Page 21 of How To Please A Princely Fae (Wild Oak Woods #3)

WILLOW

Four days.

We’ve been snowed in for four days—and I can’t remember a time in my life I’ve ever been happier. Ever.

We’ve had a lot of sex. I’m pretty sure my room reeks of it, and I’m not ashamed, not one bit.

But more than that, we’ve talked. About everything and nothing, his childhood and mine, our hopes and dreams, the most embarrassing things either of us have ever done, worst choices, worst lovers… we’ve covered it all, until we were hoarse and thirsty.

Though the thirst might also be due to physical exertion.

Who could say?

I could happily stay indoors like this, with him, for another week. Just us, in our little snow-globe cozy cottage.

Chirp, however, is fully sick of being indoors, so on the fifth day, I manage to throw a door open.

“It looks so different,” Kieran marvels, staring out at the white-cloaked world with wide eyes.

“Doesn’t it?” I poke him in the side as Chirp glides away into the woods beyond the greenhouse.

He doesn’t respond, and I turn my gaze slowly towards him.

“You’ve never seen snow,” I finally say, realizing what has him stunned. “Come on,” I announce, shutting the door and grabbing him by the wrist. “Let’s get you dressed. We’re going out to explore.”

He follows without argument, letting me fuss over him as I try to find something, anything, that will keep him as warm as possible.

I like fussing over him.

I don’t think he’s ever had anyone truly care about him. His friends Ga’Rek and Caelan do, in their own ways, but from everything he’s told me, him being royalty and, well, the spawn of the Unseelie queen didn’t necessarily lead to the most healthy of friendships.

I think I’ll make it part of my mission in life to do all the fussing he’s missed out on.

“You sure you won’t be too cold?” he asks, voice muffled by the huge banket I wound around his neck and shoulders in an incredibly oversized approximation of a scarf.

“I am built for the cold,” I tell him, slapping my own ass through my thick wool coat.

“No, you’re built for me,” he says seriously. “Perfect for holding tight, perfect for making love to all night… and most of the day.”

“Stop it,” I squeal as he reaches for my breasts. “We are getting out of the house today. We have snow-day things to do.”

“Like get cold?”

I raise an eyebrow at him as I tug my thickest dragon scale gloves on. “But think of how nicely we can warm up together,” I say.

“In that case—” Kieran scoops me up into his arms, stomping back to the front door and carrying me over the threshold into the snow.

“Oh,” I say excitedly. “I bet Piper is open. Let’s go get hot chocolate and breakfast.”

“What my mate wants, my mate gets,” he tells me, planting a huge, sloppy kiss on my lips, making me laugh even harder.

“You are not going to carry me the whole way.”

“I will.”

“No, you will not.”

“I want to. Besides, you’re warm. It’s for my comfort.”

“Well, in that case,” I say, snuggling into him. “I suppose I will tolerate it.”

“What’s going on here?” he asks a moment later, frowning.

I follow the direction of his gaze.

A crowd of people and creatures stand around on the street, talking in loud voices and pointing.

“Is that…” I start.

“That wasn’t there before,” Kieran confirms. He sets me on my feet and we both scramble through the thick snow, hand in hand, to inspect the building that’s somehow appeared where there was nothing but grass and air.

A heavy iron and glass-paned door anchors the building, and arched windows are covered in brown butcher paper on the inside.

It rises three stories, and I shield my eyes as I gaze up at it.

“Opening soon,” Kieran reads off a red banner in front of the shop.

“How did it get here?” the harpy in front of me asks in a hushed tone, directing the question at no one and everyone all at once.

A cloaked woman turns towards us, lowering her thick velvet hood as she makes eye contact with me. Familiar near-black hair spills down her shoulder, and she purses her lips.

I nod, already knowing what she’s going to say.

“They’re here. It’s only a matter of time until we’re forced to hold up our end of a bargain we never agreed to.”

Kieran squeezes my hand, and Nerissa pulls her hood back over her head, walking to the ominous front door.

I gasp as the door opens before she even touches the handle, and when she walks through it, I try to wade through the snow faster, but it’s too thick.

It’s too thick, and the door is closing.

I slam my hand against it, calling her name.

It’s locked up tight. Even my best unlocking charm fails, though I didn’t expect it to work.

Nerissa is gone.

A wolf howls mournfully in the near distance, sending a fresh chill down my spine.

“What just happened?” Kieran asks, looking as stunned as I feel.

“Nerissa’s decided to take her fate into her own hands.”

He tilts his head, giving me a questioning look, but I shake mine because I don’t have answers, not for either of us.

I blow out a cloudy breath.

“To The Pixie’s Perch,” I tell him. “I have a feeling more happened over the past few days than, ah—” I feel heat spread across my cheeks, and a shy smile tugs at my lips, in spite of everything. “Than what we did,” I finally finish.

“You’re not worried?” he asks, narrowing his eyes at me. We both ignore the hubbub around us.

I cast a long look back at the new building. “I am.”

“But?”

“She made a choice, of her own free will. Whatever she’s walked into, she did so on her own terms.” I chew my lip. “Piper and the rest of the witches will know more.”

“And they have hot chocolate,” he agrees.

“That is also important. Not as important as Nerissa getting locked in there with…” I wave a hand, still confused about whatever the hell the Elder Gods actually are. “But we can’t control her, no more than whoever magicked that place into town can. I’m sure he’ll find that out very, very, soon.”

The words leave my mouth, and I can feel the truth of them.

Nerissa is more than capable of managing whatever is on the other side of that door.

I’m as sure of it as I am of the fae prince walking by my side.

If I’m wrong, though? I have nothing but faith in my coven—and a newfound faith in my own place in it.

Get ready for the next set of books in this world! The duchess, Nerissa, and one other witch will have their tales told in WILDER OAK WOODS, coming soon.