Page 6

CHAPTER 6

Seraphine

I’d never been inside a tavern. The jaunty fiddle striking chords among the voices, the sound of flagons of ale clopping down onto stained, sticky wooden tables, the shouts of arguments—all of it was overwhelming. I was thankful I could not be seen.

Korven leaned in to ask, “First time?”

I nodded in reply, closing my mouth which had hung agape watching a barmaid with her tongue down the throat of a man whose hands were covered in tattoos.

“Follow me,” Korven said, catching the eye of a barmaid rushing three mugs of ale to another table. He pointed over the crowd to a tall, more intimate booth at the back of the tavern and she nodded, apparently knowing his order already.

He slid into the seat of the old wood and gestured for me to do the same.

I twisted my lips. I hadn’t really walked down the stairs. Nor had I walked across the floor of the Rose and Briar. I had done more of a glide and felt myself pass through plenty of rowdy patrons.

I focused on my movement and attempted to slide into the seat opposite, instead falling straight through the wooden bench, finding myself upside down looking into the cellar of the place. I heard his laughter all the way from the floor below, booming through the jovial banter of the bar’s drunkards. I let myself hang upside down for a moment, my feet somewhere still up above. I gave a great sigh and concentrated.

I rose through the floor, focusing well enough to sit in a position across from the Ravenfae Prince. He watched me appear, tearing off a chunk of crusty bread and dipping it into a meaty stew.

“That was fast,” I remarked.

“The food or you relearning how to sit?”

I gave him a frown.

“Don’t look at me like that, Princess. You’ve only got a few days of this, and you’ll be back to your gorgeous self or we’ll both be dead.”

I wondered if he could see my cheeks flush.

“So,” he drawled, “any ideas on where we should start looking for this beau of yours? Got any lovers? Any admirers? General onlookers?” He took a swig of ale. “I’m sure you’ve got plenty of those.”

“Yes and no,” I replied, watching a group of men gather onto a table and begin to sing off-key. “I’ve had lovers. No one who could break this curse, though.”

“So you’ve never been in love?”

“No,” I lied quickly.

His dark eyes narrowed. A waft of hair fell into his face, so black it had a blue sheen. “I find that difficult to believe.”

“Why?”

“I remember you laughing, Phinie.” He wiped his mouth and sat back, folding his arms while his black wings splayed behind him. “A laugh like that doesn’t go unnoticed for long. There had to be someone who heard it and fell at your feet.”

I slowly shook my head. “No one,” I whispered.

His gaze sharpened again. Through his straight dark brows and down his long nose, he watched my face for any sign of falsehood.

My heart beat swiftly under his unwavering scrutiny.

He finally cleared his throat and pushed his food aside, leaning on the table. “We have a lot of searching to do then, Princess.”

“Who are you talking to?” A red haired, buxom woman slid into my bench. I hurriedly scooted over so she wasn’t sitting unknowingly through my lap.

Korven’s face broke into a roguish grin. “Myria. This night keeps getting better.”

The woman beamed, flicking her long curled locks behind her shoulder, leaving her creamy freckled skin exposed. “My favorite Ravenfae Prince. I figured you’d be long gone by now…considering.”

Korven quirked a brow. “Considering?”

Myria swiped his mug, taking a long gulp that dribbled slightly down her chin and to her breasts. Without missing a beat, she grinned, pulling her fingers along her skin and sucking the ale off each one. “Considering not one hour ago a Ravenfae Prince showed up to ruin the wedding of Prince Urik.”

“News travels fast around here.”

“Just about everything is fast around here, Korven.” She paused for her meaning to settle.

I took a deep breath, debating whether I should launch myself into the floorboards and die again, this time of embarrassment.

As if sensing my discomfort, he glanced at me quickly with a slight shake of his head. “Well, Myria, I find myself staying in the area longer than I had planned. Curse business.”

“How delightful,” she cooed. “Any business I could help you with?”

Her meaning was unmistakable. I cleared my throat, rising to leave them to whatever tension they needed to release.

Korven dusted his hands over the table and rose as well. “Actually, I believe there is. I’m looking for eligible bachelors. And I’m starting my inquiry here in Thornhill. Do you know of any gentlemen’s clubs where I might speak to the owner?”

“Bachelors?” she shrieked, rising as well. “Whatever for?”

He shook his head, wings rustling. “Curse business, remember?”

She pouted in a huff. “I was hoping to help you in a…different manner tonight.” She stepped closer to him, her chest meeting his in an intimacy I knew was formed before this night.

“I appreciate your offer, but I’m here strictly on work business.”

Her pout deepened and she backed away. “Sounds like you could use a little break, Prince.”

I spoke up before I could stop myself. “I can go, Korven. It’s your room and it’s not like I’m going to need to sleep anytime soon anyway. I can meet you down here in the morning.”

His eyes turned to me still standing awkwardly inside the booth, half of my body through the wood. He kept his gaze on mine, answering Myria. “As I said, I’m here for work, and that’s all. If you wish to help, kindly give me the name of Thornhill’s gentleman club.”

Myria scoffed. “You assume I’d know.”

Korven looked her up and down, silently crossing his arms at his chest in wait.

The woman visibly melted and I understood why. Korven, Ravenfae Prince of the Brackish Wood, was—simply put—gorgeous. Easily the tallest man in the room, he stood with a lean grace of muscled arms that pulled his black shirt tight in the movement. He wore black leather pants with a few small daggers hooked at the sides and ankle black boots. The black of his attire, wings, and hair only drew my eyes to the golden undertones of his skin.

“Alright, fine,” she conceded. “But I expect a favor in return someday. I know a place, and I know the owner. He can help you with your…inquiry.”

Korven nodded his agreement.

“The mansion is located a mile from here to the east. The sign out front says The Forest and Friends but no one calls it that.”

“Oh, really?” Korven asked in a chuckle.

“Really. Anyone who’s anyone uses another name. The Burrow.”