Page 189 of Bitten By the Fae
I grinned. “Then afterward, I’ll make you some fire gnat juice.”
“Or another dragon steak,” she offered.
“Or that,” I agreed, winking. Then I took out my wand and gave Clove my undivided attention. “Let’s see who sent you, shall we?”
Chapter Seventeen
KOLS
What a fucking night.
I blew out a disgruntled breath as I entered my suite, expecting to see the whole thing shredded to hell and pausing upon discovering the pristine interior awaiting my entry.
“They cleaned,” Tray explained from the couch, catching my confusion. He had a content Ella snuggled up against him, her head pillowed against his shoulder. “Zeph and Aflora are actually in your room finishing up, and there are some leftovers on the stove, if you want any.”
He had an empty plate on the table, suggesting he’d just finished eating. As he’d only left about thirty minutes ahead of me, that timing made sense.
“I’m not hungry,” I admitted, still riled up and pissed off from the bullshit the Council had thrown at me.
The only reason they hadn’t locked me up for observation was because of Aflora. My father had argued that I needed to be on campus with her to continue her monitoring. Others had suggested she be locked up with me. Then he’d reminded them of my role as future king and the importance of completing this task for my upcoming ascension.
It was all a fucking mess.
And I really just wanted to take a damn nap.
Tray nodded in understanding, then kissed Ella on the forehead, holding her close. “I’ll put the leftovers in the fridge for you,” he said.
“Thanks,” I muttered, meaning it despite my gruff tone. “I’m going to go make sure Zeph hasn’t rearranged my room.”
“Good idea.” He returned his focus to the blonde in his arms, his palm cupping her cheek as he angled her face upward to receive his kiss.
I had spent the last three and a half years envying him and his ability to choose. Not that I’d ever admitted it out loud. My destiny was to serve the crown, a future I’d taken seriously and devoted my entire life to fulfill.
However, tonight the Council rewarded my fealty with an unwarranted accusation followed by a search of my private quarters, all to hunt for evidence that didn’t exist.
No one had believed my innocence.
Not even my father.
After everything I’d given up for those assholes, they’d refused to take me at my word.
And that fucking burned.
I yanked on the knotted tie at my throat and started down the hallway to my room, only to pause on the threshold at the sight of Aflora giggling. She sat cross-legged on my rug with a plate in her lap, while Zeph stood over her with his hands on his hips.
“Seriously, I’m going to start feeding you bark,” he was saying. “Maybe topped with some charcoal blades.”
“Is that what it’s called?” she asked. “The black grass in the fields?”
He snorted. “Yeah, that’s not grass, pixie flower.”
“Well, I know. It’s sharp and brittle and… charcoal-y.”
His lips twitched. “Hence the name—charcoal blades.”
Her nose scrunched upward. “I’m not eating that.”
“Yet you’ll eat a leafy salad patty monstrosity with mussleberries.”
