The golden-haired seamstress unrolled the pink I had also been eyeing. “Queen of love.” She winked.
I let out a laugh, truly enjoying their imaginations. “You know what … I trust you. Surprise me.”
Both of their mouths popped open in unison, astonishment written across their faces.
They recovered quickly though, grabbing at tape measures and paper. I held out my arms so they could measure me. I was excited for the festival, but there were too many other things on my plate for me to completely lose myself in the joy. As they ran around me taking notes, my mind wandered and I found myself thinking of what Kade would be dressed as. I should not be thinking of the bear king when I wasn’t with him. Maybe I did need to take a mate. I needed the distraction, and it would be good for my people to see me in a strong wolf relationship.
But the thought of it had my gut tied up in knots, instead of the excitement I should have been feeling.
After the ladies left, I sat through three hours of royal appointments, which included catering for the summer festival, decorations, and entertainment.
After this, it was time to play referee. You know, when grown shifters need their queen to figure out their problems. Award for the most annoying of the morning went to two dominant wolves bickering about their need for another parking space. Neither of them would budge an inch, although both agreed that I should pay for it from the royal allowance.
We paid taxes in our society, all shifters did. The royal house paid the human government, and the rest of the packs paid the royal house. The shifter tax to us was only ten percent, but some shifters thought it meant they were entitled to ask for things they should be paying for themselves. A parking spot in Manhattan was a massive cost per year, and not one the crown would be covering.
Now, if these alphas had told me they had fallen on hard times and needed money for their pack to stay sheltered, fed, and clothed, then I would give it without hesitation, but a parking spot … not happening. After telling them no and dismissing them, Calista came to get me to take me to my lunch appointment.
“Please tell me my lunch appointment isn’t some petty task like this morning,” I huffed as Calista expertly traversed the hallways, leading me to my private dining area.
“No, I thought you might like a break from all of that,” she said as she opened the door, and I was relieved to see Violet sitting and waiting for me. The magic born were a sight to behold. Even though I had known Violet my entire life, I never got used to her unique beauty or incredible talent with magic.
“Ari, you’re late and I’m starving,” she moaned.
Calista tsk tsked her for using my name, but I loved that Violet, like Blaine, treated me no differently now that I was queen.
I took a seat beside her as Calista scurried off to whatever was next on her list of to-do’s. I was starting to think she worked a lot harder than me, a fact I was very grateful for.
I let out a breath, settling in beside my best friend. “Sorry about the delay. Very important morning. Had to be fitted for my summer festival dress, and then got into a scintillating debate about assigned parking in Manhattan,” I said with as much heavy sarcasm as I could muster.
She grinned. “Sounds absolutely dreadful. I have something that will cheer you up.” She leaned forward and pulled a vial from her pocket. The liquid inside was pinkish purple and dancing slowly, as if waiting to burst out the second the stopper was lifted.
“What’s that?” I inspected it closer. It smelled faintly floral … the same floral scent the fae carried on them. My eyebrow rose as I used my queen voice. “Violet … what is in there?”
I was a combination of excited and a bit terrified of what she would say. One never knew with Violet.
She quirked one side of her mouth. “Tuatha magic,” she whispered as two of the kitchen staff came through the large double doors, bringing our lunch. My heart was hammering in my chest as I waited for the silver platters to be set in front of me and for the attendants to leave. Once they did, Violet opened her palm again.
“The fae we fought at King Kade’s estate came in through the water. I’m sure of it. The fae we spoke to in Astoria Park left through the water, and the ercho that attacked you in Central Park…”
“Water,” I said breathlessly.
Violet gestured to the pink vial. “I cloaked myself and slipped into the council’s secret spell book chambers––”
I grabbed her by the wrist. “Vi! You could have been executed if you were caught.”
Wait. There was a secret spell book chamber? Why did I not know this?
She shrugged my hand off, gently, but still firm. It bothered her when even I touched her, especially with all the mecca energy inside of me. She saw too much, felt too much. In my astonishment, I’d forgotten.
“You’re queen now. Nothing should be secret from you,” Violet said.
True. And at least she hadn’t been caught. Yet anyway.
I nodded for her to continue.
“I had heard that all the best spells and books were hidden away. Magic born talk about it all the time. It’s the Holy Grail for us. I decided to see if I could find it, and you know what, it wasn’t even that well hidden.” She looked mighty put out by that, like the council hadn’t taken her powers seriously. “Anyway, I have to say those old losers are really a bunch of horned toads, far worse than I originally thought. They’ve been holding out on all of us, especially in light of recent developments. They have an entire stack of fae magic books.”
Those last words were declared in a rushed whisper-scream.
