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She slammed her queen’s pawn forward two spaces and stared at me defiantly, but before I could move my own opening, Grisella knocked on my door.
“Forgive the intrusion, Alpha,” she mumbled, her cheeks pink with embarrassment.
“What is it, Grisella?” I asked, glaring at her. “I told you I didn’t want to be disturbed.”
“Miss Zephyrine is in the hall and refuses to leave until she’s spoken with you directly. I-I tried to tell her that you didn’t want to be disturbed, but she’s quite insistent.”
A peculiar sensation of bittersweetness tickled my gut, and I avoided Stralia’s accusing stare.
“Get rid of her!” Stralia ordered Grisella, but I shook my head, even as the housekeeper ignored my lover.
Grisella wouldn’t take orders from Stralia, regardless.
“No. Let her in,” I ordered Grisella.
Both females gawked at me. Stralia whimpered and slapped a hand against the chessboard as Grisella began to cough nervously.
“Is that wise, Alpha?”
“She knows that Axel was a ruse now,” I explained. “It’s all right. Let her in, Grisella.”
“As you wish, Alpha.”
Grisella turned away, and Stralia continued to stare at me accusingly. “Why did you tell her who you were? You said you wouldn’t!”
Stralia’s whining was beginning to wear on my already frayed nerves.
“She’s smarter than I thought,” I replied evenly, a small smile touching my lips at the memory of how Zephyrine had rejected my kiss as Axel.
As infuriatingly outspoken and stubborn as she was, loyalty was not going to be an issue with the new queen. And that counted for something with me.
The door reopened, and Zephyrine entered. Dressed in a sleeveless, silky camisole that accented her creamy complexion, the ivory of the material made her small but full breasts strain against the fabric, her shapely hips curved against the snug-fitting hold of her casual dark jeans. She curtseyed deeply before me, and I rolled my eyes.
“That’s hardly necessary, Zephy,” I informed her and enjoyed the shade of scarlet my words turned her cheeks. Stralia clucked her tongue, and I nodded toward the blonde witch in front of me. “Allow me to introduce Stralia.”
Again, Stralia made a sound that told me she was displeased with the introduction, but my gaze was fixed on Zephyrine, whose pupils dilated at the mention of Stralia’s name.
I suppose she’s heard about Stralia by now.
We’d never been discreet about our affair previously, and in hindsight, I probably should have been, but there wasn’t much I could do about staff chatter now. Zephyrine was bound to learn about Stralia sooner or later.
“Stralia, this is Miss Zephyrine, the First Fae of Carrottrove and our future queen,” I went on.
Stralia made no move to rise and show Zephyrine respect by way of bow or curtsey, even as I shot her a scathing look.
I stood to greet Zephyrine, but as I did, I could not help but compare the dark beauty to the fair stable worker’s daughter who had been my companion for over a decade. Zephyrine radiated next to Stralia, her exoticness smoldering to pale the blonde and wash her out, even though they stood several feet apart. My body fully turned toward Zephyrine, my response to her automatic.
“What brings you here this morning, My Queen?” I asked teasingly.
“I-I didn’t realize you had company,” Zephyrine mumbled, her discomfort palpable. “I can come another time.”
“That’s a fine idea,” Stralia agreed smugly, folding her arms defiantly over her chest to glare openly at Zephyrine.
I was aghast that my friend would behave so poorly—and right in front of me. Another feeling bubbled up, too—one I didn’t expect.
Anger.
I felt angry at Stralia for speaking to Zephy with such contempt.
