Page 30 of Queen of Ever

‘It’s more like a masquerade ball,’ Marietta said.

‘That sounds far too simple,’ I said, scepticism in my voice.The fae didn’tdosimple.

‘Well, the masks are enchanted so no one can recognise you.The idea is to take away the illusion of sides and allow the guests to truly mingle without bias.’

‘Well that’s… I mean, what if you wanted to find someone?’The question was out of my mouth before I could stop it, before I’d even known I was going to ask it.Was I really intending on finding Tarian at the feast?To what end?What did I hope was going to happen?Questions circled in my head like buzzards waiting to pick the meat off my bones.Whether it was a good idea to seek him out or not, I needed to see him, to speak to him.I needed some kind of closure.Would he give that to me?

A troubled expression furrowed Marietta’s brow and she chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before she finally answered me.‘Perhaps it’s best this way,’ she said before shaking away whatever thoughts were clouding her mind.‘Come on, we have to get you ready.’She didn’t give me time to say anything more as she hurried for the exit, leaving me to scramble after her or get lost.

A tension hung in the air between Marietta and I as the silence dragged out, neither one of us sure how to break it.Tarian was clearly on both our minds, even if for different reasons.But I didn’t know how to get him out of my head when he was so close, when I had answers that I needed from him, when the bond between us pulled at me so determinedly that it was impossible to ignore.

I’d been dressed in a brilliant gold gown that synched at my waist and pooled out around my feet, ruffles and gold embroidery giving it an undeniable air of elegance.More gold embroidery on sheer fabric climbed up my chest all the way to my neck, my shoulders, making me almost unrecognisable even to myself.The person staring back at me wasn’t a human librarian, she was a fae princess.ASeelieprincess.I couldn’t help feeling that was the intention; as beautiful as the dress was, it felt like someone had branded me with a label I wasn’t sure I wanted.

‘You look so beautiful,’ Marietta said, clasping her hands in front of her face as she admired the dress.

‘I don’t see how a mask is going to hide my identity,’ I said awkwardly.That dress would surely tell everyone exactly who was behind it.

‘It’s magic, silly.You’ll see when you get down there.’

I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.It was bad enough going to a party where I hardly knew anyone, to then have even those few familiar faces stripped away seemed cruel.Maybe I could find a quiet corner somewhere to just sit the whole thing out until I could sneak away.

Luckily, a knock came at the door, saving me from the question that was clearly sitting on Marietta’s tongue.But her face crinkled in confusion.‘Who could that be?’she wondered aloud as she headed for the door, pulling it open slowly.‘Yes?’she asked.

A shock of platinum hair and a familiar handsome face flecked with gold scales appeared in the doorway and my heart leapt at the sight of him, tears stinging at my eyes, threatening to ruin the perfect make-up Marietta had worked so hard on.

‘Ethan!’I said, barrelling towards him and throwing my arms around his neck.He staggered back at the force, but his arms encircled my waist as he chuckled that musical laugh of his.I didn’t even care that he was getting glitter all over me.‘Oh god, I’m so glad to see you.’

‘I should be pissed at you for ditching me.’

‘I’m sorry.I’m so sorry.Solas promised me you’d be safe if I went with him.’

‘That rotten bastard,’ Ethan spat.‘Is that the line he fed you?And you actually believed him?’

‘I thought he couldn’t lie!’

‘You’re too naïve, Immy.You should know by now how the fae like to twist truths.’

He was right.I had been too quick to trust, too scared to question.I’d been an idiot.

‘Please, could we do this inside?’Marietta asked, the anxiety clear in her voice.She was probably right.I wasn’t sure I wanted the whole court up in my business.Again.I released Ethan, instead taking his hand and pulling him into the room.Marietta seemed relieved that I’d complied.‘I’ll let you two catch up,’ she said.

‘You don’t have to leave,’ I said, feeling a strange sense of guilt.

‘No, it’s better if I’m not here.’Which, reading between the lines, meant plausible deniability.But I didn’t argue with her, I was sure she had her reasons.I nodded and she left the room.

‘Who’s your new friend?’Ethan asked, a disapproving note in his voice that I understood well.

‘Marietta?She’s not leaving because she’s prejudiced, if that’s what you’re thinking,’ I said, knowing full well that was exactly what he was thinking.‘Solas is her brother, and I get the feeling she has to toe a very tight line, not that she’ll talk to me about it.’

‘Same old Imogen, collecting wounded animals wherever you go.’

I smacked him on the arm as I scowled at him.‘She’s not a wounded animal.She’s Seelie royalty.’

‘Tom-a-to, tomato,’ he said, waving my words away with a sparkling hand.‘So, you ran away from the prince who made you a servant and ended up with a king who treats you like a princess.Have you been enjoying living it up at the Summer Palace?’

‘Sort of?I guess?I mean, Marietta and I have become close.And I’ve been treated well.Solas is… hard to read.I’m not always sure I understand what he wants with me.’

‘For someone who has always prided herself on having no love life, yours has become very complicated lately.’

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