Her expression is… haughty, obviously, but also calculating. I wonder what she did to get Queen Mab off the scent of Bulan’s body. Well, shrewd or not, she deserves some respect before being forced to wed a teddy bear of a prince in desperate need of stuffing.
In case there was any doubt, I’mdefinitelystill pissed at Hanry.
I curtsy to my enemy. “Your Highness.”
Mab gestures to the bats at my side. “Who are these two?”
Possibly she hand waves some form of unseen magic, because at once Jurgis and Gustavo transform and topple into a heap.
“I’m a photographer,” says Jurgis.
“I’m a vampire,” says Gustavo, rolling over Jurgis somewhat dazedly. “And your videographer, sí. Oh! It is fun to fly!”
“They’re here to record the day. In the tradition of human weddings,” I remind the room. Immediately, Jurgis leaps to his feet and gets to adjusting lighting, moving furniture, setting up shots.Click, click, click. I can’t find any sign of Bulan’s body—I’m dimly curious what May did to manage that—but I decide to let the matter go and focus on damage control. “Mab, I’m so glad you enjoyed my prank earlier. Unfortunately, it’s a one and done. We’re going to stay on schedule after this.”
The queen mother sighs in disappointment, her long face growing long enough that I want to fix it for her manually. But that would put me in reach of her pointy antlers. Not worth it.
“I’m so disappointed, Samba!” she whines.
I forcibly move Gustavo’s hand from his camera to prevent him from recording this particularly low moment. The less that’s on film, the less that can come back to bite me later.
“I know you are, and I’m sorry, but—”
“Mandy told me that human weddings have many elements thatmust come together,” May says for me. Her intervention reveals a concerning degree of understanding. “You want Hanry and me to have a good day, don’t you, oh Queen?”
The queen collapses against her furniture. “I do,” she says, resigned. “If only human makeup wasn’t so laborious!”
Since my new job is to keep Mab content, I take the hint immediately.
“Shaki, can you wrap this up quick? I remember Her Majesty wanted to discuss the florals downstairs. And it’s approaching one p.m.”
“Oh yes! Our guests will arrive soon!” The queen bubbles up with laughter so effervescent, she has to reach out for my arm to stabilize. “Was it yellow I was suggesting?”
“Purple, actually. Magenta.”
“Indeed?”
“Mm-hmm. Here’s my phone. Check out the pics. Jurgis, come with us,” I command. The newly born vampire, temporarily returned to human form, licks his lips and reaches for my elbow. I bat him off with a strict, “No! Bad vamp! The only thing you get to hold is your camera. I’ll give you blood downstairs, okay?”
“Very well,” he relents.
Before we leave, I tuck my clipboard beneath my arm and say loudly enough for the whole room to hear: “Oh, and May? One last thing. You’re looking great. Freaking stunning.”
The fairy princess’s eyebrows knot together for a brief moment, likely suspicious at a compliment from her romantic rival. But she touches her hair with a graceful flourish.
“Thank you.”
The final pieces of wedding prep move fast after this.
Although Bulan and Mandy aren’t close at hand, for reasons unknown in Bulan’s case and unmentionable in Mandy’s, I still have ample assistance. My borrowed fairy servants toe the line of my hastyinstructions, meaning that when Mab sees the State Room, she melts with delight at its completed setup and décor. Jurgis dutifully photographs the caterers’ work of setting out the display wedding cake. Queen Mab, jubilated, unearths wedding invitations she sent at the time of Hanry’s changeling adoption. Jurgis documents this too. He adds these announcements to a gorgeous commemorative wedding display, contributing loose flowers, moss, and ribbon.
“Photography is so coarse,” Mab reflects. “A still life would be nice, don’t you think?”
“Mm-hmm. I’ll look into finding a wedding painter,” I reply, refusing to worry about the practicality of that at T-minus two hours. “Where’s His Royal Highness? King Tits?”
“Oh, he’s out recruiting one last guest. Idohope he’ll return on time.”
Mab picks up a leaf and watches it flutter down. If I were her, I’d be concerned the king of Fairyland would risk missing his own son’s wedding. But, then again, these are fay. If Mab’s not having a panic attack, I guess I can’t be bothered to have one either.
