Page 73 of Tempting the Fae Lord
“Well, then I still miss you. Sorry I haven’t been around much.”
She tries to shrug this off, but her pout gives her away. “There’s no one left to beat at Essin.”
“I’ll play you first chance I get.”
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart.” I make the motion with my fingers over my chest, and she does the same. “Do me a favor, will you?”
She screws her mouth. “What kind of favor?”
“Help Eulayla with the cleanup, and I’ll owe you one.”
“You’ll owe me ten.”
“Five.”
“Three.”
“Two.”
“Deal.” She spits in her hand and thrusts it out.
I recoil. “Erm, no thank you.”
“It’s how you seal a deal. Jack says.”
“Well, Jack’s gross. What deals have you been making with Jack anyway?”
“Maybe I’ll tell you when you’re older.” She sticks her tongue out and leaves before making me shake her spitty hand.
Ugh. Little sisters.
I really have missed her, though.
When the sundips below the horizon, Ezra joins the gathering in the Great Hall.
As he enters, a hush falls over the crowd. He waves his right hand in a flourish, and dozens of fae lights blink into existence, illuminating the room brighter than the wall sconces ever could.
His gaze lands on me and fixates as he approaches. His smile is for me alone. In front of everyone, he drops a slow kiss to my cheek and whispers, “How are you?”
I assure him I’m fine, though my insides are dancing with a mixture of glee and self-consciousness at the gesture. Everyone is staring.
Including Eulayla.
What will she say when she learns we’ve become lovers? Was that kiss enough that she already knows? She’s protective of me. She’s protective of both of us. Will we have her blessing?
Ezra sits on the throne atop the blue velvet cushion we only drag out for formalities such as these. He clears his throat and addresses the group.
“Welcome all to my ancestral lands and the northernmost fortress of the realm. Welcome especially those who’ve made the long journey from Lemossin to be here. We’ve much to discuss. My apologies for the delay, but alas”—he spread his hands—“such things cannot be helped.”
They all know he’s a vampire. The entire realm is full of stories of him. It’s part of the reason he’s feared, though I’d argue he’s only misunderstood. Vampires are creatures of the human realm. Other. Foreign. And yet these fae must claim him as one of their own. As such, they’ve never liked him much.
The villagers present, however, seemed to have softened toward him in the wake of the fire. I’m not sure I trust it. Time will tell.
The head of the queen’s contingent, a fae by the name of Willow, approaches the dais. Her lime green wings and berry pink hair look out of place in our world of gray and blues.
She offers a proper curtsy. “Many thanks for the welcome, Lord Gatekeeper. Your hospitality is unmatched and a balm to the weary traveler.”
