“I find it interesting that everyone is apparently concerned about protecting vital organs, but it seems like—once again—I’m going to be the only person smart enough to wear a helmet,” I said.
Indigo shushed me.
“The day of the hunt has arrived—and such a perfect day for a hunt it is!” King Fell laughed as his trumpeters retreated and some more of his servants scrambled forward, hurriedly erecting a tent just behind him.
Other summer servants were similarly building one for Birch and Flora.
Skye had mentioned something about tents, but I thought even the fae couldn’t possibly want to act that asinine and lounge around like French nobles just before the revolution. It seems I overestimated them.
“Good day to you, Queen Rime,” King Birch said. Behind him, Flora curtsied.
Queen Rime flicked her eyes up from the book she was reading. “Good day.”
King Birch scoffed at me and turned his back to me, so I was surprised when Consort Flora gave me a small curtsy.
“Good day, Queen Leila,” she said in a soft but pleasant voice.
King Birch whipped around to stare at her.
I was half prepared to throw my helmet at him if he yelled at her or something, but all he did was stare at her. I smiled. “Good day, Consort Flora. Are you joining the hunt today?”
Consort Flora shook her head. “My presence is not required.”
“Huh.” I rested my hand on my hip and glanced at Skye. “Did we tell Rigel that? I just assumed he had to come.”
“Consort Rigel is aware,” Skye said. “He opted himself to ride with you.”
Very briefly, King Birch’s ruddy complexion turned pale.
Ah, I thought with satisfaction.Maybe I don’t have to worry about wearing armor. Having Rigel riding around me should be a good deterrent!
“Ahh yes, where is Consort Rigel?” King Fell asked with a bit of a sneer as he finally deigned to look in my direction.
“Here,” Rigel said, stepping out of the shadows behind Fell with my seven shades—Kevin, Steve, Bob, Larry, Barbra, Mary, and Tom—whom he’d taken off for a quick bathroom break since they seemed to make Queen Rime’s servants upset.
Fell managed to keep his expression calm, but he revealed his touch of fear based on how fast he swung around to face Rigel.
Surrounded by flickering shades and wearing his assassin coat, Rigel looked exceedingly deadly today.
Larry and Bob peeled their lips back, baring their stained teeth at Fell and Birch as they obediently followed after Rigel, who slipped between the two rulers on his way back to me.
“You’re going to usethosemonsters in the hunt?” King Birch sputtered.
I frowned. “Yeah. They’re dogs.”
“You won’t be able to control them!”
“Sure I can. We’ve been working on obedience ever since they came to live in the mansion. Watch.” I snapped my fingers, and my shades all looked to me. “Sit.”
Obediently, they sat.
A few of the over exuberant shades—Tom and Barbra specifically—couldn’t help but enthusiastically wag their tails as they watched me.
“Down,” I said.
The shades dropped to their bellies.
“You’re so good! Who are good puppies—you are!” I went down the line, petting each shade so none of them would feel left out.
