My chest inflates with pride. “Did you hear that, Nia Quill?” I nudge Nia’s shoulder in case she missed the words. “This female thinks I am handsome.”
Nia knocks her hip against mine, an unexpectedly familiar gesture. “I heard. Madame Ella, this is our king’s friend, Maddox Finch.”
Her words pierce my chest, and all the pride seeps right back out.
She referred to me as the king’s friend. Not hers.
This should not matter. I will not let it. Besides, I do not wish to only be her friend.
I desire more.
So much more.
“A pleasure.” Madame Ella holds out her hand, and I take it for a strong shake, but her grip is as limp as a dead squirrel. For some reason, this makes the female laugh. Her gaze swings to where Nia watches with a frown. “Please don’t tell me you’ve come to buy this man a shirt.”
“Not at all. I’m here to pick up the dress for my birthday.”
A birthday that is quickly approaching. Soon, Nia will be gone for good. Her Nolan will not approve of her helping me after they are mated. I will be all on my own. Like always.
Madame’s sparkly wrist bangles jingle together like tiny bells. “Thank goodness. It would be such a shame to cover all of that up.” She winks at me before sauntering behind a curtain at the back of the shop.
My pride has been restored. I turn to my escort, offering her a smile. “Did you hear that, Nia Quill? Such a shame.”
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
I am afraid it is too late. It is a good thing I do not wear a crown like Ever; it would surely not fit after this day.
Would you look at this? There is more lace at the corner of the counter. How do they create all these patterns in such delicate fabric? The material looks as if it should be stiff, but it is not. This lace is as soft as silk.
Nia swipes for the lace, but I am faster. “Put those down, Maddox.”
They are shaped like the bottoms Nia wore at the quarry. “Perhaps I will buy my female these as a gift.”
Her smile twists into something unsettling, like a wolf going for the kill. “You should.” She pats her hip. “They’re very comfortable.”
Is she saying . . .
Shit.
Why did I think I could play such a game with a fae as experienced as Nia Quill? She would surely think me foolish and naïve if she knew the truth of my inexperience.
When she asked me if I had mated with a female, I wanted to crawl beneath my wagon and die. Instead, I did what I do best, and I told another terrible lie.
Once I have composed myself, I toss the lace onto the counter where Madame Ella has set a large white box. “I would like these.”
“I doubt they’ll fit you,” she says with another tinkling laugh. “Although if you’d like to try them on just to be sure, the fitting room is right over there.”
If Nia can tease me, then I should be allowed to tease her right back. “What do you think, Nia Quill? Will you let me know if they are suitable?”
Nia’s husky laughter stirs my blood. “In your dreams, maybe.”
How does she know that I dream of her? This is most inconvenient.
Her small hand curls around my arm where it rests on the counter. “Don’t look so horrified. It was a joke.” To Madame, she says, “He’s buying them for his lady friend across The Divide.”
“Your lady friend is a very lucky woman, indeed,” Madame says, dropping the garment into a small bag.
I bite back a grimace as I take out a handful of coins and set them on the countertop. “Is this enough?” I have never bought anything from this shop, so I have no reference for how much this item would cost.
