Page 119 of Blood of the Fairest

I clap slowly. "Ladies and gentlemen, the next William Shakespeare. Try not to flatter me too much, or the queen's crown won't fit my head anymore."

There's a soft knock at the door. When I quickly throw on a dress to answer it, it's Merrick letting me know the first few Privy Council members are here. He says they'll have a leisurely lunch in the dining hall while they wait for the rest of the members to arrive.

It's officially time to get Anika ready.

Thanking Merrick, I don a veil and the crown to leave the queen's chambers.

As I stride down a hall toward Anika and Ingrid's rooms near Snow White's, Eris keeps up through stained glass windows.

He fills me in on everything he overheard from the council members he was spying on. It's mostly just speculation about Rhinestone's strange "change of heart" and conjecture about how they can use it to their own benefit.

"So long as none of them are plotting to kill me, that's all dandy." I turn into the next hallway and frown. "Actually, I do find it a little weird that no one else has tried to kill me again. I was collecting near-death experiences left and right when I first got here, but now it's radio silence."

"Perhaps it's because you're steadily altering the queen's reputation."

I doubt that, but I hum. "Perhaps. Hey, where's Beowulf?"

As much as that man follows me around like a dedicated shadow, he keeps vanishing at random intervals without a word, only to show up later with no explanation.

"He's laundering his clothes."

I snort. What on earth could my big protector be doing that Eris would feed me such an obvious excuse?

I'm just about to step into the small upper courtyard, but I freeze as one possible explanation hits me.

"Oh, my god. He's hooking up with someone, isn't he?"

"No. I told you, he's⁠—"

I throw my hands up like they'll prevent the strange hurt trying to get to me.

"Never mind, don't tell me. It's none of my business if he's sticking it in every other lucky woman in this castle. I don't own him, and we're not a thing, so he can fuck whoever he wants."

It's Eris's turn to snort. "Wulf only fucks his hand, usually while standing guard outside the blue door when you're bathing. Which is understandable, because you do moan quite a bit about how nice it feels. Not that I'm complaining, for I also enjoy your sweet sounds."

The thought of them both listening to me bathe makes a flush climb into my skin.

I can't help imagining sneaking out of the hot spring next time, opening the door, and pretending to be surprised by the sight of that mouthwatering bear of a man stroking his impressive dick.

Maybe he would let me suck on it while Eris gets off on watching.

Or hell, what if I just give in and hook up with Wulf? What would be so bad about some rough, fun sex with a hot Viking, just to blow off the steam building in me like a damn pressure cooker?

It would be bad because he's magically compelled to obey everything you command, you unscrupulous horndog, my conscience buts in.

Right. That.

"Sometimes I hate having morals," I grumble aloud.

"They seem like quite the affliction," Eris agrees.

With another sigh, I start to enter the courtyard.

But I pause at the threshold when I spy Anika. The stunning soon-to-be-titled lady is leaning back against a stone wall, smirking up at⁠—

"Holy cannoli, who is that?" I whisper.

Eris is hanging out in the warped reflection of a shiny wall sconce near me. He disappears for a second to take a closer look before reappearing.