Page 26 of Silent Secrets

“So, you knew this already? Which means that your mom knew and didn’t bother to tell me.”

Adaline’s eyes widen as she mouths “oh” before setting down her cup. “I’m sure that it just slipped her mind.”

“Slipped her mind? That I have to marry four people?” I laugh. “I guess I should just be glad that it says I can take husbands or wives for my consorts. At least the Fae are progressive about that. Why do I need to marry to be queen?”

“It is so that you don’t have to carry everything on your own. With four consorts, you have people who can help you carry the weight of the crown.”

What she’s saying makes sense, but also… I have to get married. I’ve never even thought about getting married to one person, let alone four. Hell, I’ve never even dated anyone before. It’s all been one-night stands for me.

“Do you know how it works? Do the courts pick a person for me to marry and I have no say in the matter? Is that why no one told me?”

“Of course not.” Adaline laughs. “You’re able to choose your own consorts. I know it seems odd to you, but in the past, the Fae Queens knew what was expected. I imagine that she’d already have found her consorts before she even got her powers.”

“But lucky me, I have less than two weeks until I get my powers, and Grace won’t even tell me when the coronation will be. I don’t even know how long I have to find my consorts. Why wouldn’t she tell me?”

Adaline bites her lip and I can tell that she has something she wants to say, but she’s probably afraid of my response. I sigh and gesture for her to speak.

“Don’t hold your tongue out of fear. We’re friends, aren’t we?” She hesitates for a moment before nodding. “Good, I like to think so, too. Friends don’t hold their tongues. They’re real with one another. I want to know what you have to say—even if I don’t like it.”

“She was probably afraid you’d react like this.”

I bite back my initial response, knowing that she’s probably right. I’m definitely freaking out, but I also feel like my response is valid. How else does one react when they find out that they have to get married and that no one bothered to tell you?

“Okay.” I nod. “But how am I supposed to meet a Fae from every court when Grace won’t let me interact with anyone but you, her, and the guys…”

The guys. There’s one of them from each court. Maybe this is why Grace didn’t tell me? She thought to have me marry the four of them? But then why would she tell me not to trust them? It makes little sense.

“What, Hadley?”

“I realized I do know one person from each of the courts—Caiden, Kai, Marcos, and Hunter.”

Adaline says nothing for a moment, but I notice she tenses up. “Do you think that you’ll want to take them as your consorts?”

“Definitely not Hunter.” I shake my head. “I can’t stand him and he can’t stand me, but I don’t know how else I will meet someone from the Winter court.”

Adaline hums, not saying anything as her shoulders relax. I chew on my thumbnail as I consider her, wondering what that was about. I want to tell her about what happened in the library, but I don’t know if I should. But we’re friends and if I can’t tell her, then there’s no one I can tell.

“The other three, though? Maybe.”

Adaline grins. “I feel like there’s a story there.”

“The book I’m reading? I grabbed it from the library and…” I hesitate. “Before I tell you, I need you to swear that you won’t speak a word of this to anyone else.”

“Of course, Hadley. Your secrets are my secrets. I would never think of telling anyone.”

I nod slowly. “I was on my way back to my room when I heard a noise, but I couldn’t tell what it was. Because I’m nosey as hell, I started wandering the library, trying to figure out what it was. I found Caiden and Kai making out.”

Adaline gasps, eyes wide. I hold up my hand when she opens her mouth to speak.

“I don’t know what you’re about to say, but I know that they’re not supposed to intermingle between courts. I don’t care. And I really hope that you don’t have a problem with the fact that it’s two men.”

“Of course not, Hadley!” Adaline shakes her head, frowning. “I was just going to ask if it was as hot as it sounds.”

On the one hand, I feel bad for jumping to conclusions. On the other hand, I’m used to that being the response, so who can blame me? I won’t apologize for standing up for those that are generally mistreated, but I do shoot her a small smile to let her know I understand.

“It really was, which is why I was frozen where I stood—even knowing that I should walk away and leave them to their private moment. Before I could back away, though, Marcos was there, calling me out. You’d think that would be the end to it, but it wasn’t. I think Caiden might be an exhibitionist.

“I let Marcos touch me while Kai watched—avidly, I might add—and Caiden took care of him. It was so hot and I think something more might have happened if Hunter hadn’t walked up, giving them shit about me.”

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