Queen Emmaline wasn’t the kind of person you said no to, and even though this was my kingdom, she was a guest in my court. I wasn’t going to refuse her. “Sure. Where should we go?” I asked.
“I pay for a personal parlor room in the store,” she said. “We can talk there.”
Oberi followed me as I trailed the queen. She came to a white door with golden swirls that was set into the side of the mountain, and she opened it wide for me.
We roamed inside, and I softened at how beautiful it was. We’d ventured into another illusion room. This one had been transformed into a beach, perched at what seemed the edge of the world. It appeared there was a setting sunset on the horizon, bathing the entire beach in shades of pink. On the beach near the water was a table set up with a grouping of chairs. There was a paved area beneath my wheels, so I could roll up to the table easily. There were unicorns here, too, and they frolicked in the water when they saw us approaching.
The queen sat down at the table and ordered tea from a waiter, while I bit into a cupcake that had already been set out.
“What a pretty room,” I remarked. “I love it.”
“I write poetry here. It’s a hobby of mine,” she explained. “The unicorns are inspiring, and sometimes I need a bit of space to myself.”
I understood that. From the pocket of her dress, a little faekin came whizzing out. He was a miniature tiger no bigger than a dragonfly, with monarch butterfly wings and feelers on top of his head. He rubbed his face against the queen’s cheek, then greedily got to licking up a spoonful of honey she set out for him.
“How wonderful! Is he your faekin?” I asked.
“Yes. Tygrys has been my constant companion and protector since I was nineteen,” she replied. “He goes everywhere I do.”
The queen gave Tygrys a cookie to nibble on, which he jealously guarded from Oberi with tiny, growly teeth. She waited until the staff brought the tea, and didn’t begin speaking until we were alone again.
“You have to be wondering why I brought you here.” The queen dropped two sugar cubes into her tea, before silently gesturing if she could give some to Oberi. I nodded, and my unicorn lapped up the sugar cubes in her hand greedily. “If we can, I’d like to get straight to the point.”
“I appreciate that,” I confessed. “I’m not someone who enjoys small talk.”
“I’m not, either.” She tapped her stirring spoon against the teacup. “And I believe this needs to be said, because no one else will say it, and you’ll understand if it comes from me.”
“Please, Queen Emmaline?—”
“Call me Emma. At least, when we’re alone,” she insisted. “I know we have to follow royal protocol, but at heart, I’m still just a fae girl, and always will be.”
I nodded. “Okay. Emma.”
I dared to take another cupcake, because they were really fucking good. “Sorry if I’m awkward. You just seem so… strong.”
“Strong?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Yes. No-nonsense.”
She gave a wistful smile. “That actually encourages me to hear. Reminds me of someone I used to idolize. Perhaps I’ve become a little like her.”
Emma sighed and added, “Well, the point is, I know you have a heavy burden. You’re a royal now, so you have to act like one and manipulate the court in your favor. I want to help make that process easier, if you’re open to the idea. I could tell during your spiritual ceremony that you felt out of place.”
I blew out a breath. “I guess I couldn’t say this to anyone else, but itishard. I like being a princess, but there are so many things to learn. I wasn’t born into this. I’m the daughter of a chieftain, but Hawkei culture is so different from Elvish. And the Elves have become important to me. They’re now my people, but I feel like I’m going to fail them.”
“It’s typical to feel that way after marrying into a monarchy,” Emma said. “It can be overwhelming at first, but you’ll get used to it.”
“You weren’t born royal, were you? You came from America.”
“I did,” Emma said. “I became queen when my mate ascended to the throne, though I do say he couldn’t have made it without me.”
Her eyes narrowed as she mumbled, “At all.”
“I guess you had a lot to do with it?” I asked.
“We both did a lot of work to save Malovia and become the rulers our country needed us to be, but if I’m speaking bluntly, I put him there. When I became Ethan’s mate, I wasn’t just choosing him, but choosing the crown and all its responsibilities.”
I shrugged. “I guess it wouldn’t have made a difference. I married Charlie knowing who he is. Even if I’d realized the role we’d have to step into down the line, I still would’ve married him.”
