Page 101 of Fated or Knot

He continued supporting me so I could stand straight and measured me from the shoulder up where my handmaidens couldn’t reach. They wrote down every measurement, taking great care to note the dimensions and shape of my wings. All the while, we talked about more Unseelie facts. There were a lot of races to learn and things to know about them, and this session didn’t feel very deep.

“We’ll quiz you later,” Tormund said cheerfully. His assistant had returned and whispered something in his ear. “First, we should go to the supply rooms and tag the furniture you want to bring in.”

“Can’t we have servants bring the things to her?” Marius asked with a displeased flick of his ear, switching to Serian for the question.

“And you will want to see the supply rooms for yourself, li’l bird. It is like we have a whole omega store here for the wee blessed ladies,” Tormund added. He lit up before I did, probably knowing that was the kind of place Ihadto visit.

“Where are my crutches? Let’s go now!”

29

LARK

Ihad Tormund walk me to the supply room alone, after convincing Fal and Marius that we’d attract a lot more attention if I had three princes following me. He had the biggest grin as he guided me through the halls. “I tell them we don’t all have to be around at one time, li’l bird. At least you agree.”

Like when I’d been walking with Marius, the other fae that lived or worked here gave us a respectful bubble of distance. Maybe it was a bit bigger; Tormund was still a redcap, despite his gentle giant personality.

“Yeah,” I puffed out. He walked a little too fast, and I was trying to keep up. He’d suggested that the supply rooms weren’t far. This strenuous walk sure felt otherwise. “How else are we going to get to know one another?”

He slanted me an odd look. “No one’s told you?”

“Told me what?”

“Ach. I guess it was a secret,” he said, scratching the back of his head. “Now that Mom approved you, next are the dates. One with every prince, just you and him. We were going to start them after you’re walking again.”

I could practically feel the sparkles in my eyes grow more intense with my excitement. I fluttered my wings, sending off a couple sparkling motes of dust. “Really?” I gasped. “Oh, stars! I can’t wait!”

He watched me, loosing a rumbling purr. “Me neither. But…I will probably be last. As the youngest and all,” he added in a grumble.

“You could tell me what you’re thinking. We could plan it together,” I suggested, still full of bubbles and sunshine at the idea of individual dates with each of my mates.

He shook his head. “I’m supposed to surprise you with something amazing,” he protested.

“Just a hint?” I asked, adding a little begging whine.

The giant squinted, despite wearing his tiny spectacles today. “Why are you so cute?” he countered. “It’s not fair. I want to tell you everything, but I shouldn’t.”

I suppressed a giggle at his pouting. “You could. Tormund, please.” I gave him my best puppy-dog look and watched his resistances crumple as he looked back at me adoringly.

His lips were parting to reply when a two-toned whistle sounded behind us. Tormund slowed to a stop, and I did as well, catching my breath as I turned carefully with my crutches.

“Yoo-hoo,” a dark elf called in a sing-song. He was trailing four different palace workers, who hung back as he approached. “I heard there was a new li’l omega click-clacking around my palace, so I had to see her for myself.”

Tormund grinned. “Hi, Dad!” He swept the other male up in a big hug, lifting his feet off the ground.

I gaped a bit. It was one thing to see full-grown alphas as a child, when they all seemed like ancient trees with their heads way up in the clouds. But Rennyn was short for an alpha, maybe six feet tall, though his crown of black, backswept horns addedthe illusion that he had more height when he wasn’t being held up by a jolly redcap.

“Oof, Tor-Tor! Don’t break my spine,” he laughed. He spoke Theli with the lightest of lilts, practically accentless.

“Sorry, Dad.” Tormund put him down and dusted off any imperceptible wrinkles in his scarlet tunic. It offset his dusky skin tone and red eyes well.

“No apologies necessary. At least yousaidhello, unlike some other sons I know.” He turned to me, flashing a mischievous smile. “So, anyway, more than one fae has come up and whispered, ‘Your Majesty, have you met the omega walking around on crutches? I think she’s…’” he gasped dramatically. “Seelie!”

I giggled, though my wings flattened to my back self-consciously. Stars, the fae in the palace were already talking about me. I figured it wouldn’t be long before someone approached to ask who I was and why I was always with at least one of the princes. It’d be my luck to encounter a jealous ex-lover or one of the nixies Marius had mentioned as almost good enough, a thought that filled me with utter dread.

“That’s me. Not quite Seelie,” I said shyly.

He cut through the awkwardness of one of my worries by saying, “You remember your Papa Rennie, right? BecauseIremember a tiny p’nixie who was determined to help me around here.”

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