Page 24 of The White Stag
“Not to be offensive, but you look like hot garbage. That’s what I’m for. Iknowyou need to be outside right now, you fiery little bitch, but I have some ideas when we get back inside. I’m a stylist. Plenty of assholes are under the misconception I make people pretty forthem,but they are wrong. The entire point of fabulous hair, beautiful dresses, and a banging smokey eye is for the person wearing it, not the people looking at them.
“You’ve got these amazing blue highlights going on while your hair sorts itself out. I can’t do a damned thing about how utterly shit you feel right now, but Icanbrush your hair and make you feel pretty.”
For so long, I was forced to do my hair and makeup for Alastair’s viewing pleasure. My hair always had to be down and neat. He wanted my face made up, but I wasn’t supposed tolooklike I was wearing makeup. Now that I was out, I was pretty sure that was all things Seelie men expected of their wives. Tucker’s hair was styled into a spiked mohawk, and he wore heavy eye makeup.
I thought Tucker looked pretty amazing. It wasn’t just that I happened to like how he did either of them. He did it that way becausehewanted it, and Tucker didn’t really seem like he gave a shit if anyone else did.
I never really had a chance to figure out what my style was. I didn’t know if makeup was something I wanted to wear all the time. I wasn’t being given much of a choice about my hair being blue, but I thought that might be pretty cool. Tucker was more than just a new friend. He could help me figure some things out that my monsters just wouldn’t know. And maybe there would be some perks.
“Let’s do it. Do you think my monsters will like it?”
“Am I sensing a monster harem forming for our future queen? I’m so here for that. Of course, I give them a hard time because it pisses Cyrus off, but they aren’t bad choices in mates.”
This, Idefinitelyneeded someone else to talk to about. When that boy at my school assaulted me and I ended up in the emergency room, everyone kept brushing it off and telling me he didn’t mean it because he had a crush on me. My monsters were the only ones who were out for blood.
I had this feeling that if I hadn’t been taken by Alastair and had gotten to date like a typical teenager, they would have had big opinions on the boys I went out with. As soon as I wassupposedto get my Fae powers, I would have been brought here and then taken home. I might have met someone and fallen in love. I might have gotten my heart broken and moved on.
But none of that had happened. My monsters had swooped in and saved me from being mind-fucked into becoming the wife of a madman. He had never touched me before, but that was because heneededme to be untouched. It would have been brutal and degrading as soon as he was allowed. They saved me from all that and were perfect in every other way, too.
“They’ve always been there for me and saved me from Alastair. They are amazing. Finnan always knows how to make me laugh, and he’s a fantastic cook. Oisin is the logical one of the group, and he knows what to say to make me feel better. Cyrus is grumpy with everyone but me. I know if it came down to it, he’d do whatever it took to keep me safe. But I think they all still see a child when they look at me.”
“A little tip, sweetie. Under all that iron detox hot mess you’re going through, you’re pretty much a babe, even if all your Unseelie bits haven’t come in yet. Once you’re done with all this nonsense and fully Fae, you’re going to be glorious. Of course, straight men are sometimes stubborn and stupid with their feelings, but those three are the type to come around eventually. I’m going to have so much fun designing your wedding gown.”
“I’m a virgin who has never even kissed a boy before. So I wouldn’t start planning a wedding dress just yet.”
“Well, no one is stopping you from kissing anyone or having hot monster sex anymore. So go get you some.”
I started giggling.
“I’m glad you came here, Tucker. I definitely needed a friend to talk to. And if you can help me figure out what my style is now that it’s not dictated by Alastair, all the better.”
Finnan
We’d only been introduced to Tucker over webcam when Estrella hired him. I personally liked him and was glad he was here. He wasn’t a hobgoblin, but I’d bet he could throw down at a party with us like he was part of the family. Oisin knew Tucker could be the kind of friend we couldn’t be. Cyrus was grumping because I think he wanted her to ourselves for a bit longer.
If Estrella wanted all three of us, something was up. Cyrus usually handled that unless we were requested. Not that either of us was less important than Cyrus. Cyrus just tended to be the responsible one of the bunch. I was a hobgoblin, and no one expected me to behave, even though I was damned good at this job. Oisin could cut up if I roped him into it. Cyrus was immune to fun.
We were all gathered around the laptop, waiting for the call to connect.
“Tucker better not be roping her into something stupid,” Cyrus grumped.
“Tucker is a Cat-Sith. I’m offended you think one of them can talk her into something worse than a hobgoblin can.”
“You aren’t helping, dick.”
“Both of you are being dicks,” Oisin said. “Alastair kept her prisoner and took away everything Unseelie about her. We should fully support it if she wants to cut up with anyone.”
We got cut off because Estrella came on the screen. Our queen always looked fierce and impeccable, but right now, she just looked tired and angry.
“Cyrus, fill everyone in and give me an update.”
“Reagan said Alastair was about to force a wedding when we arrived. Seelie girls get married much younger than Reagan. I think he waited because of the Unseelie. In his deranged mind, he believes if he waited until she was an adult, Estrella and the rest of the Unseelie would just accept it.
“AlastairneedsReagan. It’s more than just this shitty plan to rule both kingdoms. She’s his ticket home. He won’t be welcomed back unless he has something big. Alastair must prove to his parents and the entire Seelie Court that they were wrong for banishing him.
“He knows she’s close to the border, and we are getting her off the iron to bring her home. But, of course, she’s lost to him once that happens. Alastair has already booked a flight to Scotland. He’s reached out to some really nasty mercenary types. I’m betting he stockpiled iron bullets and is handing them out to all of them.
“Alastair’s parents and the Seelie will retaliate if we hunt him down and kill him for what he did before they hear what he did to Reagan, but if he attacks us to get to our princess and dies in battle,thatis something they understand.
