Page 48 of Finding Closure

“I was simply going to tell you later,” I promised as I pushed to stand. “I realized that after the festival I wanted more of that. Not festivals—though I plan to attend them all even if in hiding. No, I want to…” I glanced at Darby because for some reason I thought he might understand me.

He winked at me. “I think it’s great,agra.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, it’s completely you, cream puff,” Lucca chuckled. He nodded when I still seemed hesitant and focused on Irma. “She wants to try dishes from every restaurant and café in Faerie.It was awesome to experience the local spin and directly from them. No one can top your cooking, Irma. You know I love it.”

Irma nodded. “But it’s always different to have it local, and—pasta in Italy is unlike just any pasta.”

“Yes, that is exactly where my head was,” Lucca confirmed.

“Mine too,” I admitted. “It would be too disruptive if I just walked in and tried food and I don’t want to always walk around Faerie with glamour.” I went over to my spot and sat down, looking over what was all there. “I thought maybe we could give the kitchen a couple nights off and like two dinners a week would be local takeout. The commanders pick up food for meetings.”

“It’s lovely of you and something we can absolutely discuss,” Irma told me. “And yes, you need to taste more of your home. That’s what we’re starting today. Each rest stop did a local menu for where they’re located and food was brought from there. They were all sampled by your tasters and passed the security protocols.”

“Good, good,” I said as I bobbed my head. “This is like the best breakfast ever. What is it all?”

She moved over to me and hugged me. “Welcome home, Your Highness. May this be the first of more mornings in Faerie than you can count.”

I hugged her back. “That sounds perfect, it really does.”

We started with the dishes that were best warm, and I insisted the hobgoblins all eat with us and pull up chairs. The guys helped find some benches, and the kids had already eaten but really just wanted to be included. They talked all over each other as they hurried to tell me what each option was and what they liked best.

I nodded and tried it all, laughing and goofing around as we did. I tossed several things that Hudson caught in his mouth, and then it became a competition between Lucca, Hudson, andNeldor who could catch food better. It was the goofiest damn thing and the kids kept cheering whenever they got something.

It was the perfect intro to how living at the castle would be because we started making lists of what we needed from Earth to be kept on hand. Hudson wanted a few sauces and so did Lucca. I swallowed a chuckle when it was for kick. Even Julian looked like he was going to agree but didn’t want to upset Irma.

“It’s fine,” she forgave. “You are the aliens now, not the princess. Of course we will adjust for your palates.”

I burst out laughing when Hudson and Lucca choked on their next bites. Neldor and I high-fived as they tried to recover.

“We’re not the freaks anymore,” I chuckled.

“You’re always a bit of a freak, baby doll,” Neldor snarked. “I love human food, but Taco Bell is one of your favorites. I think even humans might say you were a freak for that.”

I threw something at him and the brat just caught it in his mouth with a smirk. “Yeah, you likeArby’s.”

Julian coughed and gave Neldor a shocked look. “Really?”

“That was supposed to be a secret,” Neldor grumbled.

“You started it. Myagrawill finish it,” Darby chuckled darkly.

“And Long John Silver’s,” I added, nodding when a few of them made gagging noises. “I’m all for seafood—fried everything, but that place is…” I gagged.

At least the ones I’d been to. Honestly, I hadn’t been to many, but the couple I had were so gross that I couldn’t even think of trying again.

Mean but true.

I smirked at Neldor. “My Taco Bell isn’t so bad now, huh?”

“That’s the last secret I tell you, baby doll. I won’t—”

“Why is this going out to Faerie live?” Shael demanded as she landed on the terrace.

We all froze. Essie looked scared and was focused on the cameramen.

“No, I swear it’s…” the one guy whispered when he was able to recover and then about dove over towards where everything was plugged in. His eyes went wide and he dropped to his knees facing me. “I promise it was an accident, Your Majesty. I—I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

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