Page 18 of Destined for the Fae King

“You’re incredibly good at this,” I say after she rubs some cream across my lips that leaves them rosy and slightly glistening.

A bright flush rushes to her cheeks. “Thank you, Lady Mira.”

“Honestly though, I’m sure not every fae is this talented.”

Sharp teeth pull at her bottom lip, and she glances away. “No. I’m better than most.”

Just what I thought. And lucky me for having her help. “Why choose to be an attendant for The Choosing competitors then? Surely there are high-ranking fae who would dearly love your services.”

Her normally bright enthusiasm fades into sullen silence as she dips a brush into shimmering powder. She takes her time stirring the bristles through the glittering substance, and I worry I’ve made some faux pas.

Finally, she turns to me with the brush and says, “Close your eyes.”

I comply, and she dusts the brush across one cheek then the other, down the slope of my nose, and a quick flick across my brow.

“All done.”

My skin shines, radiant with just a little extra bit of shimmer in the areas accented. The effect is subtle yet masterful. “I love it.”

I touch the tip of one finger to my cheek then inspect it, expecting to see some of the powder on my hand, but it’s still clean.

“It’ll come off with this.” She holds up a crystal vile with pale blueish liquid. “I’ll leave some in your wash room.”

She goes about straightening up her various brushes, jars, and creams, and I expect she won’t answer my question from before.

But then she says, “My family has been lower class for generations, living out in the southern jungles, but I was never satisfied with that.”

Fia halts her clean up and turns to me, not quite meeting my eye, a shy look on her face. There’s more, but she’s holding back.

“Go on,” I prompt.

She gives one short nod. “I worked hard at my skill and even found I could infuse some of my magic into my powders. That last one I applied is my own creation, hints of cool fire worked into fine sand. The high court loves it, and I was able to move my entire family here due to my success.”

“That’s amazing!” A self-made woman if there ever was one. “I knew you were talented. But then why work as an attendant at all?”

Her gaze flits away again, and she lowers her head a bit before looking back at me from under her lashes. “They like my work but not always me. They know where I come from and my family, and so many of the court still see me as less. But being anattendant for a potential future queen? That, they respect. And if you do become our next queen…”

Fia looks away again.

She doesn’t need to continue. Attending to the queen, being the one who helped her win the crown in a way, would elevate her status and reputation even more, probably bringing her as close to royalty as she could hope to come herself.

I rise and grab her hands where they’re folded in front of her. Fia gasps, her head snapping up so that she stares at me, her lips slightly parted.

“I understand. I’ve dreamed of coming here for years, and I know all about working to make one’s family proud and helping them rise in life. I’ll do my best, for both of us.” I squeeze her hands. “Even if I fail, I will make sure everyone knows how amazing you are.”

“You would do that?”

“Of course. Just keep bringing me coffee in the mornings.” I grin.

She giggles. “I can do that.”

When it’s time for dinner, we’re all ushered there as one big gaggle of women like we were for our meeting with Elaine the other morning. Though given that most of us are wearing dresses with voluminous skirts that nearly or do brush across the ground, we’re a long procession. Red and gold are still the dominate colors, but I can’t regret my choice. The front plunges down in a wide V-neck that ends between my cleavage and rises to my shoulders, where flowing, sheer sleeves drape over my arms down to the wrist. But it’s the skirt of the dress attached to the fitted bodice that’s thereal show stopper. It’s made of layers of sheer material, like the sleeves, but they’re varying shades of crimson, yellow, orange, and gold and cut in various triangular patterns so that the whole thing looks like a flame that dances as I move.

Over the top? Possibly.

But given it’s our first dinner with the king, I mean to stand out.

Tharin gives me an appraising look as I pass by him at the doors to the dining room. His grin and nod say I’ve chosen my attire well. And thankfully, he hasn’t mentioned anything about the night before.

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