Page 22 of What did you do?

Thanes and I could see to it that when the time came, she had felt enough pain to rule with a strong and steady hand. She was far too beautiful to be allowed in the castle with us though, where she would definitely catch Thanes’s attention, but I would make certain her darkness was properly fed.

On second thought, maybe catching Thanes’s eye would be good for her. He would toughen her up.

It was settled. Aurelius would go to the human realm alone.

A soft tap sounded at the door. It was time.

“Your Highness?”

My fingers clenched around the book I held. This had to happen. I needed to prove I wasn’t just some frolicking, simple-minded Seelie. Just because I couldn’t shift into a fox didn’t make me less than them. I would show them allexactlywhat I was capable of.

“You asked me to fetch you when King Felix was ready for his night’s tea,” the maid murmured softly, averting her eyes.

“Yes, thank you, Evelyn. His Majesty requested that I prepare it tonight.” I picked up the leather pouch from the small desk as I moved toward the young maid who held the door open.

My knees threatened to drop me as they trembled with each step.

I could do this. It would all be for the better in the end.

I paused briefly before stepping out the door to lean toward the girl, speaking as if in confidence. “How have you been likingyour new position, my dear?” I asked kindly. She’d only been hired a fortnight prior.

“Oh, her ladyship is too kind. You could not have bestowed the employment on a more grateful family, ma’am,” she replied softly as a blush crept up her neck.

“That does please me. Tell me, what did your family think of your bonus wages? You did receive them, did you not? For starting on such short notice?”

She stared at me, bewildered, unable to speak.

“I thought as much. Here,” I said, thrusting the leather pouch into her hands. “A token of our gratitude, from King Felix’s personal collection. I’ve added a few tokens from the royal treasury as well.”

“Oh! Ma’am!” she cried, her face filled with joy.

“You deserve it.” I leaned in and lowered my voice. “I shouldn’t tell you this, but if you go to the servants’ quarters and make a big stink about it, they will trade you anything you could possibly desire to be in your favor. Mary makes the most gorgeous day bonnets. You would look absolutely divine in one!” I squeezed her palm lightly.

“You think? Would they not be upset with me?” she asked.

“Oh, good heavens no! They were not lucky enough to receive such a gift. They will be thrilled to share in the excitement.” I smiled, making certain that it reached my eyes.

“Oh, thank you! Thank you so much! I will go now! Are you certain her ladyship doesn’t need my help to prepare King Felix’s tea?”

I leaned in even farther now. “Strictly between us, my husband has recently brought up concerns that his tea has been tampered with the last few weeks. Apparently, every time he drinks it, he becomes violently ill,” I whispered just loud enough that the two butlers who had just appeared down the hallway could also hear.

“But, ma’am?—”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing. Though I did hear he looked rather pale while I was in Duneberry last week. Once the healer returns from his trip, please send him up immediately. I don’t know what I would do if something were to happen to my Felix.”

She curtseyed deeply and nodded before running off to the servants’ quarters as I continued to my parlor.

Unfortunately, the healer would not respond to their summons when the time came, as he was floating in the Golden Sea, dead as of two days ago.

I turned the corner into my parlor and pulled the poison sachet free from the hollowed-out book. Next, my trembling fingers collected the small green tin of loose tea that sat next to the small memoillusion cube of Felix and I on the desk.

I stared at the little glass box and watched as our tiny figures of light danced together in a perfect waltz. The gold glow of our opaque bodies moving with grace.

We looked so happy. It was the first time we ever met, at our wedding ceremony.

I had been brought up knowing that I would wed the crown prince of Seelie. He only had a few brides to choose from, and my wings almost guaranteed me the position. I had no other powers, which was unheard of for a pureblood. It would have damned me had I not been blessed with monarch wings. They all believed it was destiny, but I knew I was just a mascot.

Royalty weren’t allowed to choose their partner, not really. It was a matchup of pure, royal-blooded families. The men were the ones that chose. It was based purely off of dancing with the eligible women in a ballroom and then marrying them hours after. I held the memoillusion cube, feeling its solid weight settle in my hands. Felix’s handsome face stared back, his deep amber eyes stabbing into my soul from behind the glass.

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