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I’d sleep in my underwear if need be.
I donned a golden lace gown that was the most comfortable thing I’d worn since arriving in this world.
A knock sounded on my door. “Your Highness,” a strange voice called. “Kaley sent me to retrieve you for dinner. She was detained for a discussion with the High Court, and they’re waiting for your arrival.”
I made sure my dagger and knife were secured to my thigh then snatched the key before strolling to the door. Maeve had said that no one could kill me until tomorrow, but at the first sign of something strange, I wouldn’t hesitate to defend myself.
I opened the door to find a woman who appeared close to my age, although all the fae appeared to be in their twenties. Her long brown hair was pulled back, and she wore a simple green blouse and leather pants. Her cobalt eyes widened when she scanned me.
“I didn’t mean to rush you.” She gestured at my room behind me. “I can wait while you finish getting ready.”
I turned and glanced in the mirror. I didn’t look horrible and was wearing a dress instead of slacks. Maybe my resting bitch face was rearing its head? I’d trained my face to always have that expression to scare people away. “I’m ready. No worries.”
“Oh, okay.” She scratched the back of her neck as I locked the door and slid the key into my bra.
The two of us walked in silence, and soon we were back on the first floor, heading to a room next to the entrance.
As soon as she swung open the double doors, people looked our way. The conversation died instantly.
Chapter Eleven
Between the grandeur of the room and the two long rectangular tables that seated everyone, I wasn’t sure where to focus: on the people staring at me or on the room, which was a mixture of ice sculptures and flowers.
The tug deep within my soul pulled my gaze to King Kieran, who sat at the head of the closest table with his back to me, a woman on either side of him. He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes capturing mine before slowly dipping to scan my body.
I flushed very inappropriately despite the chill from the ice sculptures of mountains and flowers in the middle of his table.
“All right, Princess Alina.” The fae woman who’d led me here bowed. “Please take your seat. Dinner will be served soon.” She scurried off, leaving me alone in front of all these strangers, my heart thudding.
“Oh, my sun.” The woman sitting closest to me and next to Kieran smiled and quickly covered her luscious red lips with her hand. “This is very surprising.”
“Well, Rowan, what did you expect from a human princess?” The other woman with hair as dark as the night sky chuckled. “She won’t last beyond the first trial.”
My jaw ached from how hard I gritted my teeth together. I hated people making fun of me, most of all because I knew what that meant.
I was a target.
I should’ve known.
I’d hoped they’d disregard me completely.
Worse, I had no idea what they were ridiculing. Sure, my dress was more casual than theirs. They’d chosen to wear the constrictive corset style that I could barely breathe in.
King Kieran turned in his seat, and the warmth in his eyes ignited my blood.
“Princess Alina, maybe you should go back to your room and change?” He arched a brow, the corners of his lips tipping downward.
Just like that, it was as if I’d been dunked in cold water. My heart ached as if his words had been actual weapons that had hurt me.
Though his agreement with the women’s ridicule did hurt, I shouldn’t have been surprised. He was the Winter King, and I was a princess of Summer.
The other seven people at the table smirked. They must all be Winter fae.
As if confirming what I’d suspected, I noted that the table behind them had fresh flowers, the kind that grew throughout the Sambradh Castle. Seeing those flowers eased the knot in my stomach, and I realized how tense I’d been.
There was one seat open at the end of the table of flowers, which would give me a direct view of Kieran once I sat.
Lovely.
