Page 129 of The Prince and the Ice King

“Jack!” Reardon said with a blush, but Jack kissed him—his cheek, the side of his mouth, his lips directly, and willed Reardon’s embarrassment away.

“My prince may do as he pleases, but his king would like him to stay right here.”

A smile from Reardon still lit up the hall like no candlelight ever could.

The others took their seats. There was anextra-extra chair beside Liam.

For his daughter.

The lovely half-elf looked overwhelmed to have been invited to join them, but then, Liam looked overwhelmed as well and happy for it.

Jack realized that who he had expected to be at the table was not.

“What of the Fairy—” he began, but as soon as he looked out at the hall, he saw her.

Moving through their great gathered masses, she floated like her namesake, creating extra tables and chairs with mere waves of her hands, until the room was near bursting with people from all three kingdoms, yet there was room enough for everyone.

Her consort sat amongst the people, not at all put out that there wasn’t room at the head table. There was feasting and drinking as grandly as if it were evening, though it was barely midday.

Reardon wriggled to get out of Jack’s hold when food was served, but Jack clung to him stubbornly.

“Jack!” Reardon protested again with a giggle. “This is very sweet, but I can’t eat here, and I’m starved. I’ll have you know that dying is very hunger-inducing.”

That shouldn’t have been funny, but Jack laughed and let Reardon go. “Fair enough.” It still warmed him and his melted heart whenever Reardon cast him a loving gaze.

As they were settled now, Barclay reached over to pat Reardon’s shoulder—and immediately let out a gasp. Anxiety cloyed at Jack’s chest where his thawed heart was far too tender to take bad news.

“Anything I should know about?” Reardon asked, the twitch of his smile betraying that he was wary too.

“Yes,” Barclay said, smiling without guile. “You are going to be a great king. Your father awaits you back home for coronation.”

Reardon’s face lit up even more brightly, learning truly that his father was well despite Lombard’s scheming. Then his expression dropped. “I’ll have to leave… won’t I?”

“True,” Josie interjected, “but kingdoms join forces through marriage all the time. A few days travel isn’t too far between homes.”

“I think that means we have ourselves an engagement celebration!” the Fairy Queen declared.

She had finished making room for everyone in the hall and approached Jack and his court as though gliding on air.

“Perhaps for more than one wedding.” She cast her conniving gaze down the full length of the head table, until she caught the eye of a madly grinning Nigel. “Bard! Let me teach you something new for the occasion.” After striding closer to where he sat, she leaned over the table and tapped him on the nose, causing his eyes to light up as if he had been given a great gift.

Nigel jumped to his feet and leapt right up onto the table. “Shall we hear of immortal love between two unlikely souls?”

The room hushed abruptly, and then someone cheered, and an echo of encouragement followed from the Sapphire subjects, who knew Nigel’s talents well. Zephyr, beside him, looked equally exasperated and admiring.

Nigel began a steady beat upon the tabletop, and others stomped or pounded their tables in kind to lead him into his verse.

“Our tale begins, alas, with strength, which many seek to gain,

but sometimes power births its spawn before it’s split in twain.

“A creature born of magic wild may seem corrupt et al,

but aren’t we all wild magic born when set upon our call?

“Our hero, almost villain told, fell madly into love.

Not once did this wild creature think of happiness thereof.

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