“Oh, yes.” He waved at a man across the street, flashing a charming smile. “Her Majesty has extended an invitation to us. She’s holding it in the shared ballroom. I’m sure you know all about lodestones by now. Will you grace me with a dance, then?”
“I’m…” I couldn’t. Not when touching him would kill him. Fairly sure that went far, far beyond a diplomatic incident and into all out war. “I’m afraid I’m not able to dance at the moment. My illness, you see.”
“Well, that’s a shame. We would’ve looked quite spectacular on the dance floor together.” The way he ran his hand through his hair, preening, told me plenty about how to stay in his good books.
“I’m sure Your Highness will look spectacular on the dance floor with or without me.” I forced out the honeyed words. If he thought me nothing more than a charming human aristocrat, that would keep me safe.
He made a low, approving sound and straightened, giving me a sidelong glance. “Oh, I like you. You can stay around forever if you’re going to compliment me like that.”
Rose cleared her throat. “We’re here.”
We stood outside a glass-fronted shop. In the window stood a gown that threatened to make me keel over as it stole my breath so thoroughly. Its glittering skirts seemed to shift colour as I watched, changing from deep purple-black to darkest blue to blackened gold.
“Hmph. Another waste of time.” The prince leant towards us and put on a playful tone as he went on, “I’d prefer it if you both came in nothing at all. I’m sure everyone would.”
He winked dramatically, and I chuckled. Rose made a similar sound—just as forced as mine.
“Ah, but I must be off. Things to see, people to do.” He laughed like he had an audience, though this was a street dominated by Dusk and most people only glanced at him as they got on with their days. “I look forward to seeing you at the ball, though I’m not sure how I’ll survive until then without your charming company, dearest Rose, loveliest Katherine.” He placed his hand over his heart as he backed away.
As I smiled and waved, out the corner of my mouth I asked, “Is he always like that?”
Rose turned and pushed the shop door open with a deep sigh. “Yes. He’ll screw anything that moves. Total idiot.”
“Who’s a total idiot?” As I entered, a young woman with white hair and amber complexion looked up from an embroidery hoop. Her ears were rounded like mine, but that white hair had to be a fae mark, betraying her magic.
Rose closed the door and glanced around the shop. “Cyrus.”
“Oh. Yes.” The young woman nodded. “Total idiot.”
Probably not behind unCavendish, then.
As I moved further into the shop, I froze. Next to her chair stood a white hound.
Its eyes burned with red flame. Its ears, paws, and tail, too.
I’d only ever heard of such creatures in stories—the terrifying kind where the Wild Hunt chased unwary souls across eternity, aided by their hunting hounds.
But that flaming tail wagged as it trotted up to Rose and shoved its head under her hand. “Fine, yes, scritches for you. Sorry, I’m neglecting my human duties too. Ari, this is Kat. Kat—Ari. Ariadne, if you’re feeling fancy.”
Ari’s smile had dimmed, but she came and greeted Rose with a hug. “Is this…？”
“Yep. That Kat.”
“Oh.” Ari’s dark eyes widened as she surveyed me, her fingers knotting together. “Nice to meet you.”
The hound sat, looking up at me with those fiery eyes.
“Don’t mind Fluffy.” Rose gave me a reassuring nod. “She’s such a softy, she was kicked out of the Wild Hunt.”
Fluffy? I arched an eyebrow at the hound, whose gaze became twice as beseeching.
“That isn’t what happened,” Ari muttered.
But Rose shrugged off her objection. “Let her give you a sniff, and she’ll be your best friend in no time.”
I did as instructed, finding Fluffy’s nose was damp, like any other dog’s. Ari whispered something to Rose while I stroked Fluffy, setting her tail wagging in double time. Her flames didn’t burn.
“Ari wants to know if you’ll join us for tea later.”
Ariadne gave a shy smile.
“And by ‘tea’”—Rose arched an eyebrow—“I’m assuming she means the alcoholic concoctions we make up with fae spirits and fruit juice and so on. It’s my new favourite thing.”
“I, uh…”
Ari’s look matched the beseeching one Fluffy had given me.
I chuckled. “Of course. I’d love to.” Even if I couldn’t get drunk, Rose was starting to feel like she could become a friend rather than just a bodyguard. Besides, I’d take any excuse to avoid Bastian.
“Good,” Ari sighed like she’d been afraid I was going to say no. “Now, dresses for the ball.” Stroking her lower lip, she surveyed me and nodded. “I have just the thing.”
17
Kat
The next morning, it wasn’t Bastian who walked me down to the training yard but Faolán. Thank the gods. I was still avoiding Bastian. Yesterday I’d only lingered to get my antidote before making an excuse to go to my room. He’d muttered something and seemed set to say more, but I didn’t want to hear it.
And today, my head pounded too much to even think about it.
“You know, I won’t tell Bastian if we skip training today—start tomorrow. You could go and catch some sleep. I’m sure Rose wouldn’t mind.” I gave Faolán a hopeful look.
He looked down at me out the corner of his eye. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with you staying up to an ungodly hour with my wife and Ariadne, would it?”
I’d had a nice time with Rose and Ari. That nice time might’ve involved a few of Rose’s concoctions. Turned out fae drinks infused with magic still had an effect on me. I even managed to pocket some arianmêl—there was no telling when that might prove useful.
Strategising aside, I had laughed—and not only because of magical fae alcohol. Rose and Faolán’s home was cosy and simple, cluttered with cushions and little carved knick-knacks that spoke of a happy life. Sure, there were a few more knives slotted in the umbrella rack than I’d expect in the average home, but Faolán seemed the type to want to be prepared.
Although I’d let Rose and Ari speak the most—telling me about their childhood growing up together in a small Albionic town near the border—I’d shared a little about myself. I hadn’t told them about Lunden and me and Bastian and they hadn’t asked, but it was the closest I’d come to relaxing since waking in the Hall of Healing.
Even so, Ari had all too casually dropped into conversation the fact male fae took “precautions” to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Rose had shifted uncomfortably, and I’d leapt up to fetch more drinks. I wasn’t going to be fucking anyone any time soon. I was only taking the preventative because it eased my periods.
As cosy as his home was, Faolán raised an eyebrow when I asked for leniency. “Luckily, enemies are kind enough to only attack when you’re well-rested and at peak health.”