“Because I’mguessingbased on how much merch you buy online, you have Amazon Prime, right?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect! That means free shipping—and I checked, it’s the same price on Amazon as it is in the catalog!” I clapped my hands in glee.
Indigo peered down at the glossy catalog page. “Are you seriously having me order this just so you can save a few bucks on shipping?”
I scowled. “You have no idea how deep in debt this Court is. Every dollar counts!”
“Then why are you getting new helmets?” Indigo asked. “I thought Dusk and Dawn found one for you.”
“Yes, an older one with no head vents. It makes me get as sweaty as a pig, and I’m pretty sure it’s been sitting around for a long time. Who knows if it will actually protect my head when I fall?”
“You take head damage very seriously,” Indigo said. “I would have thought you’d trust your night mares more.”
“I trust my night mares. I just don’t trust any of the fae nobles, unless they are unconscious,” I corrected.
“I see,” Indigo said.
“Do you mind getting it? I can get you the money right now.”
Indigo breathed out, making her cheeks puff. “Sure. I’ll order them tonight.”
“Thank you!”
I was trying to remember where I’d hidden my wallet, when Indigo continued.
“I’m happy to do this for you, but when I offered my help, I had something more specific in mind.”
“Oh?”
Indigo tugged on the hem of her Harry Potter shirt. “Yes. I was thinking that since it seems like you trust me these days?” She looked up at me for confirmation.
“I do,” I assured her.
“Maybe, so you don’t have to eat protein bars and jerky all the time…” She sucked a big breath in. “I could cook for you!”
I blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I know you don’t want to eat anything made by a fae—and after the night at the restaurant I totally understand why. But I’m still concerned about your health, and it doesn’t seem fair that you have to run on such terrible food. I was thinking that I could make your meals. We could keep your food in a locked fridge, and as long as I make it and we banish everyone from the kitchens while I’m finishing so no one can do something to it, it should be safe.”
I leaned back in my chair, making it creak, and stared dumbly at Indigo.
“I’m not an amazing cook or anything,” she blurted out. “But I think I’m okay—better than justbeef jerky, anyway. And I can only really cook human foods—my mom loves it, that’s how I got introduced to human forms of entertainment.”
I wasn’t just shocked, I was speechless. I couldn’t help but close my eyes and think.I could eat again. No more choking down fruit snacks for breakfast, or eating an entire cucumber for lunch. I could have food. Cooked food.
I’m not an emotional person, but I’ll admit that my eyes felt hot, and I knew if I thought about it much longer I was going to start crying.
Ever since coming to the Night Court my sleep hadn’t been great, and my eating habits were worse. I felt half defeated just waking up in the morning. But if I could eat again…
Maybe I could teach her how to make coffee.
“That is, if all of this is okay with you? And I haven’t offended you?” Indigo’s voice was small now, and I realized in my unsurpassed joy I hadn’t done anything to show just how excited I was.
I almost lunged across the desk. “No—I think it’s anamazingidea. A thoughtful idea! It’s just—no one has been this nice to me since I arrived.” My throat tightened. “And I really, really just want to eatanythingcooked.”
Indigo’s eyes were moon-like, and she sucked her neck into her shoulders under my passionate enthusiasm. But when I finished speaking, she offered me a smile. “I’m glad. I was thinking last night when I decided I was going to offer this that it’s not a common role for a monarch’s companion. But you’re not a common monarch, and I want to support you however I can.”
