Page 10

“If you’re three hundred, how old is Prince Robin?”

“I believe he is two hundred and ninety-nine.”

“So you’re the same age, but he’s a totally different person. And you have nearly nothing in common.”

Peace shrugged. “I do not hate him—quite the opposite. We have been friends all our lives. I sincerely want Robin to be happy with whoever he wants.”

“So your mother is making you work here at the inn while he’s hiding out here. That’s some next-level manipulation, Peace. The fairy queen and The Baba Yaga are two of a kind.”

Peace nodded and lifted both hands. “I do not mind being in Robin’s company. Mother was not cruel enough to make him irresistible to me. As the heir to her throne, I must choose him willingly. It is a royal law that even she has to honor.”

I tapped my finger to my lips as I pondered the situation. There was nothing to be done except to fake Peace working here until her situation either resolved itself or failed miserably.

I stopped tapping to study her. “Do you want me to walk with Robin while you clean out his stall?”

Peace winced and shook her head. “If I were willing to marry him, I still wouldn’t want to shovel his shit. Robin’s mother spoils him. He does nothing but play video games all day. At least I’m out doing actual work for my kingdom.”

“Is Robin the youngest child?” I asked.

Peace nodded. “Yes. His older brother, Earl, is the heir. His sister, Patrice, occupies the role of hospitality hostess, which means she gossips and arranges the court’s entertainment. Robin does nothing and is never asked to do anything. I was supposed to marry Earl, but he found his true love nearly a century before Robin and I were born. Mother is determined to align our kingdoms so Robin and I have little choice. All we can do is avoid our commitment for as long as possible.”

“Maybe Robin is more ambitious than you think he is. As the youngest child in my family, I expected to get my way all the time too, but I was never spared from hard work. Perhaps he’s a software developer who creates the games. If so, he could be quite wealthy.”

Peace made a sound that I couldn’t interpret. “It would be shocking and unnecessary since he receives money from a trust. We both do.”

I crossed my arms. “Are you going to clean the stall or walk the centaur? Choose.”

Peace snorted. “I can see you will be a demanding boss.”

“After I clean the stall, you and I are going to head to the basement and check out the rooms downstairs. While you’re changing the sheets upstairs, I’m going to talk to Jezel. The upstairs rooms are for guests. Staff sleep in the basement.”

“You are not sleeping in the basement.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Because I’m not staff. I’m the innkeeper. Your mother will never believe you work here if you’re sleeping in a guest room.”

“Fine,” Peace said. “I will walk Prince Robyn.” She stomped to the kitchen door. “This is cruel punishment. Mother would never sentence Allegheny to manual labor.”

“Talking a walk with a handsome man is not manual labor. He even brought a saddle with him. If you’re feeling truly lazy, maybe you could ride him instead of walking.”

Peace glared at me. “Is that supposed to be innuendo?”

I grinned at her. “No, but now that you mention it, that is rather funny. We’ll prep the room upstairs for your mother’s spy. The distance between your sleeping quarters and theirs will send the perfect message.”

“This is very demeaning. I am not happy.”

“Well, get happy, Princess. Your new job is to keep the guests satisfied.” I chuckled and waved my fingers to shoo her out of the kitchen. “Don’t let Alfred hop along, if you can help it. He’s a disturbingly cute bunny but very judgy-mcjudgerton. Something tells me Robin’s celibacy is not merely self-inflicted. Lord Alfred strikes me as a consummate clock-blocker.”

“Do you truly think Sir Alfred is forcing him to be chaste?”

“Yes. He was unrepentant about interrupting my third date with Farley. The man needs to get laid so he’ll regret going so long without that basic human comfort.”

Peace winced. “Perhaps I would prefer being in the basement if you decide to indulge with Farley. You seem like someone who would make a lot of noise during sex. I imagine the bear will growl the whole time. It would be intolerable to have to listen to the two of you while I am practicing celibacy.”

I stared at her, blinking over the insults. She just didn’t know when to shut up. “Pot, kettle, black—Princess Squeak-With-Every-Bounce. I thought you were a freaking pixie. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo.”

She threw up her hands and muttered something before stomping out. I was proud of myself for waiting until she left to dissolve into laughter. Letting the arrogant royal pretend to work here was probably the stupidest thing I’d ever agreed to do. On a brighter note, Carol would be appalled to find out I put a fairy princess to work in her inn. No doubt, the witch protectress would think I was extorting the fairy. Even if Carol believed my story about the situation, I knew she’d still hate the political optics because it looked really bad. The Baba Yaga was a protectress, not an extortionist.

In truth, I didn’t mind helping Peace deceive her manipulative mother. Getting Peace’s hands dirty with actual work would be enjoyable as well. I felt no debt was owed to me, but it wasn’t like I was getting paid to work here, either. If people knew Carol was using me as slave labor, then Peace being here would look even worse.