With another tap of his foot and the loosening of his hand, Merrick released his magic, making the tiles smooth once more, returning them to their previous gleaming charm.
“Allow me to introduce you to your personal staff, Wildfire,” Merrick said with a warm smile. All was well here for now, and he was savoring this almost as much as he had watching me ride his fingers until I exploded in pleasure.
He urged me toward a flutter of fae ladies wearing red dresses with silver trim, standing near the end of one of the lines. “Of course, Lord Briscalar will arrange for your staff, but these ladies will be more than pleased to serve you for now,” he added to me as we stopped. “Moira, Calista, and Faelith, from the end of the line to the right.”
“My queen,” Moira said graciously, dipping into a deep curtsy. She’d arranged her blonde hair in a tight bun at her nape, and her blue eyes sparkled with welcome. She appeared to be about my age.
“Calista is Moira’s mother,” Merrick said.
They shared the same hair and eye color, plus a strong chin and slender frames.
I nodded to them both as Calista gave me an equally deep curtsy. Her gaze shot to Erisandra before darting back to the floor. Faelith also bowed, and I took in the woman with large breasts and a soft shape, plus a stern expression that softenedas she studied me. A few years older than me, her striking, dark blue eyes contrasted nicely with her pale skin and black hair.
“I’m assigning Faelith, in particular, to Farris.” Merrick’s stern gaze flicked to the woman. “He’ll need to go outside on a regular basis, and he’ll eat in the queen’s suite and stay with her whenever she’s there. He’s to be protected at all costs.”
“Of course, my king.” Her gaze a bit stunned, Faelith dipped a curtsy toward Farris. “Such a . . . fine fellow, isn’t he?”
“He’s quite sweet.” I patted the top of his head while he sat, his fluffy tail swishing every which way and his tongue lolling. “He won’t be a bother.”
“Yes, I . . . Yes.” She gave me a curtsy.
“It’s nice to meet you all,” I told them, injecting my voice with a tone I hoped sounded queenly.
“I’m terribly sorry, my king, my lady.” Lord Briscalar screeched across the marble floor from the open front door and was nearly swept off his feet when he tried to stop fast on the polished surface. His flushed face and disheveled clothing suggested he’d been running. All the way from the pier? He tugged on his formal tunic and smoothed his windblown hair. “I was detained in the city.”
“I was just introducing Reyla to her new staff,” Merrick said.
The lord’s stern gaze swept across the three women. “Excellent choices, my king, if I may say so. I couldn’t have selected anyone finer.”
Moira tittered. Faelith gave the lord a sharp look, but I’d bet nothing ruffled this woman.
Calista curtsied before turning her stern gaze Merrick’s way. “I assume her things will be brought to the queen’s suite?”
Erisandra huffed. Merrick said she’d moved out after his father’s death, but had she hoped to retake the rooms? If so, that could be part of the reason she was miffed. I’d stepped between her and her “dear” son, taking my rightful place as his bride. I could also be worming my way into his heart and shoving her aside. Added to that, I’d sleep in the suite she’d claimed as her own.
I understood how creatures staked out territory, though my experience was mostly with dragons. A spike of a tail when a smaller dragon came near. A gash of claws to mark the other as lower in the hierarchy. Or a flapping of wings and a gouging out with wing tips to make a younger dragon cower. They weren’t above shooting flames at a rival, though their inner eyelids and scales protected them from most of the fire.
Perhaps it was time I learned to wield my own flames.
“My king doesn’t bother himself with such things.” Lord Briscalar sniffed at Calista. “I, naturally, as head of the queen’s household, will supervise those arrangements.”
I wanted to thank him again for tucking my dingy, worn pack and my things into a prettier bag. I could bear how anyone treated me even if I flinched inside, but I would do nothing to shame Merrick in the staff’s eyes.
I didn’t bring much with me, however.
“We’ll get to work right away, then, my lord. If you’ll give us leave.” Calista scowled at the other two, her version of the gouge of a wing spike to establish authority. But she was the eldest. “We’re wasting time, ladies. We have things to do for our new queen.”
“Yes,” Lord Briscalar said, his back ramrod straight. “Unpack her things. Ensure her suite is neat and tidy. I don’t want to find dust or even a hint of disarray. I’ll inspect your work in due time.”
Calista huffed but spun along with the other two. They scurried down the hall to the right of the stairs.
“I, um . . .” I leaned close to Merrick. He must know that it would only take them seconds to hang up my things.
He squeezed my hand and kissed my cheek. But his whispered words warmed me through. “I took the liberty of adding to your wardrobe again, Wildfire. I hope you don’t mind. Dresses, among other things.”
“Tunics and pants?” My face ached from my smile. “A few pairs of leathers, I hope?”
“How could I miss out on seeing leathers hug your amazing ass?” His words feathered across my skin, spoken for my ears alone.
