Page 68

Another knock, and I make my decision.

As it turns out, it’s a good one. Felix is standing on the other side of the door, and he dips into a bow when I open it.

“Hello, my lady,” he says graciously. “I trust you’re doing alright?”

“I’m fine,” I assure him. “I just… Eren left so quickly. Is he… is everything alright?”

Even Felix’s easy charm takes a hit at the question. His eyes cloud with worry and that ever-teasing smile of his turns down into a tense frown. “I can’t say for certain. I was in another part of the keep when the earthquake struck. They’re evacuating everyone to be safe.”

Earthquake. So that’s what it was. I’ve never experienced one before, but somehow I don’t think they’re typically so…violent.

Realizing Felix is still standing out on the threshold, I gesture for him to come in.

“I don’t know what this place is,” I tell him, shutting the door behind us. “Eren didn’t explain before he left.”

Some of the tension leaves Felix’s face as he looks around the room. “Eren’s parents built this cabin decades ago,” he explains. “They came here to get away from court life every once in a while. Eren made use of it too, of course, though less for peace and restorative retreat than for carousing.”

I huff a small, unsurprised laugh at that. “Is that so? And were you one of his guests for all that carousing?”

Felix lays a hand on his heart. “Of course not. I am far too civilized and high-minded for such behavior.”

His devilishly handsome smirk undercuts his words.

“Of course you are.”

He winks. “Have you already done some exploring?”

I tell him I have, and the two of us make our way back to the large living space. He looks around the room wistfully, some memory bringing a small smile to his lips.

“Do you know when Eren will be back?” I ask him.

Felix’s smile vanishes and his brow creases again. “I’m sorry, I don’t. When I left, the whole place was in chaos. I imagine he’ll be occupied for quite a while.”

A heavy weight drops into my stomach. At the same time, another thought occurs to me.

“Would it be better for you to be back there?” I ask. “I’m fine here. I mean, I don’t need a babysitter or anything. If it would be better for you to—”

“Majesty,” he cuts in, attempting to stem the flow of words.

“Allie,” I interject before he can continue. “Allie is just fine. There’s no need to be so formal. I’m just—”

“Queen consort of the demon realm.”

The words are gentle, but they land with the weight of a solid punch to the gut.

Queen consort of the demon realm.Funny how quickly I forgot that fact after the easy, blissful morning I shared with my demon king husband. Maybe it’s because Eren makes it all too easy to forget.

“Please don’t demean your position here, majesty,” Felix says softly. “Your importance to this realm and its king cannot be understated.”

A tight lump of emotion lodges itself in my throat.

“And my being here is every bit as important as Eren being there for his court. It’s my duty and my honor to see to your safety.”

“Thank you,” I croak. “I just didn’t… I’m not sure if it was something I… if it was my fault…”

The words trail off into silence and Felix shakes his head emphatically. “Nobody is blaming anyone for what happened, least of all you.”

I nod, but the memory of Vayla’s coldness is stuck in my mind. How many other demons might look at me just as skeptically, take note of my meager magick and come to their own conclusions?