“But—” That didn’t make any sense. Bylur was practically king, and he didn’t have ice magic. And, if her mother was queen, did that mean her mother was the one who’d forced Bylur to come here?
“Your thoughts are spiralling,” she said. “Are you going to share them or tell me your story?”
“Can I share first?” I asked. I loved talking, and she seemed willing enough to answer questions now. Though, my questions were sure to put her guard up—
She shrugged. “Sure.”
I bit my lip. “I’m a little confused. I thought the queen wanted to marry another fae, but if you’re her daughter, wouldn’t she already be married?”
A disgusted huff escaped the maid. “If she were any other fae, she would be.” A sneer turned her lip. “She insisted on marrying my father—a fae with ice magic—in ahumanwedding so that she wouldn’t have to bind her heart to his. She wanted an heir, but she did not want to risk sharing her magic with a spouse in a proper fae marriage. I don’t know what his reasons were because she had him killed when I was too young to remember.”
My jaw fell again. “She what?!”
“You really don’t know anything about Kerebos, do you?” the princess-shamed-maid said.
I shook my head slowly. “Obviously. I should have asked more questions before I came.”
She snorted. “The queen wants to marry Bylur, from Kalshana, because she wants his magic and kingdom. I don’t know how she thinks she can subdue him after they’re married, though, because he’ll be able to use her magic as easily as she’ll be able to use his. And everyone knows that he wants Kalshana run by a council instead of one ruler. That’s what I was mad about when I came in here. The queen sent me to deliver him enchanted food and wine.”
She waved at the goblet and chicken between us on the bench. “But I spoke to him yesterday. He won’t drink it, and I don’t think he’ll marry her, even though she’s threatened to kill him if he doesn’t.”
The blood drained from my face. “Kill him?”
She nodded. “I think it’s more likely that she intends to keep him imprisoned until he changes his mind, but I don’t think she realizes that he won’t change his mind. He’s told her, she just won’t believe it.”
My heart warmed even while my stomach twisted. He was in prison. But he wasn’t going to marry her. Because he loved me.
Also, because she sounded like evil incarnate, but I’d rather focus on the last words he’d said to me.I love you. As much as I am capable of love, I’ve given my heart to you.
The maid poked me. “So… your story?”
I smiled slowly. “I am Bylur’s wife, and I’ve come to bring him home.”
Her eyes widened, and then she started laughing. Her laughter grew, until it shook her whole body.
I folded my arms. “I’m serious.”
She wiped her eyes. “I can tell. And that’s why it’s so delightful. Nobody has ever challenged my mother. And, even if she kills you for existing, I want to see her face when she realizes who you are.”
That was not reassuring.
But maybe… “Would you help me beat her?”
She sobered instantly. “No. She’d kill me too if she suspected the smallest bit of treason from me.” She raised a suspicious brow. “Have you already talked to her?”
I shook my head. “No. Why would you ask that?”
The suspicion lingered in her eyes. “Because she often throws me into situations to tempt my loyalty. I think she’d like an excuse to kill me, because she thinks murdering me without a reason to give everyone would make other more people disloyal.”
Oh. “You don’t need to risk that,” I said. “I don’t actually want anyone to die. I just want to go home with Bylur.”
She nodded. “Well, I can’t help you. And I need to go deliver these before she visits him.”
“Wait!” A new idea was forming in my head. “What if I took those?”
She raised a brow.
“I’m a new maid here,” I lied. “I haven’t even had time to get a proper outfit. But what if you had things to do, and you assigned another maid to make your delivery?”
