Page 40 of Rejected By the Shifter King
A trickle of guests had already left when midnight came and word reached Lysander about a Faerie requesting entry even though her name wasn't on the guest list. It was all rather suspicious, and everyone was instantly on guard.
"Did she give her name?" Lysander asked.
"No, Your Highness. But she says both you and the princess know her."
Lysander's face hardened. If this was a trap, it was downright amateurish but also outrageously bold. After relaying instructions to the twins, he strode towards where his wife was.
One moment, Estrella was chatting gaily with a couple of childhood friends. The next moment, one strong arm had curled around her waist, and she let out a startled yelp as Lysander swirled her away from the other guys and straight into the dance floor.
"Lysander!" But her voice was more breathless than chiding for this was the very first time they were dancing—-
I'm sorry, my Star.Lysander gave her another twirl.I didn't realize this was our first dance.
It's fine,she hurriedly assured him, not wanting Lysander to feel bad.
It's not. Especially since I am dancing with you for a particular reason.
Estrella's smile faded.
There's a Faerie outside your family's compound. She's unwilling to give her name, but she says she knows both of us—-
Lysander was puzzled when Estrella started smiling and shaking her head at the same time.Oh, Lys. Don't you know? It's her!
Her?
Fina! I've always been in communication with her, although the twins don't know about it. You know how she is.
Lysander couldn't believe what he was hearing. Fina...was the woman he had asked the twins to give his ring to. Fina...was here?
****
HAVING BEEN SIMILARLYapprised by his men about the uninvited guest at his doorstep, Domenico had Misty and his other sisters look after the remaining guests while he and his brothers quietly slipped away to keep an eye on Estrella and lend a hand if needed be.
They kept their distance as a show of courtesy, but not once did their gazes stray as the still-unidentified woman was allowed entry.
Domenico arched a brow when Estrella was the first one to welcome the stranger, her face glowing with pleasure as she threw her arms around the hooded figure.
The men with her, however, was not as effusive in their greeting. The Fournier brothers appeared guarded but not hostile while the Fae prince's tight-lipped smile only softened when the stranger turned to address him directly.
Estrella motioned for her older brothers to come forward a few moments later, and they strode forward, their thoughts masked behind courteous smiles. Alejandro and Alessandro, being twins themselves, had always gotten along with the Fournier brothers, and their smiles were cordial enough as they bowed to the Fae prince in greeting. Lysander's response was similarly amicable, and his attitude only distinctly cooled when he had to acknowledge Estrella's oldest brother.
Domenico, however, was far from bothered. From what his own spies told him, the Fae prince had long stopped carrying a torch for Misty. It had been his only issue with Lysander, and as long as Estrella stayed happy married to him, then he hadn't any cause for complaint.
Besides, Domenico's greater concern at the moment was learning what he could of their unexpected visitor. This close, the three Lyccan princes were finally able to see the woman underneath the hood, and Domenico's own face became expressionless. Something about her rubbed him the wrong way, but damn if he could figure out why that was.
"Your Highness." The woman's voice was so unremarkably neutral its sound could easily dissolve under the guise of anonymity, and her features - what little they could see - were just as bland. Average height, average build. Hair that was dark but not too dark. Contact lenses to conceal the real shade of her eyes. Skin that was not quite fair, not quite tan.
And yet...
Alejandro was the first one to recognize her.Josefina.Back when he was involved in underground fights, he had come across her several times, always lurking in the dark but never staying long enough to cause him any concern.
Domenico had finally recognized the woman as well, and what he knew of Josefina made him temporarily withhold judgment of the situation. Josefina was about his age, and her reputation as a spymaster was well-known in their world. None of this, however, explained why Estrella seemed to know her well.
"Fina has been working undercover for years," Aluin was saying.
"Does your return mean you've succeeded in your mission?" Alessandro asked with a grin.
"A spy never tells," was the demure answer, and everyone laughed.
