Page 32 of Wickedly Ever After
“This is utterly inane,” Hector snarled. “You should have gone to the boy’s room and given him the potion.”
She sneered at him. “Oh, that’s the way we do it, is it? We ram potions down people’s throats like medicine?”
“You know perfectly well that’s not what I meant—”
“Now, I know it’s not tradition,” Rupert said, smiling indulgently at Annabeth, “but we just couldn’t have a special event like this without inviting all of Archie’s friends and our loyal subjects to share this happy occasion with us.” He raised a glass to the screen. “Please join our royal family in a toast to the happy prince and his future bride!”
Caedan, frowning almost as much as Hector, came forward, bearing a golden goblet filled with a wine that shivered red and gold, reflecting in the mirror finish. “My prince,” he said, dropping to one knee.
Hector glanced at Ida. “If this was your idea of forcing me to attend one of these, I don’t approve.”
“Hector, believe me, the only event I ever want to attend with you is your funeral.”
More cheers. The prince had just raised his glass to the crowd.
Hector rose. “You stay and see this through—I’m done with it.”
“Go on, palm the whole thing off on me! That’s what you always do, isn’t it?”
Ramrod straight, he stalked away. He wouldn’t be baited into arguing further. This wasn’t the venue, but tomorrow at the Council meeting, he’d have plenty to say. He was all for progress, but when royals turned the single most important piece of magic that kept their world afloat into a spectacle, like some political propaganda, lines had to be drawn.
He grabbed the marble out of his pocket. “Tinbit, I’m headed back to the hotel. Could you order me a bottle of wine? On second thought, something stronger.”
The gnome’s face appeared, very flushed. “Oh, uh, Hector, I—” Tinbit gasped.
“Tinbit? Are you sick?”
“No, I just…didn’t expect.…oh, wow—”
“Tinbit? Are you all right?”
“Perfect—just kind of busy…”
Hector’s face burned. “Oh. No need to explain. How…uh, long do you think you’ll be?”
“I don’t know—oh, wow, Hari, oh—please—don’t stop.”
Wait a minute. Hari?“Tinbit?” he yelled at the marble, now showing him a room rolling away.
“Tinbit!” No answer. Hector brought the marble up to his eye, staring furiously at two small figures more or less attached from the hips down.
A raucous cheer from the crowd let him know Rupert was talking again. Probably announced something like ale for the whole crowd. Rage filled him. It could not be coincidence, Ida North mentioning “Hari” just before he heard Tinbit moaning that name in complete ecstasy. She’d done it on purpose. She’d put her gnome in touch with his to get back at him for that candor curse. How dare she! He hadn’t loved Tinbit all his life to see him break his heart over Ida North’s manservant. He charged back up the stairs.
Ida North ran smack into him, headbutted him in the chest, and sent him tumbling sideways.
“Watch where you’re going!”
“You watch where you’re going,” Ida retaliated, face flushed.
“Trouble?” Hector asked, ice dripping from his voice.
“No,” Ida said with equal frost. “I have a headache and wish to return to my hotel room.”
“Is that so? No plans for your manservant Hari to fix you a hot toddy?”
She glared at him. “No. Get out of my way.”
He moved back into her path. “Did you know your gnome and my gnome would be together tonight? Did you send your gnome to seduce mine?”
