Page 54 of The Dark Fae Princess
“Back to you,” she says sharply. “I need to get this straight. You and Jerrick are in love, you and Trey are close, Theo is in love with you and will do whatever you want. Anyone else I should know about?”
I bite my lip and remember Rook in all his naked glory.
“Really?” she asks, wringing her hands. “A fourth man?”
I shrug, because I’m not really sure how I feel about Rook. “Maybe. So, are we square on the Queen thing? You’ll tell Gramps you agree?”
She sighs. “I suppose. For all the reasons you’ve mentioned, and I know how much you want it. I don’t want to stand in your way, Savvie. Delinda and Arathia have followed their paths, it’s only right that you follow yours, even though I hate it.”
I shriek in delight and fling my arms around her. “Thank you!” I cry.
I take her hand and drag her back to the palace, Theo once again trailing behind like a little puppy dog. Poor man. I shall have to spend some proper time with him soon. The dark clouds of Anders and Ambrosia descend again, but I push them away. I’m about to get what I want, and nothing will be able to stop me then.
I hear the caw of a raven, almost as if in warning, but being too excited about my mother’s change of heart, I ignore it and head inside the palace to tell Gramps the great news.
23
Savannah
Unfortunately, my great news is ruined by Ambrosia’s sour face when we arrive to tell Gramps the news. Mother imparts it stiffly while the two of us glower at each other from opposite corners of the office.
“Bitch,” she hisses at me as Mother and Gramps get into an age-old argument of trust and what not.
I tune them out as it’s the same every single time she comes here.
I sidle up to her and hiss back, “Sorry, peacock. You lose!”
Her face goes puce as she sputters but has no comeback for that. I’m sure that Mother is right in saying that she will stop at nothing to get me out of the way. So after this debacle of a meeting, I intend to find Jerrick and make sure that my training is resumed as soon as possible, and that the advanced magic classes start tomorrow. Sadly, this also means that I need the Guards to watch me, but I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her multi-colored ass. Even as we stand there glaring at each other, I can see the wheels turning. Then, she just spins on her heel and exits the office with a loud slam of the door behind her, screeching for her mother to come running.
“Savvie," Gramps says, turning to me. “I’m really glad that you are going to take your rightful place. I apologize for the hoops, but you know Ambrosia…”
Mother and I both snort in agreement.
“I get it,” I say, grinning at him. “I’m just glad this all worked out.” I give Mother a knowing look, glad that we’ve got a few issues sorted. “Now please try and work through whatever this is,” I gesture madly at the two of them as I edge towards the door. “I need everyone on the same page.”
Mother gives me a vicious look, but I smile and wave and then I’m gone, keeping an eagle eye out for Ambrosia or her mother.
As it happens, the man that I’m desperate to find is hovering near Gramps’s office, along with Theo, who was declined entry by my Vampire-hating grandfather.
I see Jerrick giving Theo an interested once-over, but when he sees me, he approaches me quickly.
“Come with me,” he says sternly.
I sigh. I’d almost forgotten the Guard and the incident with Anders. I’d certainly forgotten that Jerrick is going to be so mad that his head is going to explode.
“Care to explain what happened to my Guard?” he asks me, when we are exiting the palace and aiming for the topiary garden.
I look over my shoulder and see Theo following us, his face carefully neutral as he listens.
“Anders,” I say with a sigh, knowing that I can’t lie to Jerrick. He’ll know. “But it’s fine. Honestly.”
“Fine isn’t a word I’d use,” a familiar voice sounds from behind a large hedge shaped into a raven.
I growl. I might have known he would favor that hedge.
“Rook?” Jerrick questions as the cheeky Shifter walks into view. “You saw what happened?”
“I did,” Rook says carefully, giving me an apologetic look. “I knew you’d downplay it, Princess, but he needs to know. He should’ve been there protecting you instead of sending the B-team.”
