Rigel played along in that he didn’t shake me off or do anything besides look stone faced and intimidating.
“Which is why I made the discovery that my artistic skills are not equal to capturing Rigel’s incredible handsomeness, and the light of his gaze.”
“You’re babbling about art again?” King Birch sneered. “Your love is…” he trailed off when he glanced at Rigel, who stared at him from across the table.
He cleared his throat, then grabbed a steaming roll from a tray. He took a bite of it, then carelessly tossed it on his wife’s—Flora’s—plate.
She didn’t seem bothered by it. She ate the roll without complaining.
There is something weird about that.
“You truly expect me to believe the two of youloveeach other?” Queen Verdant scoffed.
“To be frank, I don’t care what you believe, but I’ll tell the world a thousand times over, I love Rigel!” I boldly declared. “Which is why I’ve come to the realization that drawings, paintings aren’t good enough to capture my fae-bae’s true likeness.”
I passionately clenched my hands and positioned myself so I could see their reactions, because this was going to be fantastic. “It can only be properly taken and recorded by a statue—because only statues can show off Rigel’s chiseled abs to perfection!”
Queen Rime actually spat out her drink, and King Fell, who’d been smirking as he cockily chewed on a cut of meat, choked.
Consort Flora’s eyes widened as she put her hand on King Birch’s arm, but Queen Verdant was probably my favorite reaction. She’d been about to bite a tiny roasted potato, but because of my announcement she missed her mouth and smeared butter across her cheek.
Indigo coughed into her elbow to cover what sounded suspiciously like a snicker. “Well played—that’ll give the fuss budgets a heart attack,” she whispered.
When I glanced back at Skye I thought for sure she’d be guzzling antacid, but the corners of her lips were folded in a very distinct smirk as she gazed at the monarchs.
I’m not the only one bothered by their insufferable quest for power.
Pleased with the chaos I’d caused, I stood up and brushed my toga off. “Let’s go, Rigel. The sculptor will arrive at the mansion before us, and it took meforeverto find an artist worthy of you. It’s time to go!”
Rigel was already standing, and he held out his arm for me.
“I don’t believe it,” King Fell said in a “whisper” that was clearly loud enough for us to hear. “I’ll never believethe Wraithis in love!”
I placed my hand on Rigel’s forearm, and was surprised when he picked up my hand and—meeting my eyes—kissed my fingers.
A glimmer of humor brightened up the darkness of his eyes. They weren’t black, but more of a playful obsidian.
I was momentarily speechless—and I wasn’t the only one based on all the choking noises emitting from the table behind me.
When Rigel turned to walk away, Ihadto take a peek behind us. It was too tempting—and all too vindicating.
King Birch had actually dropped his glass chalice, which shattered on his plate and marinated his food in red wine and flecked his consort with droplets.
Queen Verdant was wildly coughing—she’d apparently inhaled something during Rigel’s display, and King Fell had pushed his chair over in his shock and was frozen in a half-rising, half-sitting position as he stared.
Even Queen Rime was staring at us, delicately pressing her hand over her heart.
I smirked as I waggled my fingers at them. “Bye everyone—enjoy the banquet!” I might have cackled a little as I hopped a few steps to catch up with my consort.
Skye and Indigo were ahead of us—carrying on like champs, of course. Looking at them, you’d never guess they were just as shocked as the monarchs—perhaps even more because they knew the truth.
“That was a lot of fun. Thanks, Rigel.” It was hard not to skip in my glee. “If I were a less scrupulous person, I’d ask for a repeat performance to see if we can get Fell to choke!”
Rigel glanced down at me. “It might be worth a shot.”
“A fellow Fell hater, huh? Stick with me—he doesn’t know it, but I’m going to be cheeringa lot morewhen he has to hand off his power to Rime, haha!”
* * *
