by K. M. Shea
“I really need to greet the other guests, but I’ll find you later tonight—I want to introduce you to my new pets!”
“Great! We’ll keep an eye out for you. Come on, Killian. Let’s go see that shooting range.”
“I would have thought you’d want to witness Rupert’s humiliation at karaoke.” Killian offered his arm, and Hazel took it.
“I want to see that, too,” Hazel assured him. “But I’ve never had the chance to fire a weapon loaded with fae magic! It’s going to be so cool.”
Killian smirked down at her. “I really do love you more and more each day,” he announced with zero sense of embarrassment—good for him!
Skye opened the door before the power couple left, so when Lady Chrysanthe and her grandmother Lady Demetria entered the room, they could see the pair.
“I told you it was a waste to come this early,” Lady Demetria barked at her granddaughter, ignoring me. “No being of fashionable taste and reasonable power would deign to arrive at this—” Her lecture ground to a halt when Hazel laughed at something Killian said as they strolled off.
“That’s Eminent Killian Drake and Adept Hazel Medeis,” I helpfully supplied. She obviously already knew, but I’d made it a hobby to troll my dear subjects since becoming queen.
Lady Demetria’s face was set in stone as she stared—which was about equal to shrieking and gawking for a fae since they were usually guarded in expressing their feelings.
“Good evening, Queen Leila, and congratulations.” Lady Chrysanthe ignored her grandmother’s stunned silence and curtsied to me.
“Welcome, Lady Chrysanthe and Lady Demetria,” I greeted. “Please come in.”
Lady Chrysanthe glided inside without hesitation, but Lady Demetria was a few moments delayed, which is how the Paragon almost ran her down.
“They’re here already, aren’t they?” the Paragon panted as he stood in the door.
“Killian and Hazel?” I guessed—the Paragon was famously attached to the pair. “Yes. They went out back to the shooting range.”
“I knew it! I knew they’d come early!” He twisted around to scowl behind him and shouted to his traveling companions. “This is all your fault, Bellus!”
Sulking, the Paragon stepped through the door, making way for the head wizard in the Midwest, Elite Bellus.
Well dressed in a navy-blue pinstripe suit with a crisp handkerchief poking out of his pocket, Elite Bellus gave off a professorly aura, but I was pretty sure he had the twisty sort of mind that could keep up with a fae—though he was far more kind.
“Queen Leila, what a pleasure it is to meet you.” Elite Bellus offered me a slight bow, then extended his hand. His smile was pleasant and obviously well used, and his silvery hair was slicked back while his goatee was meticulously trimmed.
I shook his hand. “The pleasure is all mine. I was quite excited when you sent in your RSVP. Hazel has told me a lot about you.”
I only invited Elite Bellus because Hazel was his protegee and she asked me to, but I was glad to have him here.
Behind me, Lady Demetria made a strangled noise.
Ahhh, yes. Shocked at the quality of my guests, hmm?
Before Skye could close the door, four more guests filled the doorway. I curiously studied them—three of them were werewolves based on the gold and brilliant-blue eyes they sported—before making the decision to call for backup. “Chase?”
My director of security was at my side in an instant. “Queen Leila, allow me to present Pre-Dominant Harka, her mate Beta Colton, my alpha and the leader of the Northern Lakes Pack Alpha Greyson, and my packmate, Phillipa.”
“Welcome, I’m glad you could make it.” I tried to give them my warmest smile to make up for the noises Lady Demetria made—which had me wondering if I needed to call for a healing potion because she sounded like she was having a heart attack.
“Thank you for the invitation!” Pre-Dominant Harka stuck her hand out, then shook mine with a firm but relaxed grip. “It was pretty cheeky of me to call and ask for an invitation.”
“Nonsense,” Elite Bellus laughed. “With Killian and me attending, you’d be left out otherwise—and this promises to be a fun party!”
Pre-Dominant Harka didn’t move her painfully bright blue eyes from me, so I offered her my own reassurances. “The Elite is right,” I said. “I am glad you requested an invitation—it would have been rude of me to leave you out of it.”
It was a bit of a lie—that was the plus of being only half fae, none of the restrictions applied to me—but one that didn’t make my conscience prickle.
It never would have occurred to me to invite the Pre-Dominant—the most powerful werewolf in the Midwest.
Right now, the Night Court wasn’t powerful enough to be noteworthy to her—or to the Elite—and she had absolutely no reason to be here except that they were probably curious about Killian and Hazel choosing to attend.
I could have saved them the trouble and just told them I’m pretty close to Hazel, but since I’m half fae they probably wouldn’t have trusted me anyway.
Regardless, I was glad they could make it for the sake of Alpha Greyson and Phillipa, whom I had specifically invited. Since Alpha Greyson led the pack Chase belonged to, I wanted to invite him and a few other werewolves from their pack as a gesture to show how much I valued Chase.
I eagerly turned to the pair, curious to see what kind of packmates Chase had.
“And thank you for accepting the invitation as well, Alpha Greyson and packmate Phillipa,” I said.
“Everyone calls me Pip—and I’m a human and not an actual packmate.” Phillipa—or Pip as she said—fidgeted in her shoes in a way that told me she didn’t often wear heels. “But thanks for the invite, anyway! Hi, Chase!” Her grin was bright and affectionate, but I didn’t miss the way she yanked her hand from Alpha Greyson.
The Alpha—he looked shockingly young, maybe just a few years older than I was—dutifully bowed to me. “Thank you for the invitation, Queen Leila of the Night Court.”
“Thank you for coming all this way,” I said. “It must have been quite the drive. Chase can show you two around.”
Chase frowned at me, as if I had personally insulted his mother. “I’m on duty.”
“It’s fine, you can go. I’m sure they’re very eager to catch up with you.”
Alpha Greyson gave me the same frown Chase did. “Not if he’s on duty,” he said. “It wouldn’t be right.”
“Fine. Okay. Chase, I officially give you tonight off. There, you’re off duty,” I said.
Chase pressed his lips together in displeasure. “Which of my men, then, will replace me?”
“Someone will,” I vaguely said.
“Someone is not a name,” Chase said. “Your security detail must have structure—your safety is our top priority.”
Alpha Greyson nodded in agreement.
Gah, werewolves!
I glanced behind me where Rigel lingered, making no attempts to talk to anyone—though he was watching the Paragon hoist his dark blue robes to his knobby knees and go darting deeper into the mansion.
“Rigel will stick with me.” I took a step backwards to stand shoulder to shoulder with the assassin, and grabbed his arm. “I’ll be the safest person in the world, then. Will that work?”
Chase, unconvinced, looked from me to Rigel.
Dang it! I know Rigel isn’t going to back me up in this—he can’t lie!
“Chase, I promise I’ll be fine,” I said.
“Of course you will.” Lord Linus strolled up to our little meeting and smiled winningly. “Because I’ll stay with her. You go have fun, Chase.”
This—shockingly, confusingly—seemed to actually reassure Chase. He nodded. “Very well, then. This way, Alpha Greyson, Pip.”
My jaw dropped as Chase ushered his packmates away. “Seriously? He trusts you more than he trusts me?”
Lord Linus smirked and adjusted the lapels of his dove gray suitcoat. “Maybe he sees wha
t you don’t!”
A few other fae nobles from my Court had entered while I greeted Chase’s pack. They giggled when Lord Linus stuck his hands in the pockets of his slacks and looked irritatingly charming.
There was something deeply aggravating about the fact that although Lord Linus was my biological father and pretty much a wastrel, he looked like he was barely in his mid-thirties and was irritatingly good-looking.
“It’s a mystery I’ll certainly never understand,” I grumbled.
“But never mind Chase’s and my bromance. I’m more interested in your party—I see what you did.” Lord Linus grinned at me.
I tightened my grip on Rigel’s arm, which made me realize I was still holding said arm. I abruptly dropped it. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“The other Courts are snubbing you by ignoring this party—they should have shown up by now, and as a fellow monarch they should have come to acknowledge you,” Lord Linus said. “Normally their iciness would make you look bad and lower your prestige, but instead you made arrangements for guests far more powerful than they to come, giving everyone who does attend the chance to forge new alliances and connections while casting the other Courts in a pretty poor light. Well done indeed, my sly daughter!”
“I didn’t actually do it on purpose.” I waved to a cluster of pixies who fluttered through the door, their wings dazzling flashes of light in the dim mood lighting. “And it’s really all just because I’m friends with Hazel. And Killian I guess. And I wanted Chase to feel free to invite his family, which was how Pre-Dominant Harka found out about it.”
“Of course she found out about it.” Lord Linus dramatically rolled his eyes. “Do you know how many crowning banquets werewolves are typically invited to? None!”
“Yeah, I guess not many werewolves work for Courts.” I glanced up at Rigel. “Did you have a nice day?”
Rigel’s forehead twitched so fast I almost didn’t see it. But after being married to him for more than two weeks—and more importantly after confusing and annoying him for over two weeks—I was getting better at seeing the tiny reactions he’d show. If you looked fast enough, anyway.
“Are you really attempting to exchange pleasantries in the middle of a party?” he asked.
Did I mention Rigel was as sarcastic as he was handsome?
He cut a nice figure in his dark clothes with his tall, lean build, but he was also blessed with staggering good looks and perfect silver hair that, unlike the rest of the fae, he usually cut short in something closer to human styles. His eyes put a bit of a dampener on his handsomeness, though. All the chiseled abs in the world wouldn’t make up for the dead, lifeless look that usually settled in his black eyes.
“I thought it was the polite thing to do instead of asking if you’d been murderizing,” I said.
“Lord Dion asked me to come over to see a sword he purchased,” Rigel said.
Lord Dion was Rigel’s best and only friend—although Rigel would never own up to the relationship. Lord Dion was charismatic, bright, and had a law practice for supernaturals.
In other words, he was the total opposite of my dark, brooding, assassin husband.
“I see.” Before I could ask anything more, another cluster of Night Court fae slipped through the doorway.
I slapped a smile on my face and grinned. “Good evening—and welcome to our celebration!”
Since none of the other fussy Courts are coming, tonight is going to be fun! I’m determined to enjoy it!
Chapter Four
Leila
“How are you holding up, my Sovereign?”
I glanced down at Indigo and flashed her what I hoped was a pleasant smile, even though I was so exhausted I was desperate enough to consider drinking tea.
“I could really use a latte, but it’s been enjoyable!” I backed up a few steps and pushed my back against the wall, barely avoiding one of the exuberant wizards who was dancing wildly to a song.
“Are you hungry?” Indigo asked.
I glanced from my sharp-eyed companion to the guests. “Nah. I’m okay—”
“I’ll make something for you.”
I hesitated, caught between the hunger gnawing at my stomach and my unwillingness to make Indigo work tonight. “That’s okay. Your parents are here tonight. You should have fun with them.”
“They won’t miss me for the twenty minutes it will take to make you a quick meal,” Indigo said. “In fact, I’ll tell them, and they’ll come with me—my mother would love to see the kitchens.”
“I couldn’t ask you to—”
“Leila, I want to.”
I chewed my lip. “Okay. Then yes, please. Thank you, Indigo.”
“You’re welcome.” Indigo had already turned away from me, adjusting her cat eye glasses as she looked over the crowd.
“I really mean it—and I want you to know I’ll never take you for granted.”
Indigo shot me an amused look. “My Sovereign, I don’t think you’re capable of truly using people. I see my mother—I’ll get her, and we’ll be back with food for you.”
She was off, her green skirts twirling around her—yes, she’d deigned to wear a dress for the occasion instead of one of her much beloved t-shirts—as she hunted down her parents.
Warmth fluttered in my chest, and I smiled like a goof.
Although she’d taken the position for the salary, Indigo had become someone I counted on, which was fantastic, because she was the only one I trusted enough to cook for me.
I hadn’t eaten anything all night because fae can easily bespell food and drinks. I’d actually nearly died at my first Night Court social with my nobles because I’d tried eating a bit of food a fae had bespelled.
I’d lived off protein bars for weeks before Indigo started cooking for me—she was an excellent chef, and loved to recreate food she’d seen in her favorite movies, books, and TV shows.
A faun and a dryad who were walking together paused long enough to bow to me.
“Good evening, Queen Leila!”
“Such a marvelous party, Queen Leila!”
“I hope you enjoy it!” I said.
They moved on just in time to avoid Pre-Dominant Harka displaying wrestling techniques on her husband for Hazel’s benefit.
The mansion air conditioning was blasting, but the room was still pretty warm.
Between the heat, the thumping music, and the colored flashing lights, it was starting to be a bit much for me.
I skirted the edge of the room, smiling whenever one of my people bowed to me, and just about gasped in relief when I made it to one of the French doors that opened onto the extensive back patio.
I staggered outside, waving to the three fae who were stationed there—Chase’s men.
I wandered up to the closest one, rubbing my ear. “I just need a few minutes of quiet.”
The fae nodded, her ponytail bobbing. “I’ll let Lord Linus know.”
“Why?”
“Chase informed us he is in charge.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course he did. Yeah, okay, please go ahead and tell him.”
She nodded to me, then turned slightly away to mutter on her wireless headset.
I stretched my arms above my head, turning around when I heard the door click. “King Solis, hello!” I beamed at the monarch of the Day Court.
Like the Court he ruled, he was handsome, warm, and golden with copper hued robes, and a golden crown that was similar to mine both in shape and the way it had a sun emblazoned in the center.
He was tall and lean with the typical smooth/ageless fae beauty, except for the fine lines around his eyes that made him look more approachable and kinder than other fae. He looked a bit older than Lord Linus—maybe in his early forties—but I wouldn’t have been surprised if he was old enough to be my grandfather. Fae weren’t immortal, but they aged really slowly and lived a lot longer than humans or even werewolves did.
“Queen Leila, I offer you my congratulations for your o
fficial crowning ceremony.” King Solis’s golden hair gleamed in the dim, solar powered patio lights the gardeners had strategically placed. “Your banquet will certainly be something talked about for years!”
“Thanks. I’m glad you could come.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” King Solis said. “Our Courts—and fates—are intertwined.”
I grinned up at the older monarch. “It’s just that our Courts are connected, it’s not that we’re friends or anything?”
King Solis had a bright laugh that practically glittered. “As humorous as always, are you? Yes, we are friends. I would have moved the sun to come just because today is your banquet.”
I patted King Solis on the hand. “Thanks, King Solis. I’m glad our Courts are besties, too.”
“Ahem.”
King Solis twisted around. “Ahh, yes—you wanted an introduction,” he said. “Step forward.”
Two fae—a female and male standing arm in arm, glided forward, sharp smiles settled on their lips.
“Good evening,” the female said.
“Queen Leila, this is Angstra and Manith.” He gestured first to the female, then the male. “They’re acquaintances of mine who came with me tonight.”
“It’s a rarity to meet the new Queen of the Night Court.” Manith offered me a perfect bow and then a dimpled smile. “On behalf of our region, please let us express congratulations.”
“Your region? You’re not from the Day Court?” I asked.
“No, though we consider the Day Court our own.” Angstra laughed a little. “We’re not from the Midwest region, but rather the Mid-Atlantic area.”
“You’re just visiting the area, then?” I asked.
“Indeed,” Manith confirmed with a wink. “Though quaint Magiford has attempted to charm us. But that is why we were especially intrigued to meet you—since yours is the only Night Court in the United States.”
Yeah, that was why the Original Creep of a king laid all the extra rules down—so the Night Court and Day Court wouldn’t go crazy in the future being that we technically ruled Day and Night everywhere in the USA.
Obviously he wasn’t the saint Skye made him out to be, or he would have just crowned additional kings or queens and established other Night Courts, but nooo. That would be giving up too much power, I’m sure.