Page 213 of Fated or Knot

Siora straightened. Her chair legs clacked on the floor as she leaned over, rubbing my back. “Looks like one donkey kick of a heat cramp,” she murmured.

“It is,” I groaned. The room seemed stuffy all of a sudden. I was certainly sweating. Someone else rested a hand on my shoulder, the familiarity and pressure soothing. I didn’t have to look over my shoulder to know it was Kauz.

“Is it time, sweetheart?” he murmured.

I didn’t answer for a moment, fighting a wobbly lip and a surge of emotion. I’d endured plenty of cramps just like this one—and others that were so much worse and lasted for even longer. But I’d never gotten such an immediate embrace of support because of one. “Not yet.” I leaned back to take in my mate’s concerned face. “There’s going to be a magic show.”

He pressed a kiss to my temple. “Okay. And, aye, so I’ve heard. We’re taking measurements.” He gestured between himand his father as he sat down by my side. Siora moved seats to make room for him.

“Measurements of what?” I whispered.

He dropped his voice too, wiggling his fingers to send up silvery sparkles. “You know, magic.”

Just something for essence spinners, I supposed. I was still eating when Fal said behind me, “Ah, I thought I’d find you here.” He reached past me to pluck a little cucumber sandwich off my plate to pop in his mouth. After he’d chewed it, he propped himself on the back of my chair, resting his chin atop my head.

“It’s the book nerd table,” Eletha said cheerfully.

“You said it, not me,” he chuckled. “Seems I might fit in here better than ever. Lark’s convinced me to read more, for the pleasure of reading to her.”

The librarian nixie perked up, while I covered my face to try and hide my incandescent blush.

“On a completely related note, I need recommendations for the sauciest books in the library tower,” he added in an undertone.

“Fal!” she exclaimed.

“Come now, don’t be like that. I know the type of books you like,” he teased.

“Fine,” she conceded, also blushing, but in a shade of darker purple. “I have plenty of recommendations.”

I happened to glance at Thalas, who’d pressed his lips together like he was trying not to laugh while he made more art in his journal. “Your mother was so concerned about purging the wickedness from Serian’s royal family,” he murmured, shaking his head. “I think she succeeded.”

“I’m plenty wicked, Father,” Fal said.

“Only because you try to mimic…” The dream warden king inclined his head behind us.

Fal straightened and the rest of us turned to see Rennyn coming by, holding something bubbly in a long-stemmed glass. “If it isn’t my son and all my favorite nerds in one place,” he said cheerfully. His gaze alighted on me and his smile faded to concern. “You’re looking a little warm there, Larkie. No one would mind if you disappeared a little early with the lads.”

There was a tap on the back of my chair from Fal.“When a pair of fish take our bait, my father will come by to encourage you to leave early,”he’d said earlier.

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. “Maybe after we see the magic show,” I said.

“Ah! An excellent choice. I hear wily old Duke Revantee himself will be showing off his illusion magic. Better hurry outside to get a good spot.” With that, the dark elf king wiggled his fingers in farewell and faded back into the crowd.

“Tormund’s saving us a few spots on the balcony,” Fal said, offering me a hand up. He read my expression and quirked a brow. I nodded back, still sure of the plan, even with my reservations. I took his proffered arm and walked with the rest of our table, except for Siora, toward the back of the ballroom. Several sets of glass doors were open and letting in a light breeze.

“Do you know what a dream intermediary spell is?”he’d asked earlier. I hadn’t at the time. Most dream warden magic was still a mystery to me.“Eletha is very good at it. It’s where she joins one fae’s dream with another, so they share the same headspace as long as she is there. Father likes to observe her with an intended target before he makes himself known in their dreams. He wants to see how that fae reacts to a sweet and innocent omega before coming face to face with the Clever King.”

“Who was the target for his plan?”I’d asked.

“Laurel. Allegedly, she left her blood behind when she saved his life, and that is a powerful token to grant a dream warden to access her mind. She passed my father’s test with Eletha, and he approached her with a bargain that she accepted. Because of Eletha’s magic, she hasn’t forgotten a word of his instructions. If Cymora and Pack Ellisar take the bait tonight, it’s because Laurel is on our side now.”

Now that I knew what to expect when we left the event…I had to acknowledge that the impossible was reality. Circumstances had twisted so much that we were relying onmy stepsisterto step up on our behalf. And she had!

“I’m not sure Lark’s going to make it to moonrise. Perhaps we should make our exit once we see this,” Kauz murmured to Fal while I came back from my wandering thoughts.

I whined in denial. “I still need to dance with you and Tormund.”

“And so you will.” Fal patted my hand, still resting in the crook of his arm. “Magic, three dances, and then we leave. We should be well ahead of the crowd.”

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