Courting Fae Thieves and Crowns by Joanna Reeder

Author:Joanna Reeder [Reeder, Joanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Reed It & Weep
Published: 2023-01-17T18:30:00+00:00

Twenty-Five

The other contestants squeal and rush about in a blur of fluttering wings, horns, and swishing chiffon as they all scramble over themselves to get out of the room after Nieven Morphyra’s announcement.

Elimination. Tonight.

I know I’m staying tonight, but my heart pounds as if I might not.

Gnacia waits for me in the corridor with arms folded and one eyebrow lifted. I know what she’s about to say before she says it. She wants me to quit sending ladies’ maids away.

“Can I request which servants attend to me?” I ask.

A triumphant smile tugs at the edge of Gnacia’s mouth before she hides her amusement away. “That depends on who you request.”

“The spring fae who brought my dinner the first night. I want her.” The way she skillfully conjured a tree when she spilled the dinner tray impressed me.

Gnacia scoffs. “If she brought your meal, she is not a ladies’ maid—”

“I want her.”

Gnacia walks toward me, her hooves clacking on the tiled floor. With the other contestants gone, her prim facade drops. She lowers her voice when she says, “Need I remind you that you are not in a position to make demands? You are not a royal.”

I don’t flinch away from her stare. “Yes, but you and I both need me to succeed in my task. In the brief conversation I had with her, she felt like a fae I could trust.”

“You don’t trust my advice? Need I remind you, I strongly suggested you not turn up your nose at a ladies’ maid. Then you saw the wisdom in my advice. Now I’m suggesting you have someone experienced to help you.”

“Then someone who won’t have loyalties to another contestant or fae. What about Kali Islandwort? The healer?”

“She is not a ladies’ maid, either. And the king would never agree—” The faun pauses as if something has occurred to her, then sighs. “There’s a human girl who attended a noble lady in the human realm. She’s recently come to Faerie and so has no loyalties or strong ties. If you agree to allow her to assist you, I’ll ask the kitchens to send this spring fae, too.”

I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from grinning like a maniacal cait sith.

“Yes, that sounds acceptable,” I say, then nod and turn to walk back to my room.

Half an hour later, I’m seated at my vanity. A new ivory dress is slung over my bed while the human girl, Kenna, is fumbling around with my hair. Kenna is a dull girl with brown hair tucked underneath a gray cap and rounded ears. Her eyes are a bit too close together, but her looks aren’t ogrish like some humans. The spring fae, Posey, hovers next to her, watching her work.

I try hard not to think about the situation I’m in. I remember watching servants fawn about the queen’s hair when I was young. I don’t remember why I was in the queen’s chambers watching her servants attend to her, but I remember feeling glad that I would never be subjected to it.

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