Without releasing me, Soren leaned down slightly so his lips touched my ear. I closed my eyes and tried not to react. “The toddy is on the move. I think he bought it.”
Reluctantly, I pulled back, just enough to look over my shoulder. “Really?”
“I don’t know what was going on in that head of yours, but it helped sell it.” He let go of me then.
I missed his warmth, wishing I could hold on a little longer.
“Yeah, that was the goal,” I lied, hoping I sold this one too, though I was blinking too much, so not likely. I cleared my throat and smiled at him. “Now what?”
“Now we wait.”
***
Over the next agonizinghour, Julian showed up first, followed by Lore shortly after.
“Aviana looked ready to kick me out so she could go tell someone.” Lore hooted with laughter.
Julian cackled. “I told Dewdrop not to say anything because I ‘wasn’t sure what Caius might do.’ The second I turned the corner, she opened her wings so fast I heard them crack.”
Clapping her hands, Lore hopped in place, grinning wide. “Dewdrop is perfect! She’s too scared of court to go there directly. The rumor will go through at least one other set of ears before it reaches the prince.”
I grinned at their excitement. It was contagious.
“I know Gwen can’t be here, but where’s Peregrin?” I asked after they finally settled enough to eat with us. I’d gone back to get a more edible plate, obviously, sticking to foods I could recognize at a glance, like bread and cheese.
A strange look passed between the three of them.
“I hope to see him soon,” Soren replied vaguely. He kept his eyes on his plate and wouldn’t look at me, which raised more red flags.
“What’s going on?”
“His task is most likely taking him a bit longer,” Soren replied.
I couldn’t pinpoint why that made me even more suspicious. “Why would his rumor take him longer?”
“We should focus on what to do once the rumors reach the prince,” Soren deflected once again.
I didn’t want to let him change the subject, but now that he’d brought it up, I needed to know. “Do you think it’ll be enough for him to let my family out of their contract?”
“Brynn Donovan,” a commanding voice came from a tiny little fae who looked like a porcelain doll with deep blue hair and equally blue feathered wings. Some of the feathers were plated in gold, and her entire outfit was blue and gold from head to toe. “You’re summoned to meet with the royal family. Immediately.”
Getting the prince’s attention had been our goal, so why did it feel like being called to the principal’s office?
Two flaps of her wings lifted her off the tall table she’d landed on, and she flitted away without waiting for a response.
“I guess we’ll find out what Caius will do soon enough,” Soren murmured as we all stood.
