Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 132625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
“A queen and the Seven,” Remme says slowly. “Four fae and three humans make up the Seven, plus a human queen.”
“I like it,” Skylar says, leaning back in her chair. “I think it could actually work.”
“And since we are supporting each other,” Sol says, “it avoids the nasty bloodshed that so often comes with change.”
“I suggest we reconvene after dinner to discuss the best way to choose who sits among the Seven,” Crissa says.
The group disperses, but Hale doesn’t go anywhere so neither do I.
Jas kisses his cheek, then flashes me a smile before following the others out of the room.
“So what’s next for you?” I ask. “Where do you go after this?”
“Jas and I want to live in Elora. And while I hate to take her from here . . .” He scans the room, and I know he’s seeing the opulence and wealth of the shadow court, thinking of everything he won’t be able to provide her. “She says she wants it too.”
Hale’s brows lift. “And what about you, sister?”
“I plan to stay in the Wild Fae Lands. With Misha.”
“Why am I not surprised?” He grins. “Damn, sis, wouldn’t that make you his next queen?”
“Nothing that was in my plans, I promise.”
“You’ll be good at it, though. The best. I’d bet money on it.”
My chest feels too full. I wonder how much closer Hale and I could’ve been if I hadn’t always been so insecure, so sure I had cost him and his family—my family—more than I was worth. I won’t let my future be darkened that way, not when I’ve come to realize who I really am and how much I have to be proud of.
You almost ready to say your goodbyes, so I can take you home? Misha asks in my mind. He must be waiting in the hall.
Almost.
“Sol offered me a job,” I admit. “If the Wild Fae Lands and the Elora Seven are going to be allies, they need a liaison who has interests in both realms.”
He beams. “You’d be good at that.”
I clear my throat. “Yes, but I believe the role of Wild Fae queen might keep me a bit too busy, and perhaps a bit biased as well? I suggested you.”
He blinks at me, looks around the room like maybe he’s the butt of a joke, then gapes at me. “You’re suggesting that after a life crusading against the Eloran Palace, I join them?”
“What better way to keep them honest and focused on the right things? And anyway, you wouldn’t work for them, nor for any particular court in Faerie. You’d be an intermediary.”
“Thank the gods for that,” he mutters.
Misha’s back in my head and I can practically feel him tapping his fingers impatiently. Please don’t forget we have plans for tonight, he says.
I haven’t forgotten.
“You’ll think about it?” I ask Hale.
He gives a jerky nod that tells me he’s already thinking.
When I stand to go, he jumps up and hugs me. “Don’t let your important new life keep you from visiting. Mom wouldn’t forgive me if I let that happen.”
“Don’t worry,” I whisper, eyes hot. “I have a lot of reasons to visit and an eager young goblin to escort me anytime I need.”
“Good,” he murmurs, voice rough. “Until then, I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.” I turn to the door and see Skylar standing in the doorway, waving her eyes dry. “You okay?”
“Not one word,” she snaps, pointing a finger at me.
“I wouldn’t dare.”
She sniffs and gives me a quick hug. “Be safe and take good care of that delicious king of yours.”
“I plan to.”
“How were the rest of your goodbyes?” Misha asks when his goblin finally leaves us at our destination a short ride from Castle Craige.
I smirk. “They were fine, though you didn’t do the best job disguising your impatience.”
“It’s not that I’m not sympathetic,” he says, opening the door for me. “It’s that I happen to know we’re all going to be in the same room together before the next full moon.”
“Hale and Jasalyn’s bonding ceremony?” I ask.
He scoffs. “As if the princess would want guests for something like that.”
“Good call.” I wave to Fancee and she scurries up front from the kitchen.
“Welcome,” she crows, eyes bright. “I have the perfect dinner prepared for you two. Just follow me.”
The back patio is set up as it was over eight months ago when I was in Jasalyn’s form and Misha and I shared such a lovely meal here.
“This okay?” he asks, pulling a chair out for me.
I take a seat and tilt my head back to smile up at him. “Misha, it’s perfect.”
He drops a kiss to my lips. “You’re perfect.”
“Not at all.” I laugh, shaking my head at him as he walks around to his side of the table. “So tell me why you’re so sure we’ll see everyone soon?”