Page 100 of Destined for the Fae King

“Sneaking out to spend time withthe prince.” She tsks.

“How— Why do you think that?” I lean farther back against the door, the solid mass at my back the only think holding me upright.

She sighs. “Tharin told me.”

Tharin…I grit my teeth, the betrayal sharp and stinging. I know he’s against us, but ratting me out like this?

“And who have you told?” I ask.

Fia frowns, her shoulders dropping. “You really think so poorly of me?” She crosses the space between us and hold out a hand to me. “I’m disappointed because it wasn’t you who told me, not because you care for the prince.”

I blink at her. “Wait, what?”

“You thought I wouldn’t approve.” She flexes her open hand, waiting for me to take it.

Finally, I do, and she leads me over to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Well, no,” I say. “I know how much you want me to become queen. And being with anyone else while bound into The Choosing is treason. I’m the king’s until he decides otherwise.” Saying it out loud makes it all sound so much worse than it did a few moments ago.

“All true,” she says. “But aren’t we friends?”

“Yes?”

She sits next to me and takes my hand in hers. “I hope we are. There can only be one queen. Being the maid to the future princess sounds quite nice. Less pressure, all the fame. Besides, he’s a better fit for you, I think. Much better.”

“So you didn’t tell anyone?”

“No.”

I nearly sigh in relief, some of the tension slipping from my shoulders.

“Tharin was looking out for you, I think. He thought something like this might happen and didn’t want me to find you missing inthe night and panic, thinking something had happened to you, as I might have. I do get concerned for you.” She tilts her head to the side, smiling that blinding grin of hers.

Something swells in my chest, and I make an effort to return her optimist. “I don’t deserve you.”

“But you do.” She pats our joined hands before releasing me and rising. “Now that I know you are safe, rest. There is nothing planned this morning as of yet but…” She trails off, looking away. After yesterday, the king’s sudden return. “It would be best to rest now, and I will wake you if an event arises.”

Because no one knows what state the king is in now or how he’ll want to proceed with The Choosing after all that’s transpired the last few days.

“Thank you, Fia. For everything.” I fill the words with all the gratitude I feel, and from the softening of her face and soft sparkle in her eyes, I think she feels it too.

“I am here for you,” she promises. “Now sleep.”

Chapter 39

When I join theother women for an early lunch, there’s an extra pep in my step that’s been missing far longer than I’d like to admit. The sun shines a little brighter today, pouring into the room and lightening everything up. It’s almost like fate has opened a window and maybe things won’t be as bad as I’d feared.

“Saved you a seat!” Grace waves me over to the open space between her and Gabriella.

Cora, seated directly across from her, looks up as I approach and offers me a small smile—more than she ever has before. Sitting down with them for lunch feels relaxing, comfortable. Servers rush over with pitchers of drink and platters of food, all of which are divine. I don’t know if it’s something in the soil or maybe the magic flowing through the world itself, but everything here tastes a little better than similar foods would at home. Of course, with all the pesticides and stuff used back home, I guess it shouldn’t be that surprising.

Zoe joins us a few minutes later, leaving just one spot open at the table. “No Katherine yet?”

Everyone shakes their head.

“And no word from His Majesty?” The slight bitter edge when she says his title is new. A few bird calls flit in from the large, open arched windows, but otherwise silence reigns.

“Nothing today,” Adeline says after a weighty pause.

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