Page 7 of Beneath the Cursed Veil

Try to get on my nerves, maybe.

“Don’t you have something better to do?” I grumbled, trying to adjust the collar of my dress shirt. “A box to sit in? Or a mouse to hunt?”

“Hunt? Please, that’s why I have you, Can Opener. Why would I expend the energy when I can sit here and judge you instead?” His black and white tail flicked behind him. “Besides, what’s better than watching you fumble with buttons so you can attract a lady friend?”

“Lady friend? That’s the best you can do?”

“Fine. The imaginary female that you think is real.” I rolled my eyes, used to hisantics. “And people say I’m mad.”

Not for the first time, I questioned myself. What he said was true in a sense, if delivered in the most sarcastic way possible.

I’d been dreaming of a fae woman for years. In the beginning I’d thought she was just that—a dream. But then it continued to happen.

In all my life, I’d never experienced anything like it. Which meant someone was playing with my head—or she was real. Given I’d seen every healer from here to Belfast and they’d all claimed I wasn’t under some sort of enchantment, that led me to believe the latter.

She was real. She had to be.

So why haven’t you found her?a little voice in my head whispered. It was one of the many questions that bothered me. Despite hiring detectives and even a few unsavory sleuths to search the realms, they’d all yielded nothing. Finding this woman was like trying to catch smoke.

Not that they had a lot to go on. I didn’t have a picture of her, let alone a name.

Corvo turned his judgmental gaze toward the door, alerting me to the presence on the other side. “You have company. Think they brought dinner with them?”

“You already had dinner.”

“Not second dinner.”

A single knock rapped the door before the handle turned. There was only one person in the castle that would enter without waiting for a response.

“Your Majesty,” a warm voice greeted, the two who followed behind her lingered in the hallway, heads bowed. Kaia, my personal guard and best friend, entered the room before gesturing to one of the two behind her. A man carrying a pillow with my crown. “Your guests have begun to arrive.”

“Yes, right. Set it on the armchair.” I motioned to the empty chair in the corner of my room. The guard dipped his head, avoiding eye contact as he slipped past me to do just that. Kaia watched him, tilting her head toward the door a moment later. He followed her silent command.

“You’re excused,” she said without looking at them. Her foot nudged the bottom of the door, closing it quietly. Wicked amusement danced in her purple eyes.

“Arguing with the house pet, again?” she teased, winking at Corvo. Her ebony braids were pulled into a high ponytail, highlighting her pointed ears. She was already dressed in the formal blue tunic and pants, leather armor strapped above it. Twin steel blades crossed her back in their holster, while a variety of knives decorated her hips. The ensemble was complete with a gold emblem that adorned her chest, displaying her status as commander of the royal army.

Corvo narrowed his golden eyes at her, flicking his tail in annoyance. “I am not a house pet. I am a god?—”

“Yeah, yeah, we know,” I said, waving my hand at him in a mocking gesture.

Corvo’s tail flicked in displeasure. “I’ll remember that next time you need a favor.”

“Need I remind you that you just referred to me as Can Opener?”

Kaia snorted while Corvo and I held a staring contest.

It ended when the cat rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I’m going to the kitchen. Call me if someone dies. Actually, don’t. I’m taking the night off. You peasants can fend for yourselves.”

With his little tantrum over, Corvo turned and lifted his tail—showing me his asshole. The smug fucker glancedover his shoulder to make sure I got the point, then disappeared in a blink.

Fucking cat.

“Never a dull moment with you two,” Kaia snickered, then frowned as she looked at my dress uniform. “Your riband is crooked.”

“I know,” I said, throwing my hands up. “I’ve been fumbling around with the aiguillette. I can’t get either of them right.”

“You’re hopeless,” she said, shaking her head with a suppressed smile.

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