Page 148 of Blood of the Fairest

Since this kingdom's patron is the Faerie of Greed, I guess the luxury makes sense.

The four guards stationed in front of the double doors are dressed in white uniforms with gold accents. I don't miss the way their gazes widen on me, the veiled queen of Isenmere.

Gotta love having Rhinestone's reputation as a terrifying, man-eating bitch.

I'm not sure the rumors about the queen's "change of heart" have made it to Aurefeld yet, so I can't even begin to guess what they're thinking.

When one of the male guards squints hard like he's trying to see through my sheer veil, Wulf takes a silent, threatening step forward until he's close enough to my side that our arms brush.

One of the female guards bows and addresses me, but her eyes lift to Wulf's arms, still partially bandaged. I could swear she barely stops from making a face.

"Your Majesty Queen Reinhilde, it is a great honor. You are very welcome to enter the throne room, but…your Favored shall not enter."

"Superb, because I have no Favored. The Huntsman of the North is my bodyguard."

The maid and the other guards openly gawk at him now that they know he's the Beowulf, but the guard I'm talking to shuffles nervously.

"I'm afraid northerners are not permitted under any circumstances, for they are cursed. You may bring other Isenmerian guards with you to greet my king and queen, if you wish."

I know she's just doing her job, but irritation prickles over my skin. What's even more annoying is that Wulf is neither surprised nor bothered by the prejudice against "cursed" northerners. He's clearly used to it, but makes no move to leave my side.

"He goes where I go," I insist.

"In Isenmere, perhaps, but not in Aurefeld. He should not have even been allowed onto royal grounds," another guard argues, eyeing Wulf mistrustfully.

I'm ready to become a much bigger problem for everyone when a voice calls out, "Is something amiss?"

All the guards bow at once. I turn to examine the handsome man striding toward us.

"Oh, my god. It's the Duke of Hastings," I whisper to Wulf.

Eris moves back to the Huntsman's axe for a better view. "Duke? That's the crown prince of Aurefeld."

Now that he mentions it, this guy does have a princely look, from the gleaming crown on his head to the tailored cape suit he's wearing.

A fucking cape suit. It looks amazing.

Suddenly, I'm itching to design one for someone who could pull it off—namely, Eris. With his dignified features and that majestic prismatic white hair, he would look phenomenal in a cape suit.

Maybe if Cinderella can't help me get home, I could design one for him to wear once Wulf can finally track down his body.

I'm so distracted with the prince's killer fit that it takes me a second to realize he's stopped to bow slightly to me. When he straightens, his expression is pleasant, but not warm.

"You must be Her Majesty Queen Reinhilde, Veiled Glory of Isenmere, Mirror-Blessed of the Sixth Faerie, Ayna the Proud."

"Holy shit, is that my full title?" I blurt. "Wow. Kudos to you for not running out of air halfway through that, Prince…"

Oh, no. I really should have asked about the names of the royals here.

Eris lets me struggle for one awkward second before he laughs at me and helps. "I assume this is the crown prince, Leif."

"Leif," I smile even though he can't see me through this fabric. Then I gesture at the double doors. "I'm on the way to greet your parents, but your bouncers aren't letting my bodyguard in."

Prince Leif nods politely to greet Wulf, but doesn't seem interested in helping out. Instead, he addresses me again.

"How was the trip here, Your Majesty? I heard a rumor your coachmen were attacked. That sounds unpleasant."

"Aurefeld's heir is famous for being the absolute perfect prince," Eris tells me, moving to appear in one of the nearby gold sconces. "He's not the sort to defy the rules his parents have set, so don't hold your breath for his help with Wulf's admittance."