Page 21 of Shifting Winds
He inclined his head. “Some questions I cannot answer for many reasons. But I would never lie to you.”
“Good to know.” Someone appeared at my shoulder and poured a golden, fizzy liquid into my wine glass. Just as I reached for it, Cernunnos snapped his fingers and the glass disappeared.
“No fairy wine,” he cautioned.
“But I’m full fae,” I argued.
“We introduce the beverage when our children are young, so it doesn’t affect them like it does humans or changelings. You’ve never tried the beverage, and the side effects might be…unusual.”
“What, you don’t want me to get trashed and dance on the table?” My words were glib, but I was secretly glad he’d prevented me from getting myself into trouble.
“You’ve obviously never been to a true fae party. Table dancing sometimes begins before the wine starts flowing.”
The sound of music started. My father stiffened and set his glass down. “Excuse me. I will be but a moment.”
When he rose, my father was gone, and the Fae King stood in his place.
Chapter
Seven
It was two in the morning. I was missing a shoe; I had a headache, and a handsome prince had not come chasing me down the steps with my missing sandal.
Fae balls sucked.
“I’m still hungry,” I complained. “Is that how the fae eat all the time?” The dinner had more wine than anything: multiple courses, teeny tiny portions, copious amounts of wine. Everything tasted good, but there was no main course. Only nibbles.
Cernunnos snorted. “You know you don’t have to eat, don’t you?”
I flopped onto the couch and glared at him. “I do not see the point of living if I can’t inhale a slice of chocolate cake when I get a hankering.”
Cernunnos groaned as he sank into the seat.
“Do you not eat?” After his speech, he barely touched anything on his plate. A bite here and there, but most of his food went uneaten.
“I find my attention is on other things when I am among my own people. Eating does not hold the same joy for me as it does for you.”
“So that’s why you ate almost all the tacos.”
“Human food is surprisingly delightful,” he admitted.
“Amen to that.”
“So…” His voice trailed off.
“What did I think of everything?”
“I know you were overwhelmed.”
I thought about my words. These were my people. Technically. By blood but not by choice. But they were my father’s, and I know he loved them. He promised me honesty, and I could do no less for him.
“I like knowing where I stand,” I admitted. “I want my friends to feel comfortable enough to tell me I suck when I do stupid things, and that I’m awesome when I do great things. I want them to feel comfortable enough to come over to my house, kick their shoes off, and steal my food, but I also want to feel comfortable enough to do the same to them.”
A smile tipped his lips up. “And you met no one like that tonight.”
I shook my head. “Though I wonder if you feel that way about Conor.”
“He is my oldest friend,” he admitted, “but we are fae.”
