Page 129 of Court of the Fae Princes

My door slams open, and I jump out of my seat. Lady Nova strides in, and in a move that’s both arrogant and elegant, she sits in the chair opposite mine. Without looking at me, her hands immediately dig into the platter of scrambled eggs, and she starts eating like forks and knives haven’t been invented yet.

I try not to stare. And fail.

“Hello again,” I say, settling back into my chair.

She gives me a head nod and paws at a piece of ham that she shoves into her already full mouth.

Okay, so not all fae have table manners. Good to know. And not at all disgusting.

“Good,” she says, little ham pieces spitting from her mouth as she speaks.

Do not vomit on the pastries. Do not vomit on the pastries.

“Is the way you’re eating normal for the fae, because I’ve never actually sat and had a meal with one?” I probably shouldn’t have asked, but I can’t help myself.

She gives me a funny look. “It’s normal for the War Fae and many of the Fall Fae. We’re not as concerned with being perfect.” Then she licks a piece of food off her finger.

I snort, ignoring what she just did. “There’s being perfect, and then there’s being disgusting. Maybe shoot for something in the middle. Especially with just how much food you’re wasting and ruining. The servants could eat what’s left if you weren’t so gross with it.”

She looks shocked. “The servants eat what we leave?”

“We barely make enough to not starve, so, yeah.”

She glances down at what she’s doing and smears her hands on a napkin before eating a little more politely. “Okay, got it, I’ll eat more politely before we have our talk, but someone should probably do something about the servant problem.”

Someone should. Maybe me. If I ever become queen.

I wait for her to keep talking. She says nothing.

“So,” I begin, trying not to sound too annoyed. “You wanted to talk about the princes?” I put an apple pastry on my plate and pull some flakes off of it, but my appetite isn’t quite what it was after watching half-chewed food decorating the table.

Lady Nova grabs a cup of juice and takes a giant swig. She pushes it towards me as if she’s offering me back my cup. I frown. I don’t want that drink anymore. She can use it. Hell, she can take it with her. Or burn it.

“I might as well, since everyone’s talking about it anyway,” she says, but she doesn’t keep talking.

Come on, lady, just out with it. This isn’t a game of cat and mouse. You have something to say. I want to hear it. Let’s just do this thing. Or are the war fae’s communication skills as good as their table etiquette?

“Ok, so?” I ask, trying not to sound as annoyed as I feel.

“So it looks like the princes aren’t coming back. At least, that’s what I heard from my servants, and you know their information’s the best there is.” She chews loudly, with even more food falling out of her mouth. This time, chunks of bread.

I’m in disbelief though. Not because of the rumor. More so because after all Lady Nova’s research, which I’m sure she’s been doing a lot of, this was the conclusion. And she believes it. Something this crazy!

“What makes the servants think they’re gone for good?”

Lady Nova shrugs. “Some of the princes’ most important items were taken along with them, mostly significant jewelry. Prince Forrest gave away every puppy from a litter he’s been watching. Apparently, he had plans to have his pick of the litter when they got older. Prince Cobar burned some bridges with some fae who were hoping their daughters might be eventually considered to have the honor of being his lovers. From what was said, he wasn’t just firm but rude and aggressive, not two words that are often used to describe Prince Cobar. Prince Sulien told the servants that his room could be used for any fae who need it moving forward. Prince Frost sent a few letters home, which he never does.”

My heart drops, but she keeps going.

“What was even stranger is that everything was done in a rush. It seemed Prince Frost wrote the letters a day before he left, but then woke his servant in the early hours of that morning to send out the letters for him. Prince Cobar had the fight with the other fae while they were leaving a late-night party, and he was dressed for the road. Even Prince Forrest woke a servant with his list of choices for who the puppies should go to. People were too tired and irritated to ask much at the time. But their actions, combined with what servants overheard about their deal with the House of Death, suggests that whatever deal they made, they won’t be returning home.”

No. This can’t be possible.

“Why wouldn’t they come back? They’re princes! I mean, are they just going to a different court?” That might make sense. A little time spent in the Spring Fae lands surrounded by beautiful fae might be just what they need.

To my surprise, just the thought bothers me.

“You’re promised to all four of them, and you don’t know why they wouldn’t come back?” She licks her fingers and wipes them down the front of her shirt.

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