I was nearly trembling against the exertion not to crumble in laughter in front of Cara’s horrified expression.
“Well, that is wildly improper.”
“For a man to assist his wife with a gown?” Jonas arched a brow. “All respect, lady, but I fear I’ve exposed Skadi to sights vastly more improper.”
I couldn’t keep it in any longer. The laugh rattled through my chest. Cara looked upon me like a changeling had robbed me of my face. I clutched Jonas’s wrist and tugged him toward the door to my bedchamber. “Cara, don’t fret. The prince has proven time and again to be quite skilled with removing my gowns.”
“Lady Skadinia.” Cara pressed a hand to her chest, aghast.
Her horror was the last thing I saw before I closed the door behind us and clicked the lock into place.
Jonas laughed first, his brow falling to mine. “You are witty when you want to be, Fire.”
“I beg your pardon.” I flicked one of his stubby ears. “The words you meant to say were I am witty all the time.”
Jonas cupped one side of my face, drawing his mouth closer. “My mistake. Now, let’s see about getting you into that gown. Might take some time and I can’t promise my hands will keep to themselves during the process.”
I curled a fist around his tunic. “They better not, Nightmare.”
Chapter 37
The Nightmare Prince
I was convincedSkadi’s maid despised me.
Her eyes dug into my skull from where she stood across the hall during the feast, still appalled we abandoned the room together, in different clothes than when we arrived.
Dull. That is what consisted of an elven feast. It was not the same as the vows where fae folk infiltrated the Natthaven palace with boisterous drums and lyres and raucous behavior.
For what felt like endless clock tolls, we ate dish after dish with countless spoons and forks that I undoubtedly mishandled more than once.
By the time some sort of blood plum sweet ice arrived, I felt like I would need to let out seams on all my tunics and trousers, and could not recall a single topic of conversation offered up by the haughty noblemen who ignored both me and Skadi and spoke only to Eldirard.
Until Skadi squeezed my thigh. “Lord Cathal asked you a question.”
“Oh.” Across the table a narrow-faced man looked my way. His eyes were seafoam green and as bright as Skadi’s, but his nose was so thin, I wasn’t certain he could truly breathe through it. “Forgive me. What did you say?”
“I asked what your duties were as a prince of your realms. I assume fae royals have specific duties.”
“True, and I’m not fae.” I returned him a snide grin to match his own. “Fae and alver royals do have specific duties. Mine fall to the armory of the alver clans.”
“I didn’t know that,” Skadi whispered.
I squeezed her hand, nodding. “I tend to our smiths and weapon trade with other kingdoms. Earth fae warriors are called Rave, and once a turn I visit Rave camps and trainings across the realms to see to the needs of armies through elixirs or alver crops.”
“Quite a journey,” the nobleman said. “Fae realms are expansive, are they not?”
“They are, but we are bonded clans. I was raised alongside every royal house, visiting neighboring kingdoms often. Most of us have family connections throughout the realms, so I am glad to have another excuse to visit. I plan to invite Skadi on the next one this harvest.” I cast her a look. “If you want to join, of course.”
“I would.” Her smile widened and my fiery wife drifted her palm higher on my thigh, merely to torment me.
“Good. You’re much lovelier than most of the company.”
Eldirard frowned. Perhaps he was not approving of me being so brazen with his granddaughter in the sight of others. Truth be told, I wasn’t certain I knew how to stop.
“You would take your wife?” Cathal asked with a bite of disgust.
“Of course.” I pushed a bit of the sweet ice around with one of the delicate spoons. “Skadi’s voice would be welcome and respected among all the clans.”
