Page 28

Jack

I leaned against the wall, heart hammering in my chest. Princess.

Sav. Engaged. Not Engaged. My head swam with everything I had just learned.

The man with blue skin wasn’t just a friend who offered to help her, he was something more.

He wanted to be much more. Why did the thought of them together have heat searing in my veins?

Had I expected someone so beautiful, confident, and brave to be single?

Acknowledging that fact did nothing to ease the tightness in my chest. And she wasn’t just a high fairy, she was a princess. No wonder she counted on the court to lend her an army. She commanded it. But what had she been doing on Earth?

Sloshing water in the bath drew my focus, and I held my breath. Soft, wet footfall in the next room moved toward the door, and I turned, nearly colliding with the other woman who visited me in the infirmary.

She grinned, a long snow leopard-like tail whipping behind her.

I backed up. “Excuse me…” I paused.

“I’m Hazel.”

My gaze dipped to the spotted tail, coiling and uncoiling from her wrist, the prince’s words coming back to me. I bet she does all sorts of kinky things with that tail.

“You must be the princess of winter.” I glanced around the hall. Was there a way I was supposed to address a princess in Faerie? I had done nothing special with Kaspar, but I hadn’t known what he was.

Her grin widened. “Eavesdropping, Jack?”

“I guess you were, too.”

Her eyes twinkled as she appraised me, coming to some decision.

“I’m no princess. I am the winter court emissary and third cousin to Queen Mab.

” She moved closer. “But, Jack, Kaspar wasn’t wrong.

” She lifted a finger, trailing one long blue fingernail down my chest. “My tail is good for lots of things.”

I swallowed, taking a step back. “I came here with Sav. Remember?” That was idiotic. Hazel likely knew about the betrothal. Not betrothal. And that there could be nothing between us when the woman I’d come here with had a prince chasing after her.

Hazel glanced over my shoulder and back at me. “You know. The best way to find out if someone is interested is to make them jealous.” She winked at me and turned, hips swaying as her tail swished behind her.

I stared after her, considering her words. I’d never had to work for a woman’s attention before. It was usually them vying for mine. But Sav wasn’t like the other women I had met. Sav . The name fit her so much better than Sally. It was strong, sophisticated. A name fit for a princess.

“Jack.”

I started turning to face Sav. I hadn’t heard the door open or her footsteps approaching, too lost in thoughts of the creature standing in front of me now.

My gaze trailed up the powder blue fabric of her gown, lingering on her curves before moving up to the collarbone, delicately framed by silver thread.

Her hair was pulled up, curls framing her flushed cheeks, still dewy from her bath.

Our eyes met and heat flared to life in my chest.

“Sav,” I said.

The hunger in her eyes—mirroring my own—deflated, gaze growing wary. “What did you hear?”

“Nothing. Hazel told me your name.”

“Hazel!” she shouted. Hazel continued down the hall, ignoring us.

Sav’s gaze darted back to me and ran over my body. “Feeling better?”

“Yes. Mother Mahonia gave me some sort of healing tonic that worked wonders.”

Satisfied by my answer and my much-recovered state, she answered. “Yes. My name is Sav. It didn’t seem like a human enough name for the cult and there’s power in names. But you can use it. I detest Sally.”

I snorted, marveling at how little it hurt only a few hours after taking the healing tonic.

“Sav. I like it.” A faint smile touched her mouth.

If I didn’t know better, I’d think she enjoyed hearing her true name on my lips.

I wanted to say more. I wanted to demand answers, but she owed me nothing and who was I to a princess?

“Come on. Let’s go. We have an audience with the winter court.”

I frowned, glancing down. “Should I change?”

Sav looked me over. “Why?”

“I’m still wearing this Fae’z in Harlem t-shirt and there’s dirt and blood all over it.” I eyed her clean appearance and new clothes.

“You’re fine. We have no time to waste.” She grabbed my hand, dragging me behind her, and we moved down a long, strangely lit, stone corridor, lined on either side by rows of armored statues. Each held a sword stoically in place, staring straight ahead.

I tugged out of her grip and stopped to admire one. A low growl erupted from somewhere within the metal facade and I stumbled back.

Sav laughed, grabbing my hand again. “Come on, don’t mess with the wolves.”

“Wolves?”

She said nothing, dragging me at a clipped pace.

We reached the end of the corridor, and she squared her shoulders as massive wooden doors swung wide.

I glanced sideways, expecting to see someone holding them ajar, but no one was there.

I had no time to ask what was happening before we stepped into an expansive stone room and Sav pulled me forward.

We walked along a purple rug, woven with golden polar bears, through the center of the room.

The space was empty apart from the armored wolf creatures circling it, the enormous portraits of what must have been former monarchs, each standing beside a polar bear, and the fairy seated atop a white marble throne.

Sav’s pace increased till we were jogging toward the throne. We stopped several feet away, and she dipped her chin to her chest. I glanced sideways and did the same.

“Bow,” Sav hissed, and I bent awkwardly at the waist.

“Rise,” a bored voice said, and I straightened.

I looked up and nearly choked. Robin Goodfellow, the actor, sat looking regal atop his seat, draped in heavy furs and wearing a gold circlet in his auburn curls, the same shade as Sav’s.

“What brings you to the winter court, House Spring? Have you reconciled with your court?”

Sav glanced at me but turned back to Robin Freaking Goodfellow. I could admit it, I was starstruck. Was there a man alive who hadn’t seen at least one of his movies? He was a legend. An Icon. He was…the king of the winter court?

“Goodfellow, I had expected to find one of Mab’s relations on the throne in her stead.”

His flat stare was chilling. “I am acting as goodwill ambassador until such time as Mab returns or an heir is declared.”

“And Spring? You’ve left us for some indeterminate period?”

“Rest assured, the profits of my contribution fund our court.” He arched a brow at Sav in challenge, even as his tone dripped with tedium.

Sav dipped her head, appearing flustered for the first time since I’d met her. “Very well. I come to beg aid from the winter court to free several fae who are being held by Dane Clyde and his fanatics. Their conditions are dire. Many have died, The Winter Hag included.”

Robin’s gaze sharpened, violet-colored eyes assessing her. “Where did you come by this intel?”

If I squinted, I could just imagine him reprising his role in Fury the moment when he was preparing to interrogate his captive.

“I was their prisoner.”

“Yet you escaped?”

“Yes, but only with the aid of this human. The others have no such support.”

Robin’s gaze fell on me. He took in every filthy streak of mud and dark stain and his lip curled. “You have the audacity to bring this mortal before me in rags. Have you lost all your fae etiquette? Centuries of courtly training and three years among humans is all it takes to make you one of them?”

“I…” Sav bit her bottom lip.

“And to appear here, rather than in your own court first. Have you forgotten your place?”

Sav’s freckled cheeks burned crimson, and she closed her mouth.

Goodfellow’s auburn brows were slashes across his tanned face and his eyes narrowed on her, promising punishment for some actions I couldn’t name. “This insolence will not be tolerated.”

His lips parted, preparing to berate Sav further, but I stepped forward, squaring my shoulders and met his gaze. “Your highness. It’s my fault. The conditions are dire, as she said. We wasted no time getting here, knowing every second could mean another fairy death.”

Robin’s brows rose, and I straightened to my full height. In the pregnant silence, a bead of sweat ran down my back, but I would not sit by and watch as he spoke to her that way.

Then, he opened his mouth and laughed.