Page 162 of The Fae Girl 1

I went so red you could fry an egg on my face and she burst out laughing.

“Here.” She said walking to where the bookcase on my side was still wide open. “This is how you close it.”

She pushed the book that was poking out at a ninety degree angle and as smooth as if the whole thing were enchanted, it glided back into place.

I walked up to it, inspecting the sides. There was no way you could tell what was behind it. It was completely hidden.

“Did you know about this the entire time?” I asked.

“Yes.” Nela replied. “But the Prince said it was only there for absolute emergencies.”

I huffed. It still felt like an invasion of my privacy even if his intentions had been good.

“The others think you were sleeping off the residuals of your magic.” She said.

I frowned. “What?”

“After destroying the spectral. I told them that’s why we left the Courtyard early.”

Damn I’d forgotten that. Last night had been so… I blushed more.

“If you want to go back to bed you can.”

“I’m not tired.” I said. Though that was a lie. I was tired. But it turns out staying up half the night in Fain’s bed gave me a sleepiness I could get used to.

Nela smirked again.

“Stop it.” I muttered.

“I’m not saying a word.”

“You don’t have to. Your face is doing all the talking.”

She laughed. “Yeah. I doubt you and the Prince were talking all that much last night.”

I shot her a look and she laughed harder.

“Do me a favour and don’t tell the others.” I said.

“You want it to be your dirty little secret?” She teased.

“No.” I replied. “But I don’t know what it is. What we are. And with Mira and the whole Ridley thing…”

But he’d all but invited me back.

The words slipped into my head and I fought the smile. He had. He’d made it clear that it wasn’t just a bit of fun. That this was more for him too.

“I get it.” Nela said. “It’s your business. Besides I don’t gossip.”

“Thanks.” I said meaning it.

“How about you have a bath.” She said looking pointedly at my dishevelled state.

“Why do I stink?” I asked.

“Not of dirt.” She said back.

“Meaning what?”

---