Page 42 of Crown of Slumber

The woman cast an uncertain glance at the arrow protruding from my body, no doubt questioning theminoraspect of our injuries.

I forced a smile. “It’s merely a flesh wound.”

“Of course.” The woman wiped her hands on her apron, then stretched her hand toward the foyer. “Let me fetch your key for you.”

“I can pay you—” Aurelia said quickly, but the woman shushed her.

“Nonsense. Consider it a gift. And, if you feel so inclined, I would behonoredto be invited to the royal wedding.” The woman curtsied slightly and dipped her gaze.

Aurelia faltered. She blinked, then swallowed hard, regret filling her eyes.

“Of course,” I said at once, my voice smooth and inviting. “Any of my beloved’s acquaintances would be most welcome to our wedding.”

The woman beamed, then ducked behind her desk. After a moment, she resurfaced with a large, brass key and handed it to Aurelia. “Room seventeen on the first floor.”

“Ah, Dreya, you always take such good care of me,” Aurelia said with a wide smile.

Dreya curtsied again. “Of course! I keep the room ready for you. It is yours and yours alone.”

Aurelia flushed. “You are too kind. I wish you would let us pay for the trouble.”

“Think nothing of it, Your Highness. You are welcome here anytime. Come, let me help you with your belongings.” She scooped up Aurelia’s sack and lifted it to her shoulder with surprising strength before leading us down the hall toward the room.

If my sistercould see me now, she would howl with laughter,I thought as I followed Dreya down the narrow hallway toward the room Iusually stayed in.Pretending to be engaged to the prince of my enemy kingdom… and sharing a room with him, no less.

I knew exactly what Gigi would say.Aurie, he’s gorgeous! Who cares what kingdom he comes from? I’d share a room with the most vile, ill-tempered man in the world if he looked likethat.

The corners of my mouth twitched as I thought of my sister’s response. But sorrow soon took over, dragging my heart down to my stomach as I remembered where I’d left Gigi.

Frozen, unconscious in the tea room.

A hollow feeling settled in my chest as I was achingly reminded of how alone I truly was. Fenn was technically on my side, but our alliance was precarious at best, and I still expected him to try to alter our bargain or betray me in some way.

I couldn’t be myself. I had to constantly be on guard. And there was no one I could talk to in earnest.

Sudden exhaustion tugged at my body. I was so very, very tired. The bone-weary fatigue clouding my body was not only physical; an emotional weight bore down on me, threatening to pull me under.

When Dreya helped us into the room, I mumbled a quick thanks to her before shutting the door and sagging against it, my eyes closing as I slid to the floor.

“Was she expecting you?” Fenn asked, his voice full ofcuriosity.

I opened one eye and found him frowning at the tub of steaming water on the opposite end of the room.

Ah, yes, I’d forgotten. There was no separate bathing chamber. We would have to wash in front of one another.

Perfect.

And yet, I was too tired to care. My eye closed once again. “It’s fae magic.”

“Come again?” Fenn asked.

“Dreya has a connection to the earth and the land where this cottage was built,” I said, my voice barely a mumble because I was too weary to properly articulate. “She can anticipate the needs of others, and the cottage responds to that need.”

“That explains how she knew we’d need a healer before we arrived,” Fenn said.

“Didn’t you stay at this place before? How did you not notice?”

“I was a bit preoccupied.” Smug amusement laced his tone. I heard him shuffling around the room, opening drawers and wardrobe cabinets.

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