Page 54 of How To Please A Princely Fae

“Why shouldn’t I?” Violet asks, and there’s a hint of stubbornness under her sweet-natured tone that surprises me.

It shouldn’t surprise me, considering each woman in this room is about as tractable as a decades-old fruitcake. You’remore likely to break your tooth arguing with one than to get anywhere with an entire coven of them.

“Why are you set on it?” I counter, as gently as possible.

Willow nods fervently, still tucked in so tight to me that her head rubs against my chest. Piper throws me a grateful look, and Wren’s shoulders relax slightly.

“Because I have nothing to lose. No one to lose. No business to keep, no magic I know of, and—” Her voice falters and she goes silent, looking to the shadows dancing in the back of the fireplace.

We’re silent, waiting for her to finish.

“You’re drawn to him.” Nerissa’s voice is weary, and when I glance back at her, she’s rubbing her temple. Her hand dips down to a locket on a long chain around her neck, and her fingers smooth across the surface.

Violet doesn’t answer, but the determined set to her eyes says everything she doesn’t voice.

“Right, then. Well. Perhaps we’ll get more answers when the duchess returns to town. With them.” Ruby pauses her pacing, her hands on her hips. “I’ve been researching wild magic,” she continues. “Having ancient elemental powers like the ones these… er, suitors are offering does appear to be the most likely way of controlling the impact.”

“Suitors?” Caelan drawls.

Wren smacks his arm, and he laughs.

Ruby glares at him, power crackling along her skin.

Caelan raises his eyebrows before dropping his gaze to his dog. “Suitors it is.”

I stifle a laugh because this will go down in memory as one of the few times Caelan has been silenced by a mere look, and not one from his blonde mate.

In memory.

I stiffen, letting the conversation ebb and flow around me as it hits me all at once.

I remember Caelan.

I remember our lives in the Underhill, with the Dark Queen… my mother.

My hand falls away from Willow’s gentle curves, and my breath stutters as it all comes rushing back.

I remember it all.

And I remember why Willow thought I hated her.

Because I wanted her to.

Chapter 16

WILLOW

Something’s wrong, and not just due to the fact Violet and maybe even Nerissa are considering marrying the damned elemental Elder Gods or whatever in the seven hells they’re calling themselves.

It’s Kieran.

Tension threads through his shoulders and back, his wings slightly elevated, but for once, not even so much as vibrating.

The coven meeting devolves around us, with Ruby lecturing Violet as Nerissa argues with Piper and Wren. Rosalina chimes in as needed, and Boner the dog stands erect on his hindlegs and lets out a piteous wail.

“What is it?” I ask him in a low voice. My heart races beneath my breast, and I don’t need him to answer as my stomach drops.

Does he remember?

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