“Pish posh. I am only overjoyed to be with my second favorite fae in the world.”
“Second favorite?” There was a time when I was at the top of that list.
A nod. “Ever hasverylarge hands.”
“Does he? I hadn’t noticed.” Yet another lie. I dare anyone to meet an Unseelie man andnotnotice his hands.
“Oh! I have another one for your list.”
I grab her list and scratch down what she says, word for word, a laugh bubbling in my throat.
Yes, this is exactly what I needed tonight.
8
“Choose carefully who you allow to enter your life, and even more carefully who you allow to stay.”
— A Seelie Guide to Happiness
Wine is the elixir of death and nothing good can come from drinking it.
This is what I want printed on my tombstone when I die—which feels like it might be sooner rather than later.
Massaging my fingers against my pounding temples, I blink through the fuzziness to assess last night’s damage. My poor hair is completely matted on one side, and my dress looks like someone stabbed me in the heart. When did I spill that much wine? Must’ve been sometime between finishing my list and Everett ushering me into the royal carriage.
Not even a long soak in the tub and a fresh gown make me feel better. I barely survive the trip down the stairs to the kitchen, where my mother bustles from the oven to the cooling rack stacked with fresh chocolate biscuits.
Exactly what I need to rid myself of this wretched?—
The baking sheet lands on the counter with an ear-splittingclang.“You were home late.”
Good morning to you too, Cordelia.“I stayed at the castle longer than expected.”
The disapproval vanishes from her features. Apparently, it’s only unacceptable to get drunk with commoners. Does she ever tire of judging everyone so harshly?
“How is my dearest niece, the queen?”
Likely very hungover. I stopped drinking when the second bottle was empty, but Kerris decided to break out a third. She isnotgoing to enjoy the journey to Applewood with all those winding roads and potholes. Thank heavens I didn’t agree to join her.
A heavy knock at the front door sets my head pounding anew. Mother hurries out while I fill a glass from the tap. Hopefully, our healing water can rid me of this splitting pain in my head.
A scream tears through the room, followed by silence.
I drop the glass into the sink and race into the hallway only to come to a skidding halt.
Maddox kneels on the tiles, clutching my mother’s lifeless body against his bare chest. Worried black eyes rise to mine. “Your mother has died once again.”
“I can see that.” I really don’t have the patience to deal with this nonsense today. “You know what to do.”
He lifts her into his arms and carries her into the living room like she weighs no more than the air around us.
It’s a dance they’ve done the three other times they’ve met as well. She pretends to faint so she doesn’t have to speak to the Unseelie, and he worries for hours afterward that my mother might actually be dead.
This is why I asked him to meet me outside. Although, I must admit, it’s nice to not hear any snide comments about my dress or hair or my decision to steal a biscuit before we leave.
Maddox meets me in the foyer, his brow crushed with concern as he glances back toward the living room.
“Don’t worry. She’ll be fine,” I assure him.
