Page 21 of Dark Fae's Secrets
Savannah
Walking away from my meeting with Petle, I have a whole new respect for what my Grandfather did for this Kingdom. It was an eye opener. The ‘worst’ didn’t really get any better. In fact, if possible, it got even more horrifying. Turns out that I have to be at the executions to issue the final order.
I shudder as my skin feels like crawling away.
But it’s something that I’m going to have to do even though the criminal in question made threats against me that I didn’t even know about.
The only nice thing on Petle’s list was an appointment that has been made for me with Tabitha, the best seamstress in the Kingdom, for my wedding dress. I don’t know who made the appointment, it wasn’t me, but someone is making it very clear what they expect of me and when.
As I turn the corner, I see Gramps waiting for me, leaning casually up against the wall.
My breath hitches.
I clench my fists and take a shallow breath, forcing a smile on my face.
He can see straight through me, though. He straightens up and comes over to give me a big hug. I allow myself the comfort of his massive, reassuring self for a moment and then pull away.
“How did your first day go?” he asks.
“Great!” I say brightly.
“That bad, huh?” he says in commiseration.
I sigh. “No, really, it was great. I’m excited and eager to dive in.”
“You are a strong girl, Savvie. You are more than capable of handling this. Take it from an old man, leave whatever upsets you at the office. Don’t take it home with you. It will take its toll.”
“I know,” I whisper. “But a Queen never rests.”
He snorts. “Spoken like a true Queen,” he says, beaming with pride. “I love you, girl. You have already made me so proud.”
“Thank you,” I murmur. “Uhm, how is Grams?”
His face clouds over.
It upsets me. She has completely cut me off since this whole heir thing got real.
“She is devastated about her only daughter going rogue, as well as her disappointment in me for bypassing Ambrosia in the first place. But her behavior further enforces that I made the right decision, as much as it hurts me to admit it. Her anger isn’t at you, girl. She is just… working through it.”
I nod, biting the inside of my lip. “Should I go and talk to her?”
“No,” he says. “She is a three-and-a-half thousand-year-old Faerie. It’s her responsibility to shake this off and come to you. She will. I know her better than she knows herself.”
I want to argue that I want to sort our issues out now, but I take his word for it and nod slowly.
“If you don’t mind, I need to rest a while,” I mutter.
He gives my shoulders a squeeze. “Go,” he says kindly. “Know that I am here if you need me.”
I give him a wan smile, but it bucks me up in the biggest way possible. Over my dead body will I admit failure and go to him. Nope, no way.Iam Queen now. This Kingdom and everyone in it aremyresponsibility. I will pull my big girl panties on and deal.
Stalking off down the hallway that leads to my room, I pause as I see a maid hovering outside my door. I don’t recognize her as being staff from down this end of the Palace.
“Can I help you?” I ask her.
She turns her pretty eyes to me and blinks. “Your Majesty,” she murmurs with a curtsy. “I’m here cleaning.”
“Where is Felicity?” I ask, curiously. It is very rare that the staff gets switched out, especially in this wing, where the senior royalty resides.
