by K. M. Shea
“No…” I very carefully set my teacup down. “I didn’t think there was anything special about today?” I shot a nervous glance at Skye, whose amused smile did nothing to reassure me as she always seemed to delight in stuffing me into those boring—and long—fae ceremonies.
Indigo was smirking as well, which wasn’t a good sign, and Linus had his idiot mask back on. Suspicious, I twisted to peer at Rigel.
He sipped his tea, then met my gaze. “It’s not as bad as you think,” he said.
I narrowed my eyes. “What is that supposed to mean?”
The doors banged open, and I jumped in my seat. I relaxed a little when I saw Chrysanthe and Chase striding into the room. Behind them, Eventide and Azure pushed a cart covered in a white cloth.
“My Sovereign.” Chrysanthe gave me a flashy curtsy. “Are you aware you’ve been here for exactly a year?”
I’d been afraid of the cart, but when no one seemed concerned that Kevin and Muffin padded across the room and subjected it to a thorough sniff, I relaxed a little. “Has it really been a year already?”
“Indeed.” Azure bowed her head. “A year to the date since I first picked you up from your parents’ house.”
“We wished to do something to mark this day.” Eventide pushed the cart a few steps closer to me, then he fastidiously checked his bowtie before slapping his hands against his goat legs.
“That’s really sweet of you guys,” I said. “I’m so—”
Chase picked up a corner of the white cloth and yanked it off.
My throat closed on me for a moment. “Is…is that…?”
A brand-new coffee maker, a coffee grinder, and several bags of coffee beans were artistically arranged on the cart. I swear I could smell the roasted beans from where I sat.
“Coffee accouterments, yes,” Indigo said. “The whole staff pitched in to get it for you—even the chef.”
Skye tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled. “Happy Anniversary, Leila.”
I stared at the cart and tried not to cry.
“Do you like it?” Azure asked after several moments of silence.
I nodded and sucked in a gulp of air. “I do,” I squeaked, my voice going high. “I’m just so happy.”
Rigel gently pressed his lips to my temple, then helped me stand.
When I was steady on my feet—but sniffing—he nudged me around the coffee table and toward Skye and Indigo.
I toddled to Skye and hugged her. “Thanks, everyone.”
When Skye patted my back, I lost it and started bawling.
My legs gave out, and I sat down hard on the ground.
Indigo hugged me as Steve licked my tears off my cheeks, and then Chase and Chrysanthe were on either side of me, each pressing in on their version of a hug. Chase dropped his arm over my shoulders and then patted the top of my head like I was a puppy. Chrysanthe clutched my hand and leaned in so we were cheek to cheek.
I ugly cried while Eventide and Azure hugged me, too, before I finally stood and threw myself at my biological father.
Linus chuckled and soothingly rubbed my back. “My darling daughter, I am proud of you. We all are.”
My laugh was watery when everyone agreed.
Rigel must have tapped his magic, because he stepped out of the shadows just behind Linus. “You are a queen we are proud to stand beside,” he said.
I held Linus’s arm, but held out my hand to Rigel, who took it as we faced my friends.
“One year, huh. It feels like you’ve been around way longer than that,” Chrysanthe said. “Imagine how much you’ll change once you’ve been queen for two years!”
“You may finally balance the budget,” Chase said.
I made a face. “It would be better to have realistic goals for me, thanks.”
Indigo rolled her eyes. “I’m sure you’ll get it eventually,” she said. “In the meantime, I imagine you don’t think it’s too late for coffee?”
“Never!” I proudly confirmed.
“Great. I’ll take this down to the chef—he’s been studying up on preparing the perfect cup of coffee.” Indigo started to push the cart from the room.
Chrysanthe gazed longingly from Chase to the cart, then bolted to follow after Indigo. “If you’re going to make coffee, can I try some?”
“You sure?” Indigo asked.
“Yes,” Chrysanthe said. “Seeing how our king likes it as well, I am quite curious about this beverage.”
“It’s good,” Chase—as a non-fae with good taste in drinks—said. “I recommend it.” He saluted me, then also marched toward the door—though I imagined he was going off on his rounds.
“I would like to try it as well,” Azure admitted. “When I’ve driven Queen Leila and King Rigel back from the café, it always smells divine.”
“Azure, you should have told me,” I said. “I would have gotten you something!”
“I might also like to try a sip.” Eventide scurried out after everyone, but paused in the door. “That is, if it’s permissible, Queen Leila?”
“Of course,” I said. “Coffee for everyone!”
That brought exclamations of appreciation from in the hallway, and soon Linus and Skye were the only two in the study with Rigel and me—and my pets, of course.
Skye slightly pursed her lips. “You want to encourage them to try drinking it so they also come to like it, don’t you?”
“The more coffee drinkers in this mansion, the better,” I confirmed.
Linus laughed as he sauntered out of the room. “Just wait until you introduce them to espresso!”
Skye shook her head, but a smile played on her lips. “Congratulations on one year, Leila.”
“Thank you, Skye—for everything,” I said.
Her smile grew. “Of course. I’m sure everyone will come back once the coffee has been properly sampled.”
“Thanks—you should try it, too!” I called after her as she slipped from my library.
“I’ll pass, thank you,” she said with laughter in her voice.
I sighed happily and leaned into Rigel. He slipped his hand into the back pocket of my jeans, and with a rustle, revealed his wings again and curled one around me.
I admired his beautiful feathers before I leaned closer to kiss him. “Back to our wings conversation,” I said after a particularly lingering kiss.
“What is there left to discuss?” Rigel asked.
“I meant to say, I wanted wings because then any kids we have would definitely have wings. Since I don’t, though, what are the chances they will?” I asked. “Because I think it would be a real advantage to them. They could start a modeling career or something since they won’t have the usual fae complex about hiding their wings. Don’t you think so?”
Rigel stared at me, a rare hint of surprise pushing his eyebrows up.
Since he didn’t respond, I tapped my finger on his chest. “Let me rephrase that, I want them to have wings. You should make sure they do.”
“That is entirely beyond my control,” Rigel said.
“Nah,” I said.
“Genetically speaking, yeah, it is,” he drawled.
“Just use magic to make sure!” I brightly said, totally aware I was pushing his buttons.
“That’s not how DNA—or magic—works!” Rigel flatly said. He studied me, and one corner of his lips turned up. “Also, I’m intrigued you are already thinking of children.”
I rested my cheek on his shoulder. “Just a little.”
When he shifted his wings, forcibly scooping me closer, I squawked. “Not for a long time! We have a broke Court to fix, first!”
“But my greatest love—my only love in this world,” Rigel purred in a romantic way that was making me feel a little panicky. “Don’t you know?”
“Know what?” I asked.
Rigel’s almost smile turned into a chocolate-melting smirk. “It’s fine.”
The End
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ht and Deception Series, visit kmshea.com!
If you enjoyed Court of Midnight and Deception, please check out Hazel’s story in the Hall of Blood and Mercy series.
Afterword
Thank you for reading The Queen’s Crown, I hope you enjoyed Leila’s story! If you want to read more of my work, sign up for my newsletter to receive my free K. M. Shea Starter Pack ebook.
It contains:
A Hall of Blood and Mercy short story
A King Arthur and Her Knights prequel short story
A Red Rope of Fate prequel short story
An original fairy tale, Princess Snow and Queen Ruby
A fairy tale retelling, The Princess Who Chased Sheep
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Thank you for your support and encouragement. I am proud to say I have the best readers. Therefore, it is my dearest wish that Leila and her friends made you laugh and warmed your heart. Thank you.
Other books by K. M. Shea
The Snow Queen Series:
A completed Epic Fantasy series of two books and an anthology of short stories
Timeless Fairy Tales:
Beauty and the Beast
The Wild Swans
Cinderella and the Colonel
Rumpelstiltskin
The Little Selkie
Puss in Boots
Swan Lake
Sleeping Beauty
Frog Prince
12 Dancing Princesses
Snow White
Three pack (Beauty and the Beast, The Wild Swans, Cinderella and the Colonel)
The Fairy Tale Enchantress:
Apprentice of Magic
Curse of Magic
Reign of Magic
The Elves of Lessa:
Red Rope of Fate
Royal Magic
The Prince’s Bargain
Hall of Blood and Mercy:
A complete urban fantasy series of 3 books
Court of Midnight and Deception:
A complete urban fantasy series of 3 books
King Arthur and Her Knights:
A complete historical fantasy series of seven books
Robyn Hood:
A compete historical fiction series of two novellas
The Magical Beings’ Rehabilitation Center:
A complete urban fantasy series of two books and an anthology of short stories
Other Novels
Life Reader
Princess Ahira
A Goose Girl
Second Age of Retha: Written under pen name A. M. Sohma
The Luckless
The Desperate Quest
The Revived
About the Author
K. M. Shea is a fantasy-romance author who never quite grew out of adventure books or fairy tales, and still searches closets in hopes of stumbling into Narnia. She is addicted to sweet romances, witty characters, and happy endings. She also writes LitRPG and GameLit under the pen name, A. M. Sohma.
Hang out with the K. M. Shea Community at…
kmshea.com