The simpering bootlicker had the good sense to look abashed. “I shifted from the palace to yer borders, Yer Highness. But I did walk from the border to here.” He pulled up his sleeve and revealed Darkcord’s mark upon his wrist. “Yer commander stripped me of my magic whilst I remain on Sevenrest lands. ’Twas the only way he would allow me access to ye—even though I am the new Minister of Apologies.”
“Minister of Apologies?” Jeros couldn’t help but laugh. “What a fine title, and pray tell, how did that come about that?”
“The few of us left at the palace elected me to come here, bearing gifts and apologies. The title fit the task.” The courtier bowed repeatedly and kept his gaze lowered while extending the bag. “Please accept and forgive us, Yer Highness. I come in the name of the Seventh Realm and the Fifth Kingdom united.”
Lexi took the bag, uncinched the gold cord, then looked inside. She immediately dropped it and turned away, doubling over and gagging until she vomited.
“What the feckin’ hell?” Jeros upended the bag, then understood as soon as Princess Faeniana’s head plopped onto the ground at his feet.
Covering her eyes, Lexi continued retching.
“We thought it an appropriate gift,” Banrhana said, as if he had brought a bundle of flowers. “Princess Faeniana received the same fate she bestowed upon yer family and many of the Seventh Realm’s court. The war is done, Yer Majesty, if ye choose to accept our apologies and atonement.” He bowed again three more times. “We were sorely wrong, Yer Highness, about yerself and our queen. Please forgive us for our ignorance, our pettiness, and our cruelty.”
Victory surging through him, Jeros threw out his chest. “What say ye, my own?” he asked Lexi, even though she was still bent over the bushes, gagging.
She coughed and gagged, then waved a hand, shooing him and everyone else away. “Get rid of that thing. Now!”
Even though he’d never seen Faeniana look better, he motioned for Brasspatch to return the head to its sack. “We accept yer apologies, minister, but dinna think we are fools. We will remain on guard. Once trust is lost, it is nearly always impossible to regain.”
The former courtier to Princess Faeniana bobbled and bowed while tending to the assigned task. “And when shall we plan yer anointing, my king? And the royal wedding?”
“I will inform ye when we are ready for both,” Jeros said, knowing the lands, peoples, and creatures of the Seventh Realm needed time to heal and return to a peaceful existence before they took part in an elaborate coronation ritual and a royal wedding. “Return to the palace and wait for word.”
“Aye, Yer Majesty.”
“And Brasspatch?—”
The arse-kisser turned back. “Aye, Yer Majesty?”
“My lady love and I will be watching. Our eyes are everywhere. Do not think to deceive us.”
“And take your disgusting gift with you,” Lexi shouted without turning around.
“Forgive us, my queen,” Brasspatch whined. “But it did seem appropriate.”
“Barbaric, more than appropriate,” Lexi muttered.
“Go, Brasspatch.” Jeros shooed the pudgy Fae along, more nauseated by the simpering fool than the severed head. He hurried to Lexi’s side and supported her while she vomited again. “He is gone, my own, and everything is gone with him.”
“What a disgusting thing to do.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “And I can’tunseeit.”
“Come.” He gently tugged on her. “Come and sit by the water. Calm yerself. Yer beasties are jubilant with the good news. Even yer lame kelpie is dancin’.”
“And he shouldn’t be!” She pointed at the water horse. “I told you to rest. Now, stop it. You’re going to pull that muscle all over again.”
“How can he pull a muscle made of water?” Jeros whispered. “He is a shifter.”
“I don’t know.” She glared at him as she plopped down onto the edge of the lock and stuck her bare feet into the water. “It just seemed like the thing to say at the time.”
Sitting beside her, he bumped her shoulder with his. “Ye look verra fine in yer gown.” And he meant it. Today was the first day she had finally agreed to wear something appropriate rather than those infernal trews that allowed everyone to see what belonged to him.
“After the last couple of weeks being so peaceful, I really didn’t think I had much of a choice, since I promised to stop wearing my jeans once everything calmed down.” She pointed at the kelpie again, and it immediately stopped splashing and swam around at a much more sedate pace. With a weary sigh, she shoved her hair out of her eyes, fighting to tame the unruly strands that had escaped her hairpins. “Do you think it’s real? The peace?”
“All we can do is wait and see. Trust no one but those whom we already know are trustworthy. At least we have all the ears and eyes of the beasties throughout the kingdom.” He hugged her closer, his heart soaring that now they could finally concentrate on enjoying their life together. “Ye are much beloved. By all of us.”
She sidled an uneasy glance his way.
“What is it, my own?” He brushed a tender kiss to her cheek.
