Page 165 of Trick

And why would these ladies bring me such clothing? I didn’t understand—until I did.

My visitors explained. Although the Crown would rather keep me away, that would also disrupt tradition, as every Royal in residence was expected to participate.

In addition, Basil and Fatima had plans for me—something they had every authority to request. I hadn’t seen it coming, yet I wasn’t surprised.

The roughspun outfit. Poet would see me in that.

Or would he see me at all? He’d been released from the tower, protected by Autumn from a Spring reckoning, but Mother had advised me to pace myself, that I shouldn’t see him so soon after. And I assumed Poet had similar thoughts, since I hadn’t heard from him, not even through a missive.

Mother told me that Basil and Fatima had summoned him for a private interview, but Mother had no idea what transpired. While the Royals couldn’t fault her for what I did, and in public she maintained the aura of a contrite, disciplinary queen, her peers nevertheless treated her dubiously.

The trio of ladies had wanted to deliver my attire themselves, apparently to ease the blow of what was to come. Still, I marveled at Cadence’s presence.

“Why are you being nice to me?” I pressed.

The female grunted. “Don’t get your hopes up. None of us have ever endorsed the born, but the boy is Poet’s son, so we’re curious.”

“Shamelessly curious,” Posy emphasized, the blossoms inked over her collarbone peeking from her dressing gown. “We want the scandal.”

“The drama,” Vale corrected.

“The details,” Cadence translated. “For one, I’d like to slap you as hard as you slapped me. You took him from us, but there are plenty of alphas to go around. If he prefers you, then you can’t be the prude Royal we thought you were. For one, the last thing we expected was for you to rollick with us in the labyrinth or break the law. While Posy and Vale warmed to you sooner, clearly I misjudged.”

“A rebellious heiress is thrilling,” Vale championed, her burgundy eyes avid.

“Inspiring,” Posy agreed, then teased, “And arousing.”

“And impressive, especially when she’s ruined,” Cadence finished. “It sounds like quite the spicy enemies-to-lovers story. I can respect a princess who beds the most provocative trickster at court, then has the spine to smack me. It actually makes me tolerate you more.”

Posy and Vale snorted. Cadence smirked at them and waited for my response.

My stomach jumped. “I haven’t … that is, we haven’t …”

Their brows stitched in confusion, then all three sets of eyes widened. “Wait,” Cadence balked. “That’s impossible. The way you two kept looking at each other on the night we were together—the tension was insufferably thick, which meant it could only have been spiteful or sexual.”

“You noticed that?”

“It was obvious. And the way Poet watched you when you weren’t aware; it wasn’t the same way he chooses a mere conquest. I should know since I was once a candidate.

“Plus, how you acted in the throne room, like you would tear down the rafters for each other. Neither of you showed an ounce of regret. For Season’s sake, you spent days in the forest, and they say you’ve been sneaking around these halls. Are you saying he hasn’t fucked you? How the devil could nothing have happened?”

Morose, their foreheads wrinkled in disappointment. I watched my finger sketch the grooves in the duvet. “I didn’t say nothing happened.”

A gasp of satisfaction rushed from Vale. “Ohhh.”

“So you marked each other, after all,” Posy concluded, gratified. “You’re roasting like someone who’s experienced a wealth of cliteral satisfaction.”

“A slow burn,” Cadence interpreted with a wily grin of approval. “Every pleasure but the main one. I grant, that’ll make for a greater climax later.”

“Was Poet good at it?” Vale burst out. “That tongue of his must be good at it. I’m sure, I’d pass out before I had the chance to come.”

“Look at her.” Cadence flung an arm at me. “Of course, he was good at it. Superior, for certain.”

Good didn’t begin to describe all the things he’d done to me.

Heat scorched my flesh, yet my mouth quirked in amusement and a new sort of fondness. What I did with Poet was private, but I couldn’t deny it felt nice to confide in them. “It’s personal,” I shared while tucking a lock of hair behind my ears. “Though, I’d very much like to know what the rest is like.”

“In preparation?” Vale teased, a notion that caused my navel to pool with warmth.

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