My king went still. But his emerald eyes were sharp.
Fae dammit all!
Fuck him and the Fae-gifted pegasus he flew in on.
I’d said too much. My king: The Master Manipulator.
Into the silence, I inhaled heavily and turned my face away. “I think we are done here, Your Royal Highness.”
His attention didn’t leave my profile as he distractedly murmured, “Yes. Yes, I think we are. Quite so.”
Uncle Marlon deigned to gift us with his voice then. He cleared his throat and stated loudly, “I imagine King Athon will be here soon for dinner, too. This meeting is done.”
My head snapped around to my uncle. “What?”
Uncle Marlon’s lips twitched. “You’ll have to excuse me, Trixie. Between the two of you playing your games, I couldn’t seem to find the appropriate time to interrupt and warn you.”
I could only blink at the smartass.
“Close your mouth, my daughter,” Father muttered and rubbed his forehead. “You’ll catch flies.”
I closed my hanging mouth. It looked like my father was back in that chair now. I sent a scathing glare at him. “Why didn’t you tell me King Athon was coming here?”
“Well…” My father sat back on his chair and stared at the ceiling, his emerald gaze unmoving on the wooden slats above. He was quiet for so long that I truly did not believe he would answer. But eventually, he mumbled damned near silently, “I thought I was having him over for one thing. But now it’s for another.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “That…did not answer my question at all.”
Father shrugged, shoved out of his chair, and walked around his desk. His movements were stiff and instinctive. He extended his right elbow toward me but still peered off at nothing, his mind fully occupied. “Allow me to escort you to the dining room?”
“Of course.” I peeked at my uncle, who was studying his brother, too, but I stood and looped my arm with my father’s. “I cannot say that I’m thrilled about this, Father.”
He chuckled like he wanted blood for dinner. “That, my daughter, we can completely agree on.”
My eyes found my uncle again. “Will you be dining with us, Uncle Marlon?”
Please say yes.
“I will not.” He rolled his shoulders and walked swiftly for the door. Busy patting at his long silver braids, he added, “I have other plans this eve. A blonde evening. But do have fun.”
And my evil uncle winked a violet eye at me over his shoulder before he disappeared out through the doorway.
I snorted softly.Funwasn’t the right word for this.
