It must be cool to be fae. Witches have to use hands or a body movement to summon power. Never have I witnessed a creature conjure magic as easily as breathing.
While I’m thinking about cool fae magic, my father and mother shoot worried looks back and forth. I open my mouth to speak, but Feylin takes a step forward to come beside me. His arm brushes my shoulder, and a flash of heat explodes down my skin. In that millisecond the urge to rake my fingers down his bare chest grips every cell in my body. The intensity’s so strong that I curl my hands into fists to squash the urge to tear off his tuxedo shirt.
Get a grip.
“Addison and I have talked.”
“And?” my father asks, his face red, strands of hair falling into his eyes as if he’s just been running. Or yelling. Probably yelling.
Feylin looks at me and I understand. It’s for me to say; otherwise my family will question whether or not this is what I want.
I clear my throat and lift my chin as high as I can to gather every ounce of strength possible. “We have discussed the spell, the joining, and have decided to continue with it.”
“No, Addie—” Ovie starts.
Mama flings out her hand, shooting Ovie a look full of warning. “Hear her out.”
Ovie settles down and I go on. “Our family needs the magic to continue, and I’m willing to do my part. Besides, the entire ballroom heard the announcement. To go back on it now will make me look like a liar, and our family’s honor will be questioned.”As if Edward hadn’t already made that happen by being such a jerk in the first place.But—smiles! “I understand there are physical conditions to this arrangement.”
“We already know,” my father says sourly.
I smile, doing my best to look happy. My gaze skates up to Feylin, and he glances down, scowling. I’m quickly reminded that he thinks when I smile I look three seconds away from vomiting.
I turn back to my family. “The joining means I’ll have to stay close to Feylin. But he’s promised to test the distance.”
Mama smiles weakly. “We’ll see you as often as we can.”
“It will be a busy courtship,” Feylin adds.
My father’s eyes harden. “She’s my oldest daughter. If anything hap?—”
“She’ll be kept safe.” The king’s jaw jumps. “There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“Of course there isn’t,” Dad says sarcastically.
“I promise you,” Feylin growls.
They stare at one another for a long moment before my dad nods in submission.
Is there another conversation going on that I don’t know about?
I frown. “We don’t even know how this will work. I may not have to leave.”
“There are things I need to prepare for you,” Ovie says. “Clothes to pack.”
“There’s no time,” Feylin tells her. “When a king or queen joins, the magic reverberates throughout the kingdom. All my subjects will have felt it. I’ll be expected back. Now.”
“What about Addie?” My mother demands. “What about what she wants?”
He pushes back his shoulders. “It is what she wants, and you may see her tomorrow. But I’m afraid my time here is over.” He glances down at me and nods before vanishing.
I rush to my mother, and she hugs me, clutching me tight, and for one brief moment I feel all the loss and sadness that she suffered with Nana’s passing and the added weight of this situation as it burdens her shoulders.
“Addie, there’s something you must know.”
“Don’t worry.” I curl my fingers into her arms. “He’s going to see how far apart we can be. It’s possible that I won’t have to leav?—”
The room vanishes and my mother disappears. Next thing I know, my body’s being sucked down a vacuum tube, and all thoughts are wrung from my head. I claw the air while traveling at the speed of light through impenetrable darkness.
