Page 65 of Destined for the Fae King

I go through the motions.

Smile. Curtsy.

Katherine is already there inserting herself in front of the king and asking for the next dance, which he accepts.

I wander off to the side of the dancefloor, heedless of my direction and the few fae who try to get my attention. Instead, I narrow in on a server with a tray of crystal flutes bearing bubbling liquid that resembles pink champaign. I grab one and take a big sip, savoring the sweet flavor and the bubbles that dance across my tongue.

“Hey! Look at you, getting the first dance with the king!” Selena throws her arm around my shoulders, causing the liquid in my glass to slosh precariously. She stares at me for one beat then another, before her expression drops along with her arm. “But you don’t look excited,” she says just above a whisper. “¿Qué pasó?”

“It’s…” I break off, my gaze shifting around us as various fae close in like they might want to chat with us or at least overhear what we’re talking about. That won’t do. Not at all.

I slide my arm through hers and turn us toward the glass menagerie. “Walk with me.”

If there’s anywhere we can be slightly more alone, it’s there.

Chapter 26

While the crowds arestill thick, I ask about her and home. The new blond streaks in her hair? Something she tried for fun but won’t keep. The red lipstick is staying though. It’s her new favorite color. My brothers are racking up the sports accolades, and college scholarships look promising—thank God. And Mom has been baking up a storm. Selena swears she’s gained five pounds thanks to her snickerdoodle cookies, but I can’t see it.

The farther we walk, the more the crowds disburse, and I’m able to feed her some details on the competition in short whispers. The king has been fine. I’m not his favorite, but not the least favorite either. I’ve represented the family well. All good facts she can tell my uncle later when he grills her. Because he totally will.

Selena nods along through the updates, nonplussed.

“So have you two…” She waggles her eyebrows and nudges me.

I roll eyes in return. “The dowager is a little old-fashioned and gave us strict no-sex rules.” That I don’t think anyone has broken. “But I did kiss him.”

“And?” She leans in, giving me a serious look. “I need details.”

“It was…” I shrug.

She cringes. “Ay!So, he’s a bad kisser. Not looking forward to that for the rest of your life?”

Decidedly not, but I didn’t drag her out here to talk about a lackluster kiss. I pull in a deep breath. “The thing is…” I lean in to whisper directly in her ear. “He’s not the only person I’ve kissed.”

“Santa mierda!” She screeches then claps her hands over her mouth.

“Selena!” I look around. Thankfully, no one seems to be nearby.

She grabs my arms and practically pulls me down onto the nearby bench. “Mira. Seriously. Oh my God.”

“Yeah, I know.”

She drops my arms now that we’re seated, and I bury my face in my hands.

“You can’t leave me hanging.” Selena shakes me. “Dish. Now. Right now.”

I peek out from behind my hands. “You cannot tell your dad.”

“Psh.” She blows air through her lips. “Of course not. He’d blow a gasket, andIdon’t want to deal with that, much less have it come back on you or your mom. Your secrets are safe with me.” She holds up one hand. “Scout’s honor.”

I drop my hands and give her a sideways look. “You were never a scout. And isn’t that Boy Scouts anyway?”

She shrugs. “You get the point.”

Yeah, I do. And I trust her more than anyone. So, we have the quietest conversation possible about Lysandir. I tell her everything, from our first terrible meeting that she witnessed, to our encounters in the library, seeing him play with the kids, him teaching me yard games, the kiss I can never forget, last night, and finally what I learned about from the king moments ago.

“Damn.” She leans back when I finish. “I thought we were headed straight for ahappy for nowending there for a minute, and you have to go and drop the wholematebombshell.”

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