Page 30

Jack

I looked nervously beyond Hazel as Sav’s gaze narrowed on the hand massaging my thigh and moved to push it away.

Hazel squeezed, and I shoved her hand harder, bumping my plate.

“Stop.” I hissed. A few eyes around the table glanced my way.

Hazel winked at me, and I ground my teeth, prying her fingers from my leg.

This woman would be trouble. She stuck out her bottom lip, but I ignored it, peeling her hand free and letting it drop beside her.

“So, Jack, do you want a tour of the castle? I could show you all the best dark corners.”

I grimaced, glancing at Sav again. When Hazel had suggested making her friend jealous, something uncomfortable had settled in my gut.

Now, I knew it wasn’t the best path to winning Sav over.

“I don’t think I’ll be here long enough to see much of the castle.

” I raised my brows at her, mouthing: knock it off .

“Be sure to show him the alcove beside the library where you gave your first blow job, Hazel. Jack would love to see that.” Sav’s biting tone sent a chill down my spine, but Hazel didn’t miss a beat.

“It is a good place for blow jobs, Jack. Do you like those?”

She licked her lips, and I leaned away from her. This had been a terrible idea. The fairy was clearly interested in more than her friend’s jealousy. What was I even supposed to say to that? Of course I liked blowjobs. But not from her. My gaze darted back to Sav, whose cheeks were blotchy.

I opened my mouth, but Sav spoke again. “Better yet, why don’t you show him the aviary where you had three guys at once.”

I swallowed, wishing I hadn’t sat beside the fairy. Not that there had been a spot beside Sav. There wasn’t an empty seat at the massive banquette table and around us, fairies were turning their heads and whispering as the women to my left grew louder.

Hazel’s eyes danced with delight. “Oh, good idea. Jack. Do you like foursomes?”

Sav’s fork scraped her plate.

“Cousin, how are you enjoying your first fae meal in three years?” Robin’s voice carried from much farther down the table, and my head swiveled between the king of the winter court and Sav.

The king was her cousin?

“It’s very fine, Uncle. The best meal I’ve had in a long time.” Sav’s cheeks were returning to their normal shade, and she made a show of taking a bite of her potato. At least, I thought it was a potato.

The king’s eyes were on us, and I straightened, looking down at my plate.

The food in this kingdom resembled food one might find on Earth, with some differences.

Carrots were arranged in a neat row on my plate, in colors of yellow, green and purple.

Something shaped like cauliflower but bright orange was sliced like a steak and seasoned with yellow and blue specks that appeared to be like pepper.

I picked up my fork and knife, eyeing a woman in a shimmering ice-blue gown across from me. She slid her knife through her cauliflower steak, spearing a bite with her fork and bringing it to her mouth. A bit of nervous tension left me knowing their dining etiquette was the same as ours.

Something furry brushed my arm, and I glanced to my left, spying a fluffy white and black spotted tail sliding into my lap.

Frowning, I slid my fork under the table, glancing again at the king. I was certain making a scene wasn’t the way to impress these nobles, but I’d had enough of the fairy’s games.

“Hazel, I hope you’ll be accommodating to our guests during their stay,” Robin said.

Hazel’s tail inched up my thigh. “Of course, Regent. I look forward to showing them all our court has to offer.”

I lifted my fork and stabbed at fur. It was thicker than I’d first thought, and I missed the solid part of her tail on my first try.

“It has been many years since Lady Briar has been to Winter. She will be impressed with the improvements I’ve made in my time as regent.”

Regent. So not a king, but a member of the royal family, no doubt.

Hazel’s tail slid higher on my leg, and I stabbed again, hitting the meaty part. She hissed, and Sav’s gaze shot to my lap.

The fluffy tail, flecked with dots of red, dropped from my thigh, and I smirked.

Green eyes met mine and Hazel bared her teeth, but instead of an angry glare, her lips stretched into a grin and her gaze heated.

What the hell? It seemed the fluffy-tailed fairy liked a little blood play. Too bad for her, I wasn’t interested in anything she offered.