Page 11 of The Prince and His Stolen Throne

She narrowed her eyes. “They should know whoyoutruly are too.”

My breath caught in my throat.What does she know?Howdoes she know? And what is she going to do about it?

“I’m telling everyone how mean you are,” she continued, “and that you always steal my dessert.”

I relaxed and rolled my eyes while my racing heart settled. “I haven’t done that since we were children.”

“You did it last time you were here!”

“You were still a child, so that counts.”

She stamped her foot and hissed. “You’re so annoying.”

“At least I don’t bathe myself with my tongue.”

“Children!” Dad exclaimed, clapping to get our attention. “Stop bickering.”

I grimaced and said, “We’re not children anymore, Dad.”

“Well, I can’t exclaim ‘adults.’ It doesn’t have the right authoritative ring to it.”

Father sighed and suggested, “Let’s go inside to greet your parents, Delilah.”

Her brown eyes widened, and she grabbed his arm to stop him. “No need for that! They’re very busy right now. So incredibly busy. We’ll just be disturbing them. I’ve already said all my goodbyes, so we can leave now.”

“But we haven’t said our hellos,” Father said. Since he was a foot taller than her and several pounds heavier, he easily dragged her to the front door. “Besides, I haven’t seen Kit in ages.”

“Kit’s not home right now! Sorry you missed them!” Delilah exclaimed. “I’ll gladly take a message and deliver it upon my safe return!”

Dad and I followed a few feet behind them. “What do you think she’s hiding?” I asked, watching her desperation with a little pity.

“Franny is probably going to confiscate her collar,” Dad replied. “Sometimes I regret making it for her, but her little ears are soadorable.”

“At least you didn’t give her claws and fangs to go with them.”

Dad stopped in his tracks, his gaze turning distant.

I waved my hand in front of his face until he blinked and focused on me. “Pleasedo not give her claws and fangs.”

“They could be useful on a quest—”

An image of Delilah ripping someone’s throat out with magically enhanced teeth made my stomach jolt. What had once been a cute, if annoying, personality quirk could turn deadly with a little magic.

“—it’s no different from teaching you swordplay.”

“A sword has range,” I corrected. “I’ve got a few feet between me and my opponent. Claws and fangs are close combat weapons.”

He hummed in thought. “Good point. Until she knows how to use them, she’ll just put herself in more danger.”

We eventually caught up to Delilah, hanging off Father’s arm, as he used his free hand to knock on the door to Aunt Franny’s office.

When no one answered, Delilah stood up and righted her shirt, tucking it back into her pants. “See? I told you they were busy.”

“Delilah Katherine Marcella Cornelia Woeful!” A flurry of pink skirts exploded around the corner as the Queen of Woe descended upon her daughter. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

The Queen’s Consort sauntered slowly behind her, hands stuffed into their pockets. While Kit appeared calm and unconcerned, Franny was as ruffled as her stylish dress. She grabbed her daughter’s shoulders and scanned her from head to toe.

“Mother,” Delilah whined, fighting her way out of Franny’s grasp. “I’mfine.”