, she snapped her fingers in the air.
I bit my tongue and inhaled sharply. No staff was ever called by snapping fingers in this castle. It was through dainty waves or a word passed among us. Not even the queen ordered her staff around so disrespectfully.
But this was Vanessa. A few of the other royals looked at each other but said nothing as I approached. “Ask one of the more seasoned staff to make this instead. It’s absolutely dreadful.”
I bowed my head, taking the cup and saucer and moving back to the staff table.
A human that I recognized from the cell a few months back approached. “Cora, right?” She gave me a tentative smile and I nodded.
The woman took the teacup and poured a fresh cup, mixing in sugar and some other concoction. I frowned watching her.
“I’m Lisa. I was in the cells with you.”
Her face blanched as she said it and I touched her shoulder. “I remember. Hello again.”
“I’m sorry for what happened last night. I won’t speak another word about it, but know that we’re all appalled.”
I tried to smile as best I could at her words. “What is that you added to the tea?”
“Something we give all the ladies. They like their liquor, this lot. And if they are given what they want, they think of us less and themselves more.” She chuckled and I couldn’t help but laugh along. “Plus this is the chef’s special stock that is sweet. Makes the tea extra easy going down.”
“Thank you,” I said, knowing she must have also witnessed Vanessa’s tea complaint.
I handed the teacup off, and this time Vanessa smiled widely after taking a sip. “Much better. There certainly are some fantastic servants here.”
