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“My Lord Roar will not be joining me.”

The guards flanking the door to the harem’s wing remained stoney, but the messenger’s doe eyes widened for a moment before he caught himself and inclined his head. “Does my lady wish to return to her chambers?”

“I do.”

We left, and with every step we took, my anger grew. And not just for my situation with Roar.

Brothels, at least, had contracts with their whores, but Roar had told me the king’s concubines had no say in what happened to them or who they bedded. In that, they were like the blood slaves—especially the ones owned by masters who did, in fact, use them sexually.

The unjust issue continued to distract me as I followed the messenger through the palace. It distracted me so much that I didn’t hear footsteps coming our way until Calpurnia Vagle, Adila Ithamai, and another short, curvy faerie rounded the corner. I swallowed, but there was no hiding. We were only a couple dozen of paces apart and the trio spotted me instantly. As usual, Calpurnia scowled as she looked me over.

“Lady Vagle, Ladies Ithamai.” My escort bowed, and I noted his use of plural in reference to the Ithamai House. “Good evening.”

“One that is about to get much better.” Calpurnia sneered at us. “Leave.”

The escort reared back slightly. “Me, my lady?”

“Are you deaf? Of course I mean you.” Calpurnia narrowed her eyes at him.

He stiffened. “But I am to see Lady Neve to her chambers.”

“We’ll help her.” Adila’s voice sounded soft and sweet, but I caught the hard glint in her eyes. “I’d like to get to know Lady Neve.” She nodded to me as if she meant it. “I’m Adila Ithamai.”

I acted like Saga had not already told me this and curtsied. “A pleasure, my lady.”

“And I’m Hadia Ithamai.” The plumper of the sisters nodded. “Now, you really should leave.” She glared at my escort.

He tossed me an apologetic glance and left me to the direwolves. The moment we stood alone; my heart began to race.

“So, Neve, how did you like the tourney today?” Calpurnia placed her hands on her hips. “Probably quite a big to do for someone from your background?”

“It was eventful.”

Calpurnia nodded, as if she weren’t a snake planning to strike. “Particularly when the warden you stole took an arrow for our sweet king.”

I wanted to say that their king was anything but sweet. Instead, I managed a smile. “Roar was quite brave. He—”

“Use his title you undeserving creature,” Hadia hissed. At her side, her fists formed tight balls. “Warden Roar should be with a lady of the Sacred Eight. One who understands decorum. And one with no hideous scars marring her body.”

Fury built inside me. I didn’t love my scars, but I’d earned each one by living through a difficult time. What had Hadia ever done? Sit in a castle and be waited upon?

“I can’t help that you think that, but Roar does not.”

Hadia bristled, but her sister swept in before she could lay into me again.

“He’s infatuated.” Adila snorted, with a loose twirl of her hand. “Once he’s done enjoying you, he’ll discard you. We can only hope it will be before the Courting Festival is over so that the king will not worry about upsetting the entire west and set a proper match.”

Calpurnia’s lips flattened. It stunned me that, according to Princess Saga, all three faeries wanted Roar as a husband, and yet they hated me. Why did they not despise one another?

Oh, that’s right, because I’m the one that doesn’t belong. I’m just the common fae taking their lord.

“Where did you come from, anyway?” Calpurnia asked. “There’s not much this way, except . . .” She trailed off and her eyes widened. “The king’s harem lives in this wing.”

My stomach flipped. “How would you know?”

Calpurnia snorted. “I live at the palace for weeks on end.”

“Why were you there? Whoring for the king too?” Adila took a step closer.