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“Well, he tried at first.” Princess Lilliana sighed again. “But then he stopped even trying and, well…it just wasn’t very good. And I know why he stopped trying—he didn’t think I was worth the effort. He used to say, ‘what’s the point when you never get turned on anyway?’”
“It’s not surprising that you couldn’t feel sexual arousal for a human,” I told her. “Because you’re not human—you’re Fae. Even the human dross that had gathered around you wasn’t enough to allow your body to so completely betray your true self.”
“Really?” She looked at me, her eyes wide with surprise. “Is that why I’ve never really been, uh, turned on by any guy I’ve ever been with? I just thought they were bad in bed.”
Sel snorted.
“They probably were. But Krynn is right—your body was probably longing for the touch of another Fae.”
She nodded slowly.
“Yes…I guess that makes sense. I tried so hard to fake it for Christopher, but he could always tell. I think he hated me for it, near the end of our marriage.”
“He was an idiot who couldn’t see the jewel he held in his own hand,” Sel growled.
I agreed with my oldest friend wholeheartedly. How could her fool of a human husband not see how special Princess Lilliana was?
“You think that because your ex-mate didn’t value you, no one will,” I told her. “But that isn’t true, my Lady—you hold great value for us.”
“Because I’m supposedly this Lost Princess,” she said and I could tell she still didn’t completely believe in her own status. “But before that, I was just some washed up, middle-aged mom living in her minivan.”
“Your human life is behind you now,” I reminded her. “And Sel and I have always valued you—even before we knew you. We never stopped searching for you, ever since you were stolen away so long ago.”
“I know, but that’s so strange to think of—the two of you hunting for me while I was living the life of a stay-at-home mom, raising kids.” She shook her head. “If I’d known that two huge, muscular guys were searching all over for me, I might have felt more pretty and valued—even when Christopher was being an asshole.”
“You’re not just pretty—you’re fucking beautiful,” Sel growled. “Even when you were human you were adorable. Did this ex-mate of yours dare to make you feel otherwise?”
“You could say that,” the Princess said dryly. “He left me for a younger woman. A pretty little blonde thing that’s nearly the same age as his daughter.”
“That fucking bastard—how dare he disrespect you like that?” Sel sounded angry and I could feel the arm he had thrown over both the Princess and myself tightening possessively.
She gave a broken little laugh.
“Oh, he dared all right. He kicked me out of the house and had the locks changed—then he brought her in, right behind me. I hadn’t even backed all the way out of the driveway yet!”
“I’ll kill him for you,” Sel offered and I knew he was serious. There was murder in his bronze eyes. “He won’t live to see another sunset if you don’t wish it—just give me the command!”
“No, no…” The Princess shifted uncomfortably between us. “No, you can’t just go killing people like that.”
“He hurt you. And made you feel bad about yourself, I’m guessing,” I pointed out. Normally I’m not in favor of killing humans—it’s messy to clean up and then you have to put memory spells on anyone who might have witnessed the act. But in this case, I agreed with Sel. The male who had hurt our Lady so deeply needed to die. Feeling her sob in my arms had torn at my heart—I wanted to protect and avenge her.
“Yes, he did make me feel bad about myself,” she admitted in a small voice. “He was really good at negging—right from the start.”
“Negging?” Sel asked, frowning.
“Oh, that’s what they call it when you give someone a kind of backwards compliment—one that makes them feel insecure about themselves,” she explained. “Like saying, ‘that dress would be so pretty on you if you’d just lose a little weight.’ Or, ‘Wow, you’d be gorgeous if you let your hair grow out.’ Things like that.”
“He said such things to you?” Sel demanded, sounding outraged. “The fucking bastard! How dare he make you feel bad about yourself? How dare he dispute your beauty?”
“Well, thank you.” She sniffed and swiped at her eyes again. “Both of you—you’re so sweet to be so patient while I was crying and to try and comfort me.”
“Let me guess,” I said dryly, “Your ex-mate wasn’t patient with your emotions.”
“Well…no,” she admitted in a small voice. “Christopher hated it when I cried. He always said I needed to grow up and stop acting like a baby.”
“That’s fucking ridiculous,” Sel growled. “All females need to cry at times.”
“Males too, for that matter,” I agreed. “Everyone needs to express their emotions sometimes.”
