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“What did you hear about my court?”
“Dangerous, manipulative, and all that. The stuff made of nightmares and the worst of the four big ones.”
“That’s a lie if I ever heard one. We’re not the most dangerous court. The Summer Court is. All that sunshine and brightness hides their sinister hunger for destruction well.”
“Are there really just four major courts?”
“No. There’s the Underwater Court and the Sky Court, but they only visit the island for business. They also have their separate war against each other. The underwater court is probably crazier than the Summer Court.”
She peered at him. “You’re not icy. Or cold. You’re a ball of sunshine.”
“As I said, I’m a failure to my kind.” He shrugged, unfazed. “It will be fine. They can’t harm me.”
“They tried to harm you already,” she pointed out.
“Not this time. I have a plan. You and Yu just need to stay close to me. I will handle the introductions. It’s enough to get you immunity.”
How he spoke so confidently after getting tossed aside, she could not figure out. A part of her wanted to list the pros and cons of him going back there, but Rick was already moving. She eyed his back, then remembered his words about staying beside him. Reluctantly, she caught up to his pace while Yu hovered above their heads.
“Is your court immune to my magic?”
“No.” A pause. “But use it subtly. Any big flourishes and my court might take it as a threat. It will push back…oh, and we speak your language. We are a highly-developed court compared to the others.”
Great. She imagined ice slicing her from all directions as the flowers pointed toward them when they passed. When they finally stepped through the tall, wide doorway, her imagination paled at the sight of jagged ice shards hanging from the ceiling and dripping from some parts of the wall.
Impalement. Ice shards plunging into my heart and other organs until they stop beating with life.
Rick was nervous again. She reached for his hand—and was brushed aside when a figure came out of nowhere and hugged him. Then the figure—a female Fae with shimmering skin, a skintight dress, and perky tits—plastered herself over his side and rubbed those tits against his arm.
“Rickavior! Is it really you?”
Before he could reply, another figure came, ambling forward more slowly. The male Fae shot the female one a displeased look, but the nasty expression didn’t deter from the ethereal beauty.
“He’s not Rickavior to you. Stop calling him that or I will disown you.” There was a bow, then, “Your Majesty. We have a lot of questions, but it’s good to see you back.”
“It’s good to be back, Bronco. And Jyss.”
Emerald was still seething with jealousy over the woman’s overzealous display, it took her a while to hear the rest of the words. When they finally did register, she eyed the male Fae named Bronco.
“Majesty?”
Either the Fae didn’t hear her or chose to ignore her. Bronco stepped back, bowing again, then hollering at the top of his lungs. Energy hummed, amplifying the man’s voice and letting it echo throughout the castle without piercing her eardrums. But every word punched her hard, anyway.
“The prince is back! Our royal highness, Prince Rickavior, has returned, alive and well! Come gather in the front hall and see him for yourself!”
A chill went down her spine when Rick didn’t deny it, even while magenta eyes met hers with a quiet pleading. She took a step back. Yu nudged her forward.
“Stay beside him,” the pixie reminded in her ear.
A sound came from her throat, the memory of his introduction to the giant rushing back to her.Prince.He had called himself prince back then…had talked of not being king yet. Before either of them could speak, a physical chill spread over the hall, signaling the arrival of more of his kind. Even Yu was intimidated as he scuttled behind her shoulder, stilling his wings.
“Prince Rickavior!”
“Your Majesty! Rick—Prince Rick! Where have you been?”
“You sweet, sassy man, we have been so worried about you!”
He was mobbed with graceful figures, thrumming with ice and excitedly trying to get nearer to where he was. Some reached out to touch him while others stood back, content to just watch him from afar. A group of women joined Jyss, swooning over him and listening intently as Jyss spoke in a rapid-fire whisper.
