Page 61 of Fae King's Secret Baby

“I’m here.”

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’ll see you at six,” she intoned dully, hanging up.

Gritting my teeth, I considered calling Drakias to see if he had any updates on Maren’s behavior, but I stopped myself. If there were reports of any kind, Drakias would have called me himself.

Could Odette be right? Has she been sneaking off when Drakias isn’t watching? Is she hiding something?

I endedthe session earlier than usual in order to stop by Maren’s favorite restaurant, where I had preordered her favorite curried vegetable dishes on a bed of rice. I got nothing for myself. My appetite had been non-existent since she had called things off between us, and I didn’t expect that she would invite me to stay for dinner, anyway.

Drakias stood in his usual position, bowing respectfully when he saw me, and I stopped to speak with him for a moment before knocking on the door.

“Have you noticed anything strange about Miss Maren lately?” I asked in a low voice.

“Strange, Alpha? Strange how?”

“I don’t know. Has she been picking up any herbs she shouldn’t?”

Drakias frowned slightly. “She had been visiting a botanist frequently. She’s had an upset stomach, from what I can surmise.”

My brow knit into a vee.I should go speak to the botanist.

“Which botanist?” I asked.

“The one in the market, over the avenue bridge.”

I nodded slowly. “Thank you, Drakias.” I paused. “How are you with this placement? Have you been handling it all right?”

He nodded, his face brightening. “Miss Maren is lovely,” he offered unexpectedly, and my doubts began to pop again.

She is lovely. Everyone who knows her thinks so…. except for Odette.

Suddenly, I wished I hadn’t listened to the enchantress and come at all.

I raised a hand and knocked, the door swinging inward almost instantly. I balked as I realized she had been listening at the door.

“Hi,” I offered, thrusting the paper bag of food toward her. “I brought dinner from Solidad’s.”

Her cheeks were unusually flushed and only slightly rounder than when I’d last seen her. Chestnut tresses shone brighter than I’d ever seen them as she gestured for me to come inside.

“I was surprised to hear from you,” she admitted. “I thought you’d given up on me.”

I slid out of my jacket and hung it on the back of a kitchen chair as Maren set her food on the table.

“Given up on you? You’re the one who asked me to leave you alone,” I reminded her.

“I know. But I didn’t think you would.”

I hardly knew where to begin with that. “Maren, you accused me of murder.”

She tipped her head and looked at me. “You didn’t deny it!”

“No,” I agreed. “I didn’t. But I am now. I didn’t kill Jergin… or the other fae who died that night.”

Confusion colored her face. “What other fae?”

“There were two murders that night and a string of arsons,” I sighed. “I ensured they were kept quiet from the public to avoid mass panic, but I think they’re all connected. Odette believes they’re all linked by dark magic, but we haven’t been able to pinpoint the source yet.”

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