Page 82 of Destined for the Fae King

Oh my God. I buy my face in my hands. As if this day could get any worse.

The door cracks open, and I hear another voice, this one barely as whisper. “We just need a minute.”

Grace.

Damn it. The last thing we need is the guards getting curious.

“Yeah. Come in,” I squeak.

They slip inside and close the door but linger just inside it. Grace’s hair is a little disheveled, but otherwise no one could tell what they’d been up to. They’re both wearing casual human nightwear—a baggy shirt and shorts for Grace, a hoody and long sleep pants for Alex—but that’s not unusual on our hall at night. Awkward silence fille the short distance between us.

Finally, I break it.

“Sorry. I got the wrong room.”Of all the times to not lock the damn door.I hold up my hands. “I didn’t—”see anything.

And technically that’s true, but we all know that I know exactly what was happening in there.

I sigh. “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

They look between one another, some silent conversation happening. Grace gives a weak smile.

Alex’s jaw stiffens, and she twists to look at me. “Why wouldn’t you? Tell anyone, that is.”

“Why would I?” I counter.

“To narrow your competition.”

I nearly snort. Right. Which might be valid if I was a total bitchandactually wanted to marry the king, but I don’t. Not that fate gives a damn about what I want.

“Trust me, I have no intention of doing that.” I wander across the room and sit heavily on the edge of my bed, the weight of everything nearly crushing.

Alex and Grace share another look.

“Why?” Grace asks carefully as she crosses the room to stand near the end of the bed. Her brows are still furrowed, her head cocked to the side. I guess I’d be confused by me too if I were her.

“Maybe I don’t want to marry the king either.”

“Really?” She looks taken aback. “Though I never said I was opposed to marrying him.”

I blink at her, dumbfound. “Huh?”

“I, we—” She looks at Alex, who has come to stand at her side. “We don’t plan to leave Faery. Ever.”

“Grace…” Alex gives her a hard look.

The shorter woman shrugs. “I think we can trust her.”

Alex swears under her breath. “I hope you’re right.”

“So, you two are a thing? But you also want to marry the king?” Two and two are not making four, but they might add up to a different number. “Like a threesome?”

Alex groans. “Let’s just go.”

“No wait, seriously,” I hop off the bed. “I’m sorry. I’m just confused.”

“I’ll explain.” Grace brushes past Alex to sit on the edge of my bed and pulls me down next to her. “Our families have always been close, which is how we became friends.” She smiles at Alex. “Andthen more than friends. But they’re also both super strict about coven rules and such. They stick to the old ways.”

She says it as if I should understand, but I don’t really.

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