Chase gave me a brief, professional smile. “I do my best, Queen Leila,” he said before he got back to surveying the area.
We were seated off to the side, under the branches of a weeping willow that screened me off from the fae who’d been stopping by to get a view of their half human queen.
Thankfully, they’d become disinterested with me and were now busy talking amongst themselves. Lord Linus was laughing with a set of slightly older male fae, while Skye was mingling with a few of the less hostile lords and ladies I might actually stand a chance befriending. I’d told Indigo she could go eat, so it was just Chase and me at the moment…until the Paragon swooped in.
“Leila—there you are! How can you hide here when this party is all for you?” He pushed branches aside and peered at me. “Come, come. I have someone I want to introduce you to!”
The Paragon held out his hand, and when I took it he tugged me out of my chair.
“Who could be left to introduce me to?” I obediently followed him through the crowd. “I’ve met so many people, Skye felt safe leaving me alone.”
“Ahh, yes, your steward is very diligent—I wanted to mention to you she was a good pick. Oh my, sorry, Aphrodite!” The Paragon, standing on his tip toes to see above all the guests, almost stumbled into a bush, barely avoiding it in time to save his cat from getting poked.
He staggered around the bush, trying to regain his balance. “Ah-ha! There you are, Lord Dion—ew.” He stopped abruptly, having interrupted a conversation.
I stepped around the Paragon, wondering what could have made him pause, and I was pretty sure my heart fell all the way down to my left foot.
The Paragon had pushed his way to two fae lords who were standing by one of the decorative lanterns, sipping beverages from crystal chalices.
One lord was classically handsome with crimson red hair which was cut short but partially covered by the black fedora he wore. His fashion style was more human—although his black tweed suit matched with the fedora had more of a vintage than modern feel to it. If all my name memorizing served me correctly, his name was Lord Dion.
But Lord Dion’s fashion sense only caught my attention for a moment. Because the second fae lord was none other than Lord Rigel, the Wraith.
The Paragon made the noise of a balloon leaking air.
Can I duck out? I’m pretty sure Skye’s manners books wouldn’t approve, but chatting with a confirmed assassin who tried to kill me doesn’t sound good for my health. Maybe he was the one who bespelled the food?
The red-haired lord stood straighter when he saw the Paragon. “Paragon.” He smiled—a disarmingly mischievous grin with a glimmer that brightened his eyes. “I see you have returned.”
“Yes, and I probably wouldn’t have if I knew you intended to chat with someone else,” the Paragon said. “Queen Leila, please allow me to introduce you to Lord Dion.” He put his body between me and Rigel, but he was shorter and skinnier than the lean fae lord, so he didn’t block much of my view.
“Queen Leila, it is a pleasure to meet you.” Lord Dion smiled gallantly. He took my hand and—like a prince from a storybook—kissed my fingers.
Sounds romantic, right? I can’t say I liked it considering I’d almost gotten offed like a fairy tale princess just a few hours earlier. I’d be happy to leave prince charming and poisoned apples/cannoli in the books, please, kthx.
“Good evening, Lord Dion.” I spoke extra slow to buy myself some time to remember what Skye had told me about him.
I didn’t need to bother because the Paragon took it upon himself to rattle off his personal history. “Lord Dion is the pride of the Night Court!” he said. “He runs a law practice in Magiford that serves both supernaturals and humans, he attended a human university,andhe is the head of his family since his father passed away some years ago.”
Why does the Paragon sound like he’s a proud parent?
“You’re a lawyer?” I asked.
Lord Dion laughed—an infectious sound. “Indeed, I am. You’ll have to excuse my pride, but I dare say I’m skilled at it since I inherited a fae’s way with words.”
“I can imagine.”
“Oh, please let me introduce you to my close friend, Lord Rigel.” Lord Dion glanced at the Wraith with a rueful smile.
Today Lord Rigel was still wearing black boots, but to jazz it up for the occasion he’d switched to gray breeches and a black long-sleeved shirt.
Yeah, the color variety in his wardrobe was stunning.
My smile probably showed more teeth than necessary. “Ahh, yes, Lord Rigel, is it? Such a pleasure to officially meet you.”
“Queen Leila.” Lord Rigel sipped from his fancy chalice. “It is remarkable to finally be introduced to you.”
“Oh, I’m sure. Our first meeting wassucha surprise.” I smiled at the man who tried to kill me and was tempted to tell him it was not as exclusive of a club as he might think, but I wasn’t tipping my hand about anything.Especiallyto him!
