Page 12 of The Grip of Death
I bowed my head, unsure of how to respond. Someone muttered a form of apology, but Oberon clapped his hands and smiled.
“But this is not a time for grieving. I hope you’ll forgive the humble spread our kitchens have set out for you. I wanted this to be a casual affair. Of course, I haven’t only called upon you so we may dine and drink in the palace gardens. I did have an ulterior motive. There is the small matter of your reward.”
The hairs at the back of my neck tingled. My eyes met with Xander’s, but only for the briefest moment. What we’d done in the Verdance, we’d only done for the safety of all reality.
“A reward really isn’t necessary, Your Majesty,” Reza said, speaking for us all.
“Preposterous. Consider it a show of gratitude from my kingdom. And anyway, why isn’t anyone eating already?”
Oberon strode over to one of the banquet tables, picking up plates and handing them out. I stood the farthest, so he chucked it at me like a frisbee instead. I caught it in one hand, my stomach in knots, because some part of me was so sure I’d get flogged for letting one of the royal frisbee snack plates crash through one of the royal windows.
It was so pretty, too, wooden and engraved with depictions of fruit and flowers, of birds and beasts. Sparrowheart shrugged and started filling her own plate with perfect cuts of fruit, cheese, and bread. Xander and I followed her lead. Niko poked at a tray of sliced vegetables, nibbling on his lower lip. He glanced at Reza, then back at Oberon.
“Your Majesty? I’ve always been curious about seeing the rest of your kingdom. Now that the crystals have been cleared away, would it be possible to — I don’t know. Go on a tour of the place? See the sights?”
Reza pursed his lips and nodded in agreement. “Sounds lovely, actually. Great idea. I mean, if Your Majesty would allow it. If it isn’t too much of an imposition on the palace staff.”
Oberon plucked a grape from the table, smacked his lips, and huffed. “I can take you all myself, any time you wish. It would be good to be seen among my people. It is a perplexing enough time as it is for my kingdom and I am eager to see how my people are faring. No. Think of something more imposing.”
We four humans exchanged looks. We had no reason to suspect that Oberon had anything malicious for us in mind, but just how far were we supposed to go? Just how imposing a reward were we allowed to ask for?
The king poured out cups of wine, pushing one into Reza’s hands. He was serving us himself, too, not something I’d overlooked. “Why, even Sparrowheart over here can hardlypresent me with a worthy request. You humans have your ingenuity! Surely you can come up with something.”
Sparrowheart stopped chewing and spread her hands. “But I am content, Your Majesty. You’ve given me parcels of land, the most lavish apartments in the palace, a seat on your council. What more could I ask for?”
Oberon tipped back his cup of wine, then wagged a finger at her. “I’ll get you yet, Summer Knight. Take your time, gentlemen. There is no rush. You may think over what it is you desire and make your request at a later date. But do make it something bold. Something daring.”
My heart thumped as something bold and daring and stupid formed in my head. My eyes swept across the emerald green of the palace gardens. All these trees and fruits and flowers, the beauty of the veranda and its surrounding trellises, all carved from wood as old as the Palace of Briars itself.
The words fell from my lips before I could think to stop myself.
“Your Majesty, how many people do you think would fit out here? Between the gardens and the patio, I mean. Enough for a very large party, I’d imagine?”
The king quirked a single eyebrow, but said nothing. Dead, shocked silence from the others. I took it as an invitation to keep talking. Xander tugged on my arm, but I pressed on. My heart could have shot right out of my chest.
“You see, Xander and I, we’re getting married soon, and since you’re offering a reward anyway — do you think we could tie the knot here? At the Palace of Briars? I promise, we won’t make too much of a mess.”
Xander gasped. My hand flew to my mouth. All the daring had suddenly left my body all at once. I couldn’t believe what I’d just said.
The King of the Summer Court grinned as he raised a fresh cup of wine. “These gardens have not seen much merriment in too long a time. Not enough joy in these halls. Very well. A wedding it is, then.”
Xander fainted.
7
“It’s a faerie tale come true,”Xander shouted from the bathroom, his voice echoing melodiously. “We’re getting married in a fae king’s castle!”
He practically came bounding into our bedroom wearing an enviably comfy tank top and pajama pant combo. I was still in my outside clothes because he’d beaten me to the bathroom, and — oh, who was I kidding? I liked to pretend I let him go first out of the goodness of my own heart, but really I was just too lazy to get dressed down for the evening.
See? We weren’t even married yet and we’d already synced our routines. We were meant to be.
“This is beyond my wildest dreams, Jack. The cake is gorgeous. Our clothes look amazing. And the venue — gods above and below. Can you even believe it?”
I took a long sip from a freshly cracked bottle of beer, then set it down on the nightstand on my side of the bed. Fucking delicious, and possibly the first thing to truly help calm my nerves.
“You know, I still can’t believe I had the balls to ask him. I’ve been shaking the whole way home.”
He surprised me with a kiss, sneaking his tongue against mine even as I voiced a tiny yelp. When he pulled away, a dreamy grin lingered on his lips. Possibly on mine, too.
