Stars, this had already been a long day.
Lying there, I marveled at how fast this realm’s magic had erased the devastating fallout from my dream, and I couldn’t help but wish my mind would offer me the same courtesy.
My chest tightened as thoughts of the morning’s attack poured in. Pulling the neckline of my shirt to the side, I inspected the wound—like the room, there was no evidence it’d ever happened. A part of me was grateful, but another part believed I’d deserved to have that memory mapped on my body as a reminder of what happens when my powers fail me.
As if sensing the thought, the spark stirred, the sensation so faint I would’ve missed it had I not been idle. I snapped my fingers and a tiny ember of light came to life. “Now you work,” I muttered, watching it dance over my palm. I let out a long, deep breath. “Why allow me to attack Endymion, only to abandon me when I actually need you? Hum?”
It continued to float, utterly unbothered by my words.
“Enough of this,” I said and closed my hand, snuffing the lightout. “I need answers.”
As I entered the hallway to the resident’s wing, my stomach grumbled. After more wrong turns than I’d care to admit, I eventually found the kitchen through the dining hall. The double door swung open on silent hinges with barely a press of my palm.
The second I stepped through, I froze, surprised to find it teaming with life. As if just as taken, one by one the servants turned their attention toward me and immediately stopped, eyes going wide before lowering themselves in deference.
A portly female approached with a broad smile as she dusted off the front of her apron, tucking an unruly curl of hair behind her ear that popped right back out.
“Lady Nyleeria,” she said, offering me a deep curtsey. “To what do we owe this honor?” Her voice was husky but fluttery in a way. I tamped down my fascination and inclined my head to her, offering her a kindly smile in return.
“Apologies,” I said, “I hadn’t realized anyone would be here. I’ll go.”
“It’s no bother,” she said, stopping my retreat. “What can we get for you?” She splayed a hand to the side, indicating the kitchen at large.
I wasn’t sure what unnerved me most—her voice, the use ofLady, or the dozen or so sets of eyes now eagerly awaiting my answer. Swallowing, I said, “Whatever is most convenient.”
Her mouth tipped down in a slight frown as if I’d offended her in some way before she replaced it with her jovial smile, singling for me to follow her. “We’ll put something together.” As if her words were a secret code, the kitchen became a flurry of activity again. “You can wait here if it pleases you,” she said and pulled out a wooden stool for me before flitting away.
Sitting, I watched them work, awed at how gracefully they moved between one another like they were dancing—only the kitchen was their partner and the food their music.
“Here you are, Lady Nyleeria,” the female said, startling me back to the present as she placed a package on the table between us.
“Thank you… I’m sorry, but I don’t know your name.”
A deep flush crept up her neck and onto her cheeks before she curtsied low again and said, “Maqueea, Lady. My name is Maqueea.” She glanced at me and then away, as if nervous. “It was our pleasure, truly.”
I looked behind her to find all hands idle, eyes on me.
“The pleasure was mine,” I said, addressing the room at large before I lost my nerve.
They just stared at me as if they hadn’t heard me right.
Feeling uncomfortable, I plaster a bright smile on my face and made to leave. A few steps before the door I turned back.
“Maqueea?”
“Yes, Lady?” She stood tall, eager curiosity awaiting my next words.
“Do you know where the library is?”
Her blooming smile answered before she spoke. “Of course! We house the largest collection of any court. Would you like to visit?”
My chest fluttered with a mixture of excitement and nerves. It was one thing being told by Endymion there was a library; it was another thing entirely having a complete stranger seemingly brim with courtly pride over it.
“Yes, I would. Would you be so kind as to point in the right direction?”
“Rackna,” she called over her shoulder.
A moment later a young fae rounded the corner, his eyes wide with excitement. He skidded to a stop before Maqueea. “Yes, ma’am?”
