Page 10 of Kiss of Smoke

But Titania just nodded slowly. “It seems the day Robin found you was a good day for my kin.”

I had no idea how to reply to that, and chose to take a painfully large gulp of tea instead to cover for having to come up with words.

There were few things more uncomfortable than being complimented by the Gentry, much less the queen herself.

But I was saved when the temperature in the room suddenly dropped, and I stood up, waiting for Jack.

He appeared, bringing not only frost to every surface, but two others with him.

Robin easily dusted the ice from his hair and jacket, and Noctifer followed suit, pulling off his raven-head helmet and revealing the face that was so like mine.

I did notice that his gaze went to me immediately, the relief in them obvious.

They did not have the demeanors of happy men, which was to be expected after digging in the remains of the palace, but Robin’s expression was as grim as it ever got. In fact, it might even have been a degree worse.

I heard a clink, and turned to find Titania standing as well, her tea cup knocked over as she gazed at Robin. The liquid puddled across his desk and dripped on the floor in the taut silence.

“Did you find her?” she asked, her voice thin with fear. There was something terrible about hearing the queen like this, no longer a statue of ice, but a mother terrified for her daughter.

A brick settled in my stomach as another wave of dizziness hit me. I didn’t want Robin to say what he was going to say next. If they’d found the princess, she would’ve been with them.

“Your Majesty, Princess Tanaquill is still missing.”

Robin’s voice was heavy. Titania stared at him a moment longer, then slowly sank into her seat.

The princess was gone…had she been obliterated, or had they taken her the way they’d tried to take Oriande?

Thinking of the reporter, I glanced over at the corner of the room they were huddled in, and saw the cameraman surreptitiously recording all of this on an Acorn.

I jerked my head at them, giving my boss a pointed look, and within two seconds Robin had strode across the room and grabbed the Acorn from the Fae’s hand. The cameraman stared up at him in terror.

“If I ever catch you recording on these premises without permission again, you’ll be fertilizing the yard.”

From many other people, this would’ve been an idle threat, but I knew from firsthand experience that Robin meant every word.

The cameraman nodded frantically, and my view was suddenly disrupted by an enormous presence.

Noctifer reached out and touched a scratch on my forehead, his brow furrowed with concern. “You’ve seen a healer?” he asked, seeming to fumble the words. “You’re okay?”

I could’ve smiled at the paternal concern and his natural slight awkwardness about showing it towards me—but I’d take even awkward concern over none at all.

“Both Robin and my local healer fixed me up. I just need to—” I interrupted myself with a jaw-cracking yawn. “I need to sleep, and everything will be fine. I’ll help search for the princess.”

My eyes had been growing heavier and heavier with each shock, and the injuries were aching despite Carabosse’s work.

“You need more medicine,” Noctifer said, glancing at the cup I’d left behind. “And less tea. Get her to bed, Goodfellow. You might run your other agents into the ground, but not my daughter.”

I smiled up at him. “Okay, Dad.”

He was fussing over me. A parent,fussing. The sensation was novel.

Noctifer looked stricken for a moment, then settled for patting my back. “Good night.”

I let Robin lead me up the stairs to my bedroom, his arm steadying me.

I didn’t even remember hitting the pillow.

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