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A mustard yellow robe with red vein-like detailing filled my vision. The warm body of a man pushed me away from the arm of my chair, sitting on it between me and Red. Pressing my back against the far left of the chair, I looked up at the space intruder.
“Yes?” I snapped, looking up at King Windre.
“I’ve got something for you.” He grinned, though rather tensely. He looked toward Red, his fucking seventy thousand foot long braid smacking me in the side of the head. “Hi, Red.”
“Do you have to be so close though? I mean, you’re intruding on my personal space. King or not this has to be bad etiquette.”
King Windre reached into his robe, pulling out an envelope. “I have a private letter.” Then he leaned closer, his eyes wide. Gods, I hated it when he made these crazy eyes at me. They freaked me out. “There is no such thing as personal space with us Fae. We like to get a little close.”
My lip curled in disgust as he spoke. Even if Fae in my realm liked to be naked and have sex, you couldn’t enter someone’s personal space without an invitation first.
“Go ahead,” I huffed.
“Shall I whisper it in your ear?” King Windre beamed as I was unable to keep the look of total revulsion from my face. The more he spoke the worse it got.
“No, just hold it up and we can read it in our heads.”
“If we must,” he replied softly, unfolding the letter and holding it low enough for me to read. Her typically tidy print was messily scribbled across a dirt-smudged page. The oddity of it made concern collect in a knot inside my chest.
Dear Milo,
I havehigh hopes that this letter reaches you, as you may be my last chance at surviving the greatest mistake I have ever made. If this letter has been delivered, it has been done so with the help of an incredibly loyal servant. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RESPOND.
In the attempt to find myself suddenly crowned Queen of the Obtune Court, my father was suspicious, which ended in my disgraceful arrest. I remain helpless, waiting in the hope that my father will grant me leniency, which I do not expect. The gallows wait for me, and if not the gallows then I’m to be King Ganglin’s bride.
My father has made arrangements. Do not trust him. I know my father and he always has ulterior motives. I’d like to stop his plans before they even get put into motion.
M
I stiffenedas I read through the letter. This was not good. Then I read it again, and again, hoping to find some sort of alternative meaning or hidden verbiage between the lines.
“We have to do something,” I finally said.
King Windre tilted his head back and forth in thought, folding the letter back in the untidy way it had originally been sent. “Yes, I agree, but that will have to be a thought we ponder on longer. I’m sure her father will drag it out. She’s his only child.”
Maggie had to come through with this. She was my offering to King Windre, the key that granted me his trust. She was the only distraction from the token that could keep King Windre’s eyes off of it long enough for me to take it and run.
“Plus, we have guests.” King Windre motioned to the room.
“Yes, I’ve noticed that.” I tried to look around King Windre to see Red, but he and his obnoxious outfit continued to fill my vision. I’d rather argue with her than have the king sitting in my lap like this. We looked like damn lovers right now.
“What is all of this?” I finally said, trying my best to ignore how uncomfortable I was, and began picking at my plate again.
“The Nymph army.” He laughed. His robe draped across the table, nearly dipping into what looked like a fancy bowl of oats, as he reached for some of the food still left out. “Here,” he offered, “try this.”
He held it out like he meant for me to eat it from his hand, hovering close to my mouth. My return glare was hard and certainly not inviting.
“No, thank you.”
“Heh.” He shrugged, taking a bite. His shoulders rocked with a small dance as he ate.
“So what are we doing with this Nymph army?”
“Housing them, stupid,” Red replied loudly.
“How long do we have to do that?” There may have been a whine evident in my voice. I pictured it now. Everywhere I would try to go, Nymphs would fill the space. There would be no moments alone. “I draw the line at having a roommate.”
“You’re barely out of a prison cell. Beggars can’t be choosers.” I could sense Red’s mocking face even if I couldn’t see her around King Windre. Oh, I’d never wanted to smack a look off her more than I did at this moment.
