Page 87 of Death Do Us Part
He ushers in a manwithtwofullcarts of shroomsandamoney-eyedsmile lighting up his face.Fabiacomesin after him, scowling and covered in sweat.
“You called?”she demands.
I glance at Jaceas he shuts the door and joins us.Did I?He grins.The shroomistglancesatFabiain horrorfor being so bold.
Holding her gaze, I gesture to his carts,understanding what Jace wants from me – and damn him, I want it too.“What kind of shroomsdoesArienna like?”
“What?”
“I think I was perfectly clear.”
She glancesat Jace in irritation, thenshakesher head.“The glowing purple ones.”
My eyes narrow as I scan the two cartsbefore me.Therearepurple polka dotted ones and glowing green ones, but no glowingpurple shrooms.“Did Jace not ask you to bring everything?”I demand,knowing he would’ve.
“I –I’ve never heard of any glowing purple ones,Your Highness,”the man says, his eyes wide.
“That’s because they don’t exist,” Jace cutsin with a chuckle.“Now that you’ve poked him, stop,” hetellsFabia.“Otherwise, you’re going to be responsible forthis guy’sdeath.”He hikes his thumb at the shroomist.
She pales.I smile.Good.Now that sheunderstandsthe seriousness of the situation, I ask again.“Which shrooms?”
Exhaling strongly, she walksup to the carts.“She doesn’t really have a favourite.She likes anything and everything if you haven’t noticed.Spiders.Rikas.Wasps.Jacolas.”She turnsto me.“You.”
My lips twitch with a smile.I know she meant it as an insult given everything else she listedisvenomous, but Idon’tcare.She said Arienna likesme.A lot of the tension in my chest eases.That damn hope explodes like a witch’s fire, burning away the last of my hesitation.I want Arienna, and I’ll kill the entire Court if I have to, to keep her.
“But she especially likes those with meanings attached to them,”Fabia continues.
I glance atthe shroomistfor an explanation.
“Someshroomsmean different things,” hesays.Pulling a blue shroom out, heholdsit towards me.“This is a symbol of prosperity and wealth.”
“Do you have one for ‘I showed mercy to your pathetic excuse of an ex’?”
“You let him go?”Fabia cutsin.I’m not surprised she knows about Karl.Whatever they say about men liking to gossip, guards like it more.
“She did ask me to,” Isay tightly.
“But you challenged him.”
“Yes.”
She studiesme, her silver eyes cold in her assessment.Sighing,shepicksup a teal shroom with white polka dots on its rim.“Tealis Arienna’s favourite colour.”
“Thank you.”I turntothe shroomist.“Make a hundredbouquetsthat centre around this colour for the ball next week and send one to herchambersthe evening of.I’m assuming I don’t have to tell you what will happen if word gets out about this conversation?”
Henods.
“You’re dismissed.”
As he scurriesout the door, I head for the minibar in my room.Pulling out a bottle of ambrosia and two glasses, I set them on thetable and pour.Picking the tumblers up, I hand one to Fabia.She hesitatesfor a few seconds before taking it.
Settling inachair, Isay, “Nowtell me whatkind of food she likes,and I’ll let you train for a position intheRoyalGuard.”
Her eyes light up despite her desire to still hate me.But I have spent years learning how to manipulate my enemies to get what I want; figuring out how to make a brownie like me can’t be that hard.
“I can’t be bought that easily,” she says stubbornly.
“Of course not.But you can protect her better at her side than locked in your room as collateral.”
