Page 10 of A Bride for the Winter King
I grab Seth’s elbow and drag him out of the banquet hall and into the tunnels underneath the castle. I’m going to sleep one last night in my own bed and offer Seth the floor.I might lend him a pillow if he’s nice.
I risk a glance at him. “Tell me the truth. What kind of sick fuck marries and kills his bride every year?”
With his slick blond hair and his white, ghostly cape, the Winter King possessed a striking villainous quality. I chew on my bottom lip, haunted by the memory of the strange shimmer gliding over his mask when he looked straight through me.
Seth’s jaw ticks. “The worst kind, but he has to marry. The laws of Winter are all too clear on that. A queen has to participate in the solstice’s sacred rites, or all of Faerie’s magic would be in jeopardy. The Winter King’s marriage is a matter of national security, so to speak.”
“But he does kill his wives, right?”
“No one really knows, but yes.Accidentskeep happening every year during the pageant…andafter. You can’t expect the reaper king not to be in on it.”
My eyes narrow. “Let me guess: no one gives a damn when a mortal dies, as long as it’s for the greater good of the realm? They used to enlist Fae princesses in the pageant, but after the murders began, they switched to mortals and called it a day?”
“That’s about the gist of it,” Seth admits.
My fists curl at my sides.
“You realize most of this process won’t be about violence, right? It’s a pageant, first. There’ll be other girls there. Girls you’ll have to fool as well as the king.”
“I can fit in with them, no problem.”
He nudges my side. “Are you sure? You wore a hoodie at your best friend’s wedding.”
I skim the hem of the vintage Chicago Bulls hoodie at my mid-thigh. “I was cold,” I lie.
This hoodie is the last earthly piece of my father I still possess, and I really needed it tonight.
“If we want to pass you off as a Spring seed, your sense of style has to change.” Seth scratches a line from his chin to his bottom lip with his index finger, appraising me like he’s some fashion expert that finds me lacking. “The Shadow Court feels medieval compared to the first kingdoms. Winter and Spring follow the new mortal trends, and Spring fashion is all about bright colors, lace, and flowers.”
Ugh. Lace and flowers? Kill me now.
We reach my bedroom door, and I hold it open for Seth.
The fire casts a soft orange glow over the queen-sized bed and dresser, and I immediately regret my decision to take him along. My little corner of the world looks so small and mundane… A pile of unread books clutters my bedside table. Thedrawers and panes of my jewelry box hang open, revealing an array of colorful earrings and necklaces.
I feel my resolve grow. A Fae prince doesn’t belong in my bed—not even for one night.
Seth raises one perfectly plucked eyebrow, taking in his surroundings. “I didn’t expect you to invite me in.”
“Simmer down, Casanova. I want to keep an eye on you.” I march over to the bed and hold out one pillow and a spare blanket. “You get the floor tonight, and I’ll know if you leave this room, so you better not try to snoop around the castle.”
He licks his lips, his jaw slightly askew. “You’re serious?”
“Try me.” I climb into bed fully clothed and cover myself with the duvet, turning away from my visitor. My nails sink deep into the pillow.Am I being unreasonable?I could die on this mission… Maybe I should treat myself with one more night of great sex?
Seth remains rooted in place for a good minute before he walks over to the side of the bed and crouches to meet my gaze. “Alright. Let’s be friends.”
“Let’s keep things…professional,” I offer, unsure I could ever become friends with someone who loves himself as much as Seth does.
“How about…professional friends?”
I crack a smile. “That sounds disingenuousandsexual.”
An adorably sheepish smile curls his mouth. “Friends that share a large bed?”
I twist away from him, screwing my eyes shut, and enunciate a loud, “Nope.”
“Why not?” Seth asks.
