I looked back. Expectantly. Surely there was more.
She said nothing else, so I nodded uncertainly.
Queen Elthra set her cup aside and leaned forward in her chair. Tonight’s gown was a velvet of the deepest blue cut neatly to her sternum to expose creamy, unblemished skin and the faint etching of ribs.
“The night we first met, did I or did I not command you to bring your prophecies to me first?”
I stared back.
I had stood before the queen at Castle Creneda. “You’re not to divulge any information before it comes to me. Understood, Lady Dottie?”
I nodded.
“Holy Landsome fuck.” I slapped my hand over my mouth.Don’t swear in front of royalty!“My apologies, Queen Elthra, Your Grace.” I was grasping at what to say next, what would keep me out of chains and with my head on my shoulders.
Amelia broke out in a high-pitched keen, cackling. The queen slumped back in her chair and put her hand over her belly as if to hold her wild amusement in.
“‘Holy Landsome fuck.’ What an excellent swear,” Amelia said. “I’m going to have to use that.”
Queen Elthra smirked at me. “Oh, stop worrying about your head—don’t look surprised, I can see it in people’s eyes you know—you can make it up to me, Lady Dottie, by telling me what’s going on between you and my solicitor. Your absence today was noticeable.”
Heat ran to my cheeks. I settled on honesty, I thought I better. “Lord Draw took me to ruins he visited once with his family.”
Queen Elthra’s lip curled in disdain. “Why?”
“Well, to see them. Talk about history.”
“Let me guess,” Amelia said. “You got aspecial tour.”
The queen giggled. I was starting to see why she enjoyed Amelia’s company.
“Are you truly interested in Lord Draw?” she asked.
“I very much enjoy spending time together,” I stated a bit primly. “We have many shared interests.”
“And...” Amelia prompted. She tilted her head.
I threaded my fingers together, drink forgotten. “Yes,” I admitted, “I’m into him. Very much so. In a very bad way.”
“Well-done,” the queen said. “He’s too often alone.”
“But that’s the problem,” I said miserably. “I’ll have to go home, eventually. Then he won’t just be alone, I’ll have broken his heart.”
Amelia and the queen exchanged an exasperated look.
“Then don’t go home,” Queen Elthra said simply. Her light brows were wrinkled in frustration.
Easy for her to say. I knew she had a war on her hands, but still, she didn’t have the same existential crisis I did.
“I’m afraid I have to,” I admitted.
“The witch said she’ll summon you back?” Amelia asked.
I nodded.
We sat in silence for a moment, contemplating that.
Finally, the queen said casually, as if her idea beat all, “Please me well, Lady Dottie, and I’ll write up an official proclamation to keep you here.” She waved an elegant hand as if that was that.
