Page 179 of The Fallen Fae King

It’s not only my favorite breakfast but the signal that we set up that Daire would be escaping out of the garden.

My heart speeds up.

I suck my sweet-tasting fingers into my mouth to keep myself calm.

Is he safe?

Why am I more scared of Daire exploring Bael by himself than I was of him wandering around Lanlin’s nighttime world?

And the Blood Court had freaky assassin priestesses and thrones built out of fae bones.

It’s the day before our wedding to Aurelius.

I still don’t know how Aurelius plans to escape from marrying Liviana.

I have even less clue how Daire intends to pull off his grand scheme.

But there is something crucial that I have learned about my Raven King…don’t underestimate him.

We have been co-conspirators from the start. Not once have I regretted making my deal with him.

He is bound to serve Aurelius, Lanlin, and me.

He has honored all his deals with breathtaking devotion, but I also know that he does it in his own way.

If he believes that he can save Lanlin and his people, then I believe him.

I don’t react when I feel Daire slip into the nest behind me. He smells of the fresh morning air.

He slips his arm around my middle, pulling me to spoon against him.

I don’t speak, as he plays with my hair.

Suddenly, I am desperate to discover more of this side of him, which lies beneath the feathered god, the commander who I would watch from a distance.

I desire to find out the vulnerable truths in his silences, rather than his deals, tricks, and schemes.

When I raise my hand to brush over a scar on his forearm, he stiffens.

“You’re awake, love?” Daire’s voice is quiet. I could almost imagine that he’d only just woken up like me. “Did you find the breakfast that I left?”

I must be careful what I say in case the guards overhear us.

I reach to pick up a slice of apple and munch on it. “Hmm, delicious. Everything sorted?”

It’s strange not being able to see Daire’s face, but I have a feeling that he would not give anything away, even if I could. “Aye, love. I couldn’t believe how much Bai had grown. I’ve never been apart from him like this before. I’ve avoided thinking about him and what I’ve been missing. He’s become a cadet. I’d have never bloody guessed that my Little Bug would have replaced me already in his heart with Iggy.”

“Iggy?” I laugh. “How did he win over a nine-year-old fae?”

“By saving him from a beating, allowing him to follow him around and chatter incessantly to him about his interests, then gifting him a whistle because he’s a brilliant musician.”

“Maybe Iggy would make a good dad; he has the bribery trick worked out.”

“Oi, what about me?”

I snuggle back against Daire. “You’re already a good dad.”

Daire pushes my hair to the side and presses a gentle kiss to the base of my neck, which makes me shiver. “I wish that I was.”