Page 44 of The Fae King's Labyrinth

Calypso

“You said you were king.” I stared at Azulin.

“I am.” He offered me the plate of roasted chicken that the cook had prepared for his new pet. “They are part of my council.”

“Last I knew the title of king demanded more respect than councilor.” I accepted the plate and scooped some meat into my mouth to appease my growling stomach. “That wasn’t respect.” I motioned toward where the portal had dissipated. “Unless it’s a cultural thing and fae kings function differently than human kings.”

“They don’t,” Ghost grumbled from behind me.

Azulin didn’t reply. Instead, he crossed to the massive desk. Setting his plate of food on the edge, he collapsed into the seat behind it with a heavy sigh. Exhaustion marred his unnaturally handsome features, and his shoulders drooped.

“You haven’t slept, have you?” An irrational irritation nagged me.

“I slept some.” Azulin jutted his chin at his untouched food. “Do you want more to eat?”

I glanced down at my plate and found it empty. I didn’t recall eating it all. My stomach still pinched, and his food looked good.

“You haven’t eaten,” I pointed out. “Aren’t you hungry?”

He regarded me with a weary smile. “I ate.”

“When?”

He and Ghost exchanged a speaking glance.

“Ghost brought me breakfast while you were still sleeping.” Azulin rested his elbow on the arm of his chair and leaned his cheek against his hand. “I have eaten enough. It would be a shame to let it go to waste.”

“What are you not telling me?”

Another silent exchange of glances passed between the king and the dragon.

“Eat.” Azulin pushed the plate toward me. “We have a long day ahead and you will need the sustenance.”

Giving in to the urgings of my underfed stomach, I took the plate and started filling my mouth.

He assessed me as I ate. “She needs appropriate clothing, Ghost.”

I paused with a heavily laden spoon of some kind of fruit-flavored gelatin halfway to my mouth.

“Unless you wish to remain as a cat at all times.”

“What is wrong with my appearance?” I demanded. “For all they know everyone dresses like this where I come from.”

Amusement lightened Azulin’s features ever so slightly before he governed them. “Everyone wears my nightshirts?”

“Not yours specifically,” I protested. “Nightshirts in general.”

Ghost coughed in a way that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. He crossed to the widest window in the room and twitched back the curtains. A tingle of magic tickled my nose as he triggered a spell.

“I have a full docket of work this afternoon.” Azulin straightened in his seat and began organizing the items on his desk before pinning me with an assessing stare. “Might I be able to depend on you keeping your mouth closed for the duration?”

I shrugged as I continued chewing. “So, you want me to sit and watch?”

“The less they note your presence, the safer you will be.” Azulin stood and cleared a pile of books and paper, striding across the room to a cabinet.

“Might I suggest some books from the library?” Ghost inserted. “Assuming you read.”

“I read Common very well, thank you.” I shot him a glare.

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