Page 39 of Nightmare's Dance

Robby bowed, low and courtly, with an edge of mocking that only one trained at the high courts could manage. “Your highness.”

“Jester,” I guessed.

He smiled and bowed again, not as deeply, acknowledging my assumption as correct.

Ember frowned, tilted her head, then her expression darkened. “Is no one in my life normal!” she shouted angrily and stomped her foot.

“No,” Ash replied deadpan.

Ember spun around and stared at her cousin.

Ash made no effort to hide the amused smirk on her face.

“Define normal, honey,” her mom prompted.

Ember floundered for a moment before gritting her teeth. “Right, I walked into that, but you know what I mean. Here, for clarity, I’ll rephrase. Are any of the men in my life human?”

“No,” Robby answered, mimicking Ash’s deadpan tone.

“I am,” her dad said.

“Ugh.” Ember threw up her arms and stalked out of the room.

“Spark,” Robby called after her. “Where is Knight?”

“Fucking Baz fucking has him.” Ember slammed a door.

“Well, I suppose that’s better than the alternative.” Robby shrugged.

“What!” Ash glared at the jester. “What alternative could be worse?”

“I was half convinced Prince Nic here had killed him already.”

“No. I have not yet met Ember’s knight.” I straightened from the doorframe and came farther into the room, avoiding the shaft of sunlight from the large window.

“Why would Nic kill Geraint?” Ember’s dad asked.

“Why indeed,” Robby said, tapping his lips with his finger. “I could name several years of reasons.” He grinned when my expression darkened. “Ahh, I see not all is forgiven. I had hoped to see that confrontation. Perhaps I’ll still have the chance.”

I took a calming breath. “Jester, why are you here?”

“Mm, I was on earth looking into things for the court when all the arches vanished and the mirror dwellers disappeared. I’ve pieced together some of what happened from the few dreams and nightmares that have slipped through the cracks since then, but many details elude me. Shocking, I know.”

I snorted. “I’ll fill in the details later. I take it you attached yourself to Ember so you could get home?”

“I hoped that eventually she’d facilitate that desire.”

I nodded. “Well, if you don’t mind going to Nightmare, you might have your chance soon.”

“Excellent, though I need to return Spark’s plant to her first. She’s fond of it.”

“You might try apologizing,” Ash pointed out.

Robby nodded, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Perhaps. I’ll take the plant with me when I track her down.”

The jester left, and Ash and Ember’s parents all turned their attention to me.

“Yes?” I folded my hands into the shadows that shrouded me like a cloak and tried not to squirm. I was a prince and princes didn’t fidget.

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