“Great.”
Zandra frowns, which makes a little dimple form between her eyes. “You’re a terrible liar.”
“Hm. Feylin says the same thing.”
She hands me a glass, and I drink it, reveling in the taste of the sugary liquid as it slips down my throat. “And how is our dear king?”
“Good.” A smile pushes up onto my face. It’s so wide that my cheeks start to ache. “He’s very good.”
She leans in. “But are you planning the wedding?”
Sweat sprouts on my palms. “Yes, of course.” Total lie. “We’re just trying to get through the ceremonies before we focus on it.”
She flicks her glossy curtain of dark hair over one shoulder. “Fae weddings are big deals. I’m sure witch weddings are, too. But it’ll all happen as it should.” A pause sets in, and she sips her tea, staring at me over the rim of the glass. “So. What’re you wearing to the ball tomorrow?”
Ugh.A black gown covered in scratchy sequins hand delivered by Ovie herselfisn’t an appropriate answer. “Just a black dress.”
“I’m sure you’ll look beautiful.” She plucks a tea cake from a tray and nibbles the end. “Um. So good. Feylin’s cooks are amazing.”
They’re not as good as he is.
She swallows the rest and lightly dabs crumbs from the corners of her mouth. “So. Have you decided what you’re giving Feylin at the fire ceremony?”
I nearly spit out the tea I’m sipping. “Give him?”
“Yes. At the third engagement ceremony there’s the exchanging of the gifts.” The surprise must show on my face because she scoffs. “It’s just like him to forget to tell you. Anyway, yes, it’s usually a personal gift, something that has significance for the couple.”
Good night! What do you give a king?
“Let me guess—you have no idea what to give him.”
Panic, real I’m-going-to-screw-up-this-whole-thing-again angst, makes my insides wither. “I don’t know what to get him. I don’t have a clue.”
She rubs my arm soothingly. “Don’t worry. I have an idea.”
“You do?”
“Don’t sound so surprised. I’ve known the man my whole life. I probably never told you, but we even dated for a little while.”
“You did?” Why hasn’t he told me this? A barb shoots into my heart, and it takes all my strength to pick it out. Even then, it leaves a bleeding hole.
She waves her hand dismissively. “Ugh. We weren’t each other’s type. We couldn’t get out of it fast enough.”
My chest loosens as relief fills my lungs like oxygen.
“Anyway, I’ve known him forever. It’s not fair to you that you haven’t known him your whole life. You’re at a disadvantage when it comes to gift-giving.”
She’s right about that. Since the last thing Feylin needs is for me to look like a fool at the ceremony, I greedily ask, “So, what should his present be?”
She taps one bloodred lacquered fingernail against her cheek. “There’s this one book he loves. Adores—always had it on him as a kid. And I know where to find an original copy.”
“But he’s said that he doesn’t read.”
She laughs lightly and flicks her hand. “Don’t tell me he’s doing that whole thing again. He likes to say that, to pretend he hates reading. Trust me, that’s the farthest thing from the truth.”
He never seemed to be lying when he told me that. But Zandra’s known him a long time, and she’s right, we’ve really only just met. So what do I know? Thisisthe same man who kept the knowledge of his cousin and previous wife from me.
I nibble the inside of my bottom lip a moment, deciding. But there’s not a decision to make because honestly, not one present idea comes to mind. He’s a king. The man literally has everything that he could possibly want. What could I offer him that he would take?
