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Beatrix’s cheery expression falls, replaced with a neutral one. “Hmm, well, I’ve got another wing to get cleaned in preparation for the Spring Court. They’ll be here by sundown, and I’m only halfway done.”
I wince. “Sorry, I just killed the fun, didn’t I?”
She nods. “It’s super dead.”
“I ran it over with a carriage, then beat it with a shovel.”
She laughs, then turns on her bowl of porridge, eating it like a mad woman. Even though it’s probably still warm. “I really do have to go, though.” Then she gives me a side glance. “You have more to do, too, right?”
I wince. “Yeah,” and I start eating faster.
She brings her bowl to the dish washer, who takes it kindly, then she turns, gives me a wave, and slips out the door. Which means she’s left me alone with my own thoughts, which are way bitchier than her thoughts, despite her beliefs.
“Which court is my favorite?” I grumble while I choke down the last of the porridge. “Like I’ve been given a tour of the continent. I’ve never left this goddamn city, much less been out in the world.”
Beatrix means well. She’ll probably marry some handsome working man who can provide for her and the hoard of children she no doubt dreams of. I, on the other hand, will work until everyone I love is gone. So, maybe she can afford to be a dreamer. Me, not so much? Because I imagine life is better if you accept that you’re going nowhere rather than imagine that there might be something better.
I hand my bowl to the dish washer and focus on the rest of my day. There’s only one more room for me to clean today, and it shouldn’t take long, luckily for me. I want to be home before the festivities begin… as far from the privileged fae as I can get.
THREE
Cassia
The first thing I see when I open the door to the Gold Bedroom is Lady Takara’s naked, bouncing breasts as she reverse-rides Lord Cirrus on the pale golden sheets I’m supposed to be changing. Her eyes are closed, and her mouth is opened in a slightOformation. His hands cling to her waist and he slides her up and down on his dick like he's using her to start a fire on his cock.
I freeze, unable to move for a painfully long moment before my brain catches up to what's happening. Taking a step back, I start to close the door, but the damn thing squeaks. Their gazes snap to me before I manage to back out of the room. Neither of them stops what they’re doing, but they definitely saw me.
Fuckity fuck.
Lord Cirrus just so happens to be married to a viper of a woman. Some of the fae cheat like dogs in heat, but others demand faithfulness. His wife is the second kind of fae.
I've heard she'd cut off a woman's nose for touching her husband.
Some gossip is fun to know. This kind isnotbecause it's the dangerous kind. I’m just hoping everyone involved keeps this incident to themselves. I sure as hell won’t utter a word about it. I value my life more than that.
I shake my head, wondering why I didn’t have the forethought to knock on the door. The room wasn't assigned to a guest, but still, I know how horny the fae are. An empty room is more temptation than they can handle.
Stupid. I am so damn stupid.
“Fuck!” I whisper-scream, scurrying down the hall.
I just have to hope the two fae, infamous for being arrogant assholes, won't feel the need to remember what a maid looks like. Hell, I'll have to hope they're the kind of fae that see the help as furniture versus actual people. Because if they see me as a threat, my body might be found in the river by tomorrow.
I groan, pick a couple halls at random, and finally slip into a dark corner. Taking deep breaths, I look down and see that I’m shaking.Damn it.I want to be calm. I want to be smart. But those two things don’t come easily to me.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I whisper to myself. “They did something wrong… you just saw it. You’re okay.”
And I’m talking to myself again.Great. Just great. I need to get a hold of myself and act like everything is fine.But if I do what I’m expected to do, I should be going back to that room to clean it.
Nope, that won’t work. I need to do the only thing I can, report to the Head Maid. Tell her as little as possible, because this secret needs to stay with me. I’ll either be assigned to another room or be sent home early.
Please let me be sent home early.
Slipping out of the corner, I step right out in front of someone who was rounding the corner. “Fuck!” I startle, then bow my head, and say, “I mean, excuse me.” I give a little bob, then slowly look up, praying it isn’t Lord Cirrus.
Instead, I find myself staring into Prince Sulien’s face.
He lifts a brow. “You like running into people.”
