Page 85 of This Is Not True Love’s Kiss

“Did she just . . . agree to His Majesty’s request?” Meera asked.

“I believe she did,” Fargus said. “I think the kissing has made a difference after all.”

Lor squeezed my hand back. “Thank you. We’ll figure this out, Aoife. The brotherhood will not come near you. We’re still invisible. Our barrier is stronger than ever. So even if Ronan did end up reaching them and revealing our location, they still don’t have a way in.”

Unless they had new magic to help with that too. There were too many unknowns, and that was part of the problem.

“I’m tired of being trapped. I want my people to have freedom. To have a choice. To travel and see the continent, to be known in this world.”

He kissed my temple, and this time, it was Lor reminding me that I wasn’t alone in this. That he was doing everything he could to free my people.

“I feel like I’m in a fever dream.” Meera stared at us, blinking.

Fargus also gaped at us. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

Meera’s tail twitched behind her as she looked at the owl. “Are you sure we’re not dreaming? Or sick?”

“Will you two stop it already?” I asked. “It’s really not that unbelievable that a husband and wife should kiss.”

“A husband and wife, no,” Meera said. “You and Lor, yes.”

“You don’t understand what we’ve witnessed the last two years,” Fargus said.

“We were there,” Lor said, a bit sardonically.

Fargus waved a wing. “Not the same as seeing you two, the way you argued and fought.” The owl shuddered. “Still gives me nightmares.”

“Are you two here for any particular reason?” I asked.

“To advise you,” Meera said.

“Then advise,” I said back, an edge to my tone.

“I agree with His Majesty.” Fargus flew to Lor’s shoulder.

“Shocking,” I mumbled. The owl had always agreed with everything Lor said.

Lor’s lips twitched.

“I also agree with His Majesty.” Meera yawned, back arching and claws digging into the ground. “It’s too risky to leave the city right now if the brotherhood are closing in. If they spot one of the Fair Folk, it could mean the end of us all. People are talking, you know. Rumors flying that the brotherhood want to enslave us. It’s making everyone jumpy.”

Lor and I shot each other looks of concern. That was exactly what neither of us wanted.

“What did you do in the past?” Lor asked. “When your people were enslaved and feeling hopeless? How did you keep the hope alive?”

The question surprised me, but it shouldn’t have, really. Lor had shown again and again how much he cared about the Fair Folk, how much he cared about me and what I wanted for the future of my people. And the more I assured him that he wasn’t alone, that we weren’t all his responsibility, the more I think he was actually starting to believe it, to believe there were other ways to solve our problems then him having to be absolutely perfect.

“Fairtine,” Meera said, and we both looked at the cat.

She just blinked.

“Fairtine,” I echoed softly.

“The festival?” Lor said.

“We held it out in the open under the night sky in the same place every year. Far from here. A place we could portal to. A field full of the most beautiful flowers, the moon shining its silvery light over them.” I could picture it, could smell the sweet floral scent, could hear the music and laughing and dancing. I wanted to host another Fairtine so badly.

Lor’s face fell. “Aoife, we can’t⁠—”