Page 34 of Protected By the Fae King

What happens in Goldhaven stays in Goldhaven?I thought optimistically. Again, I shut myself down.

The shower turned off, and I sat upright, rubbing the remnants of sleep from my eyes. Jace opened the bathroom door, a thick terrycloth towel cinched at his hips. I forced myself to ignore the mild dampness between my thighs.

“Ah, good morning,” he announced, droplets of water sliding down his smooth, naked chest. It was all I could do to tear my eyes away from him as I cleared my throat.

“Morning,” I mumbled, pretending to fumble for something that didn’t exist on the nightstand.

“How did you sleep?”

“Good,” I lied. “You?”

“Surprisingly well. Usually, I’m not great outside of my own bed, but all the traveling must have taken its toll on me.”

“Yeah, me too,” I fibbed again, trying desperately not to stare at him as he dug through his suitcase for his clothes.

“The bathroom is free if you want it,” Jace offered, and I almost sprinted to the next room, determined to cool off before we met the king and queen for breakfast.

Jace was fully dressed by the time I had finished my own shower, my blood pressure returning to normal as I, too, dug out a semi-formal outfit to match Jace’s. My dark pants and gray blouse were a compliment to his dark pants and beige button-down dress shirt, open at the collar.

We headed out of the suite to meet the household for breakfast, Jace taking my arm to lead me down the stairs.

In the clear light of day, Ironhelm Place was just as big but not nearly as intimidating, but there were few windows to allow for natural light the way Goldhaven Palace did. Still, with all the lights on, the hallways allowed for me to take in all the details with clear eyes.

Wafts of bacon, eggs, and baked beans met my nostrils, guiding me more surefootedly down the intricate carpet runner and toward a set of open double doors. My steps faltered as I stood at the threshold, but Jace didn’t let me stop and take in the scene before me.

No gawking. You’re supposed to be royalty, remember?

King Cade was already at the head of the table, Queen Zephyrine at his side, the royal pair encompassed by liveried servants. They both rose when they caught sight of us, wide smiles on their faces.

“Oh, you’re up!” the queen called happily, waving us closer.

“Sit down and eat,” Jace encouraged her. “I’m sorry we’re late.”

“You’re not,” King Cade replied, extending his hand toward Jace, his azure eyes trailing over me briefly before returning to Jace. “But I had to get an early start this morning.”

“He has to meet with the Council of Ministers, but we have some last-minute plans to go over before tonight’s festivities,” Queen Zephyrine added.

“Festivities?” Jace echoed, accepting the king’s hand.

“First, let me formally meet your bride-to-be,” Cade said, releasing Jace and turning to me.

He smiled warmly at me.

“Hi,” I offered, unable to think of a better opening line. I chastised myself internally, but Jace didn’t look displeased with my informal greeting.

“Aren’t you a sight to behold?” Cade chuckled, ambling around the table to offer me his proffered palm. “Your photos online don’t do you justice.”

I shot Jace a confused look, and he shrugged. “The wedding announcement went viral,” he explained nonchalantly.

I hadn’t considered that.

Shaking King Cade’s hand, I allowed one of the servants to pull back a chair for me, and all of us sat.

My plate started to fill in front of me, various maids tending to my needs without me asking until my dish was covered in all sorts of delicacies I couldn’t name. I shrugged off the discomfort of being waited on like I was.

Will I ever get used to that? I doubt it.

“What were you saying about festivities?” Jace asked, laying a linen napkin out on his lap. He winked at me, and I blushed at the gesture, a sight not unnoticed by Queen Zephyrine.

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