“And the alliance?” Kane added. The black-haired pixie flew to his shoulder. She wore a short black dress with tattered edges around the sides, her eyes focused on Gideon.
“Her father has sent over the contract, and we shall be wed soon, Your Majesty.”
“Good,” Kane said as he lifted his goblet to his lips.
And that was it.
There were no more questions. No more comments.
Gideon didn't speak to me again.
The slight comfortableness I was feeling vanished. Instead of letting Kane’s jealous interruption bother me, I focused on the now cold soup and ate. Conversations continued around me, no one else bothering to say hello.
Every so often, the hair on the back of my neck tingled, and I’d glance up to find a fae eyeing me and whispering.
I shouldn’t be here… drinking . . eating like everything is normal.
Panic clawed its way up my throat. The tightening in my chest made my heart beat rapidly.
He killed my husband.
He’s a murderer.
What if they are all like that?
What if…
I couldn't see Liora, but hoped she was hiding behind one of those drapes. I lifted two fingers to my chest, the signal that we had worked on. Once she didn't appear, that panic grew.
At any moment, one of them could attack, and I was defenseless.
Focusing inward, I searched for my magic to find a way past the fog in my mind. If I could just have a sliver of that familiar power, it would be enough comfort to get me through the night.
The black-haired pixie landed on the table in front of me. “You’re to be the future queen?”
I didn't respond, knowing anything I said would be the wrong answer.
“I asked you a question,” the pixie said.
Again, I ignored her. There was not much soup left. I scraped a chunk of bread along the inside of the bowl, trying my best to hide my shaking, but I nervously tapped the bowl.
The pixie hissed and flew forward, right at my face.
On instinct, I swatted her hard, sending her across the table with a loud thump, knocking over plates and bowls of food, her cry stilling everyone in the room.
Gasps erupted around me, and I realized what I had done.
Kane stood, his amber eyes almost glowing with fury. He walked around the table, fae scattering out of the way.
Gideon quickly rose, attempting to block him. “Your Majesty.”
Kane shoved him aside and I cowered back against the pillows. He leaned over, grabbed my arm, and yanked me to my feet.
“Ouch!” I cried. “It was an accident!”
I truly did not mean to hit the pixie. She sat in a bowl of soup, covered in pumpkin, glaring at me.
“Anna,” Kane said, gripping me tightly. “You and Ella get Olivia out of here. Everyone else, dinner is over.”
