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“No,” Peace said, sighing heavily. “I know it because I seduced him when we were young. I wanted to get it over with. He was my first... and I was his. I did it to irk my mother... and his. He was a wonderful lover.”

I stared at her. “I’m weirdly happy for both of you. I would rebel, too, if my family ever tried to marry me off. They never liked Ethan, and I never told them about my almost-engagement to him. But I wasn’t ashamed of the sex we had. I was only ashamed because I was with him only because I was lonely. Everyone makes mistakes, Peace. Ethan was my worst one. Maybe he was yours as well.”

“He was,” she admitted, nodding her head. “Prince Robin, though, was not a mistake. However, when we were first together, I did not share his elation at how compatible we were. When I refused to make us official back then, he threw himself into his work. Our paths seldom crossed over the last century. I never asked him to be celibate, Selene. Why would he allow that to be his fate?”

I smiled at her question. “I asked Farley that same question, and he said he didn’t want to start something with someone who would never be me. I believe he felt it was too much trouble. You would have to ask Robin to be certain of his reasons.”

The fourth bedroom was another dark, cramped space. There were no windows, just solid walls.

“Room three is the only possibility,” I said.

Peace drew in a sharp breath. The innkeeper’s outfit appeared on my body before the doorbell even rang. I glared up at the ceiling. “Goddess damn it, Jezel. Now, I have to walk upstairs in these stupid skirts.”

“Would you like me to answer the door for you?”

I held up a finger as I closed my eyes. I allowed myself to remotely view the person asking to be let in. It was a sturdy woman who wore a deep frown. “What will your mother’s spy look like?”

“I have no idea. My mother is the queen. She is the sneakiest fairy in the whole world. Her spy might not even announce her purpose in being here.”

I huffed. “So your mother’s spy could be the one ringing the doorbell.”

“Yes,” Peace said contritely.

I shook my head. “Stay down here and choose the room you want. When I return, we will get the inn to move some furniture in for you.”

Peace sighed. “Fine—if I must sleep down here.”

“You must,” I said, lifting my clothes out of the way to retrieve the wand from my panties.

Jezel always left my underwear on when she put me in this dress, but she took my pants every time. The wand had been in the back pocket of my pants, and now it rested against my bare backside.

If Jezel was trying to kiss my ass after our fight, she was positioned perfectly.

Wand in hand, I hurriedly climbed the stairs. Well, no, I actually didn’t get to hurry, because I was trying the whole time not to trip on all the layers of fabric covering my feet.

By the time I finally reached the entryway, I was breathing hard. These clothes weighed a ton, and walking around in them was like wearing ankle weights during a workout.

I pulled open the door.

“Greetings, Innkeeper. The fairy queen has sent me to check on her daughter, Princess Peace and Harmony. Do you have a room for me?”

“Greetings. My name is Selene. What is yours?”

Her gaze shifted away from mine at the question. I suddenly knew with certainty that whatever she said was going to be a lie. I automatically didn’t like her because of it.

“My name is Gertruda.”

“Okay, well, welcome, Gertruda. My accommodations are modest due to recent renovations. I do have a room available if you can overlook the daily work being done.”

“I understand you provided sanctuary to the princess during her business travels. I would be most happy with the room you offered her.”

I smiled. “That room is not available. I have another you can use. You will be the first guest to use it since it’s been redone.”

It was difficult not to smirk when Gertruda the Barracuda’s eyes lit up with pleasure. I mentally asked Jezel to put the worst mattress in storage on her bed. It was petty of me, but I didn’t care. She was here to spy on Peace. I would prioritize Peace’s well-being over this woman’s sleeping comfort any day.

I opened the screen door we’d been speaking through and held it open. “You will need to wait in the parlor while I make final adjustments to your room, Gertie.”

“It’s Gertruda.”