Page 72 of A Bargain with the Fae King

“She screamed at him. Hit him. Called him names I still don’t understand. He took it all without lifting a hand or letting his magic stir. It may be the only noble thing he’s ever done. When her anger had burned through her, I pulled her off of him and held her as she cried. She told him she never wanted to see him again. The look in his eyes… I’ll never forget it, but he honored her wishes and stayed away until after her death.”

“You still hate him,” I whisper. It’s not even a question. It’s as real and true as his hand in mine.

“Yes.” The last letter hangs in the air of the quiet room.

Riven opens his eyes and turns his head to look at me, a sad smile on his face. “But I need him. A war would weaken us both too much and make us vulnerable to the Wild Tribes or even other courts, if they were so inclined.”

I shiver. This world is so much bigger and more complicated than I ever guessed when I first arrived. If it’s the same size as my world…

No, I can’t even go there. It’s too much to consider.

The sad smile still clinging to his face, his vulnerability, his honesty, his openness—it’s enough to wreck me.

This is Riven. My Riven. It’s no mask or show of power but his true self.

I want to cheer him up. Need to. And frankly, sometimes you have to laugh just so you won’t cry, and the tears are trying so hard to win, burning at the corners of my eyes.

So, I paste a goofy smile on my face and tilt my head to the side. “We could just kidnap him and ransom him to the Unseelie for May.”

A huff of laughter burst from his lips. “I like your thoughts. Unfortunately, I doubt we could pull it off, and that would definitely pit his army against us.”

His countenance brightens ever so slightly, but the shadows in his eyes linger.

Before I can think of anything comforting or clever to say, Riven gets to his feet.

“There’s much to do before the ball, and I’m sure you want to spend some time in the library,” he says, his gaze somber but resolved. “Solona’s probably waiting for you. I’ll be back later.”

That’s right. There’s work to do.

I watch him leave, his back straight and strong, despite the pain I know he’s feeling. If he can be strong for his people, for those he loves, I can too.

Chapter 23

Layersoffabrichangover Karin’s arms as she carries the gown into the room. Green and gold. Riven’s colors. She holds it up for me to examine.

The fine lace that glimmers in the light takes my breath away. The delicate pattern consists of mostly deep, forest green leaves with shimmering gold ones falling down the bodice and skirt to pool in a pile along the bottom hem like a mound of shining coins. Dark green material, the same shade as the lace, lines the interior of the fitted bodice in strategic places to fully cover anything I don’t want to show.

“It’s beautiful,” I say. Fit for a princess or a beauty queen, not for me. Or rather… A shiver rolls across my skin. A fae queen.

Karin smiles. “It will look lovely on you. Especially once I do your hair and make-up.”

Make-up. Pretty sure she doesn’t mean L’Oréal either. Normally, I wear at least a little something. Tinted moisturizer to smooth out my skin, maybe a little concealer for bad days, a touch of eyeliner to bring out the golden flecks in my brown eyes. With everything going on, make-up has been pretty low on my priority list. Like, the very bottom of it. I haven’t seen any, haven’t asked, and in a lot of ways, I don’t miss it. But if she’s offering, sure, why not?

Karin turns me in front of a mirror once she’s finished.

I gape at the woman staring back.

It’s not me, even though this woman mirrors my every move. Small golden leaves that sparkle in the light are interwoven through my hair, forming an almost faux crown. A few delicate wisps of hair escape here and there, draping down like artful, twisting vines.

Karin giggles as she packs away the little jars of make-up.

My face has never been so perfect and contoured. Gold dust around my eyes and the freshly crushed raspberry of my lips highlight all my best features. Between the gown, the make-up, and the fading light of sunset on the balcony, I practically glow, inside and out.

“Ready for the finishing touch?” she gestures to the gown.

I nearly laugh. Finishing touch, my ass. That gown is a work of art all its own.

Karin laces up the back, securing it tightly around me. The last thing I need is it slipping off in front of everyone. Now, that would be something the fae would never forget, and they’d probably enjoy it way too much.

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