Page 71 of How to Keep a Fae

A day room with a window offering views across the forests.

A bedroom complete with a four-poster bed, an accompanying nesting nook, and a bathing chamber.

And a study because apparently, August needs one now that he is imperial.

The rooms are reasonably small and intimate, but I already love them well.

Dede hugged me fiercely when she came upon me packing my former feeder chamber—a brief whisper before she was called away.

“Mated,”I said.

A grin had spread across her face. She squeezed my hand.

I trust Dede to spread the gossip in her indomitable way. Perhaps giving hope to those other omegas who entrusted her with their secret longing for a mate.

As for my mother, leaving House Silva had been a strange, bittersweet experience. She was no longer my house mistress. I had no reason to see her other than her being my mother, and for as long as I could remember, she had not acknowledged me as such.

“Where do you want it?” The two beta men strain under the weight of my prized couch, which has been brought up today from the former feeder chamber.

“Over here, I think.”

They slot it into place underneath the small window in the bedroom.

“Perfect. Thank you!” I can already imagine myself sitting here with a book.

They bow and leave, and I fuss over it, draping the throw just right, adding the two complementary cushions I have made. A small table is set beside it, bearing a vase and dried flowers gifted from August’s mother. I have yet to meet her or any of his many siblings. He speaks fondly of them, and I hope we shall be friends. He said he would take me to meet them next week once I was settled in.

I stop and admire the room. The four-poster bed is freshly made. Yesterday, the finishing touches were made to my nesting nook, deeply layered with all my favorite things. The other rooms are complete, too, with August’s desk and chair arriving earlier today.

It is finally all coming together.

It feels like a home.

Hearing a low growl, I spin around and find Jayga standing in the doorway, his eyes on the new addition to our room.

“What the fuck is that doing here?” He undoes his sword belt as he prowls towards me. It drops to the floor with a clatter.

My eyes widen as he continues to stalk me down.

I squeak, lift my skirts, and make a dart for the nest.

“Got you,” he says—a giggle bubbles up as his arm snakes around me. “Thinking of hiding from me, little mate?” His lips brush the juncture of my shoulder and throat before he nips. His kisses move a little higher to my ear, where he nips again. “I don’t like that fucking couch.”

“It is a chaise longue,” I say, knowing my correction will only provoke him more. “Where’s August?”

“He’ll get here in due time,” Jayga says. “You think he could just bring that in here? A gift from the bastard king?”

“I don’t believe he is a bastard,” I say, going all out on my provocation.

“He is if he gives you gifts.”

“It looks very pretty before the window,” I say.

“So you’re determined to keep it, are you?”

“Yes,” I whisper, peering back at him out of the corner of my eye to gauge if he is really upset.

“Well then,” he says ominously. “Best we christen it.”

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