“I assure you, Desmond, whatever you need, all you have to do is ask,” my mother said kindly.
“I am sure Violet and Bane can see to it that you have everything for your admission.Right, sweetheart?”
I nodded as Bane said, “Of course, Your Majesty.”
Desmond huffed in annoyance as he stabbed his potato.“I had hoped to be spending my twenty-first birthday in the halls of my library.”
“Oh!Violet’s got a library!It’s a-mazing!”Delaney said with enthusiasm, breaking the tension that had fallen over the table.
“We should go there after dessert,” I hurried, jumping on Delaney’s suggestion.
“I think that sounds nice,” my mother said.“I trust that the future Queen of Lir and her consort-to-be should be able to man the castle in our absence.”
“Nothing quite like a good practice run,” Sirius said, as Desmond breathed heavily.
“And of course, Ferguson will be here to keep an eye on things.He is my right-hand man, after all.”
Bane groaned, muttering something about “Fergy” babysitting and being an adult and capable of being left in a castle alone.
Desmond scoffed and angrily stabbed his food.“Fine.If you insist.”
I thought we were getting along?
Why did he seem so angry?
“It will only be for a few days, my dear,” Lithia said softly, but Desmond did not look at her.
“You planned this,” he bit, turning to her.
“What?”
“From the start, you knew you would have to leave.Conspire with the Selkies, right?That’s where you are going?”
“Now, you wait just a second, here—” Sirius spoke, but Desmond shook his head.
“The Selkies?”Wanda perked up.“What on Earth must you go tothemfor?”The worry in her voice was evident, and it was then I noticed the tentacle around her neck.Drawing her close.Those tiny pink suckers attached to her bronze flesh.
Norman’s eyebrows furrowed.“I’m sure whatever it is, they’ve a good reason.Right, your majesty?”
My mother kindly smiled at Norman.“Yes, Norman.Though I can’t disclose such things due to present company, but rest assured, this is only temporary and it is greatly needed.”
“That’s why you brought me here,” Desmond bit.“So you could dump me off to Dark Fae Daycare with the long-lost princess and her incubus?”
“I’m not your babysitter, Dezzy,” Bane nipped.“I take offense to that.Besides, I didn’t ask for you to be here, either.”
Desmond shot him a glare, but the words were still heavy between us all.
“Oh do not be so dramatic, Desmond.It is a few days at best.Surely, you can handle a few days on your own withpeers,” Lithia said with a huff.
“And then before you know it, it’ll the Festival, and your birthday.”Delaney’s voice cut through the air, and Desmond glanced up from his plate.His expression softened for the moment.
“And birthdays are always better with friends,” she said, her voice equally as soft as the look on his face.
Though that softness did not last long, no.He looked away.
“If you will excuse me, I have lost my appetite,” he said as he stood up and walked out of the room, leaving us all in his wake.
A few days.Running the castle with Bane and an aggravated Dark Fae Prince, the Squid Squad, and my best friend.
