Page 20 of How To Please A Princely Fae

Wren’s expression, however, tells me that she had no idea that I felt so strongly for Kieran. She even manages to throw a hurt look my way.

Like I should have told her about how I felt for him.

The realization confuses me.

I thought that I'd at least mentioned it to them in passing, but apparently they’re as surprised by this turn of events as Kieran himself.

I need to get this conversation back on track.

This is not the time to be wondering about why my friends can't read my mind and why I would assume that they could in the first place. No, it’s high time to figure out how to restore Kieran's memories and get to the bottom of why it happened in the first place.

"This doesn’t have anything to do with the Elder Forest elementals, if that's what you're trying to get out," says Nerissa seriously.

Her usual flair for dramatic proclamations has been abandoned in the face of our predicament.

Thank the goddess.

“They want brides. They want to fulfill some ancient contract our coven made for our protection. The seriousness of the Elder Gods requesting brides from us, as bad as that is, has nothing to do with…” She trails off, waving her hand at Kieran vaguely, “this.”

"What is all this talk about Elder Gods?" Kieran says with pronounced derision. "No Elder God or elemental would dare take a witch away from me."

The matter-of-fact pronouncement halts my thoughts entirely.

"I don't know what you think I am to you, or what you think you are to me… but I do not belong to you." I’m perturbed.

Extremely perturbed.

Not so much by his words… but by how much I like them. I sigh deeply, then pinch the bridge of my nose.

How completely messed up is that?

Pretty damned messed up.

"I don't know what we are to each other at all," Kieran tells me quietly. He leans down so the softness of his lips brushes against the top of my ear.

If I weren't already beet-red, I would for sure be now.

"But I do know that I would like us to be something in the future. Do with that what you must, my delectable little croissant, but I think we both know deep down that you're amenable to the possibility."

I find myself sorely wishing that I hadn’t laced my overdress on so tightly this morning. It’s a bit hard to breathe. Harder every time he says something like that, in fact.

Then again, from the way Kieran eyes the swell of my breasts, I don't think he has any complaints with the way I laced my dress.

"I'm sorry to say, Willow, I agree with Nerissa. I don't think whatever's going on with Kieran has anything to do with what happened last night.” Piper wrings her hands together.

“I'm also sorry to say that the demand of three forest gods—beings we didn't even know existed before last night—rank higher on our immediate priority list than restoring Kieran’s memory. He is safe with you, isn't he?" Nerissa asks, tilting her head.

"Of course he is safe with me," I sputter, offended all over again.

That’s me, just a blushing ball of offended sensibilities and weak plant magic who doesn’t rank high enough on the coven priority list to garner more support than whatever it is I’m getting now.

"What Nerissa is trying to say," Piper starts softly, "is that Kieran should probably stay with you. Whatever happened to him has something to do with your magic, and you’ll most likely figure it out if you simply retrace your steps and work together."

It's a mark of how sad and lonely I've been that I can't even think of one reason to tell them that is a very terrible idea.

It's a mark of how obsessed I've been with Kieran that I don't immediately tell them that it's a terrible idea. It’s a mark of how terrible a person I am that I think it might actually be a very good idea.

For very selfish reasons that have nothing to do with solving the amnesia mystery.

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