Page 28 of Fated or Knot

“Of course,” he said in a mild tone. “My race defies usual breeding rules for designations. There are no alphas with powers such as mine, and nixies are rare outside of a couple lucky bloodlines. My many-greats grandfather was selected by the first Queen of Serian for his talent in essence spinning, which I have thankfully inherited to be of use to Lark.”

“I see. Thank you for sharing that,” she said.

Though she was polite on the surface, I could tell she was a little sour about his explanation. I glanced up with a mousy smile, figuring it had to be in response to how he’d tied it back to me.

“Will you tell us of Osme Fen? We’re not familiar with small Seelie settlements,” Kauz offered. I bit my lip. Calling itsmallwas accurate, but that was sure to rankle Cymora further. By the shape of his eyelids, he was glancing my way and cracking a little smile.

While she replied, Fal caught my attention. He gazed into my eyes for a long moment, looking for something, before he blew me a kiss with one of his elaborate hand flourishes. I hid a giggle behind my fingers.

Fal tilted his head, lips tugging downward. “Why don’t I send you and one of my brothers off while we finish up here?” he suggested in an undertone.

Cymora was busy talking about herself and Laurel, so I nodded and murmured, “I’d like that a lot.”

“Lark’s father passed when she was only six years old, leaving me with the estate in Osme Fen and Lark’s care. I’ve anticipated this moment for us,” Cymora was saying. She touched my shoulder as if she had some kind of affection in her heart for me. “To think you are so…eager to have her. What are the next steps, then? You mentioned a protocol, Prince Falindel?”

Fal had a practiced face too, I saw him erase any sign of his emotions as he blinked and turned back to my stepmother. “Shemust be presented to our mother, the queen, for approval. Then we will be permitted to court her before she meets our fathers in a formal dinner. After that, we will take her into our pack bond. Finally, she will be introduced to the Unseelie Court. It’s tradition for her to be named princess at the autumn festival so our people can celebrate her together.”

“I see,” Cymora stated thoughtfully.

The dark elf flashed a hint of mischief my way. “It won’t take too long. Our parents have been eager to see us bachelors properly mated.”

“Do you think they—” I began to say, tentative to speak out while my stepmother was paying attention.

“When do we leave?” Cymora said over me.

Fal raised a brow. “We, Lady Cymora?” he echoed.

She rested a hand over her heart. “As Lark’s only remaining family, I must insist that Laurel and I accompany you all back to Serian. Who else will look after her honor before she earns the royal pack’s approval? And if she doesn’t…we wouldn’t want her to be left all alone and unwanted, now, would we?”

My breathing shallowed out. Stars,unwanteddug into my mind with vicious talons.

Tormund hands clenched and flexed. Something in his small eyes shifted. I caught a glimpse of his pupils turning orange-red, before he shut them tightly and took a few deep breaths. That looked likefire. Well, he must be a fire fae of some kind. Kauz patted his shoulder, murmuring something in Serian.

“We were only intending to take Lark with us,” Fal said.

Cymora gripped my knee again, squeezing. She stared me down, somehow promising every pain in the known world if I tried to exclude her and Laurel. The palpable threats shooting out of her expression were so potent that I feared I’d start bleeding then and there.

“If it’s possible, I would like them to come too,” I said.Don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt me again.I silently pleaded with Cymora with a wide-eyed glance.

Fal took a moment to consider my stepfamily and then me, his catlike pupils narrowing. Marius grunted two words in Serian to him, and the dark elf responded with a noncommittal hum.

“If your things are in order,wecan leave as early as this evening,” Fal answered. “If such a short timeline is okay with Lark.”

“Of course it’s okay,” my stepmother said.

Fal pursed his lips and turned my way, waiting. There were a few murmurs amongst the princes as they voiced their opinions in Serian.

“Yes,” I rushed to say. “This evening will work.” It was infinitely better than returning to Osme Fen, knowing what awaited me there. I would have time to figure out a new strategy to find a better path for myself than Pack Ellisar.

Fal smiled slowly. “Excellent. Well, no time to waste. We must do some shopping for you, and then we’ll be eager to head home with you as our prize.”

“Why do you need to shop for her?” my stepmother asked.

“It is a long trip, Lady Cymora, and Serian is still frozen this time of year.”

“Lark already has things,” she deadpanned.

Fal’s courtly mask slipped and revealed a hint of derision. “You must be?—”

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