Page 79 of Kissed By Songs of Lilies

Tears stung my eyes. Because Briar is dead. The words were hanging on my lips, but I didn’t want to say them. Not now. We still had a couple of hours until the rest of the household woke for the day, and I wanted to enjoy this brief, bittersweet moment in my childhood home, sleeping on my old, familiar feather bed.

I pretended to yawn. "I’m really tired. Do you think we could talk more in a couple of hours?"

She nodded. "Of course, I’m sorry. It must have been a hard journey." She looked at me with those big round eyes and said, "Could you–could you stay here maybe? It’s just, I’m afraid you’ll disappear with the morning sun."

She reminded me so much of when she was a little girl, and she had begged for sleepover parties in my bedroom. I gave her a squeeze. "Of course, I’ll stay."

She pulled out a spare shift from her wardrobe and handed it to me. "Probably better not to wake the house."

I nodded and stepped out of my gown from the market, leaving it in a puddle on the floor. I knew I wouldn’t want to wear it again. Not with the memories of today woven into its fabric. I pulled on the clean shift and crawled into bed beside Magnolia.

"Why are there so many soldiers patrolling? Is everything okay?" I whispered.

"For now," she said ominously.

"What does that mean?"

"Tomorrow," she replied.

I wanted to protest, but I was bone tired. The second my head touched the pillow, I was asleep, breathing in the familiar smells of family and home.

CHAPTER 40

The Fae King

I’m ashamed to say that for several minutes I simply sat in the spot where Hawthorne had left me and wallowed.

Georgia didn’t want me.

My curse was unbroken.

Hawthorne knew my secret.

My kingdom was on the brink of war.

The weight of my burdens threatened to drown me. What power did I have during the day? A king diminished to the size of a frog. A king not capable of surviving a rogue boot.

I shook away those unwelcome thoughts. I was the King of the Island. These were my people. These were my beaches. And, if necessary, I would die trying to save them. I hopped as fast as I could through the crowded corridors, narrowly avoiding boots at every turn. Finally, I reached the door to my private rooms.

Harry was waiting for me. He took in my frog form and the busy corridor I had just departed. "How bad is it?" he asked.

"Hawthorne knows about my curse."

Harry frowned. "Where’s Georgia?"

I hung my tiny green head. "Gone."

"I’m sorry, Forrest. Truly."

"Thank you. I need you to call my council of advisors for an emergency session. Do not invite Hawthorne. He’s fully revealed himself now."

"For this evening?" Harry asked.

I shook my head. "Now."

Harry started to protest. "But they’ll see-"

"It’s too late. Even if they want to take advantage of my weakness, even if they want my crown, I have to believe there are those on the council who will protect the seelie and the island itself."

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