The Summer King Bundle 3 Stories - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,18

rooms on each floor and sprawling communal areas outfitted with multiple cafeterias, theaters, shopping, gyms, and even space for a school of sorts, the compound had the ability to house thousands of fae. The Order had no idea exactly how many fae lived in this place, something that I knew disturbed Miles and the other Order members.

The kind of power and magic the Summer fae used to glamour the building was astonishing.

It was a good thing they didn’t want to feed off humans and seemed to like us, because if not, we’d be so screwed.

Then again, I knew that Prince Fabian fed, supposedly on willing humans who knew what he was, because he didn’t age and was capable of extraordinary actions. I assumed that his brother, the Prince, fed too.

Tugging on the neck of my chunky cable-knit sweater, I was beginning to think I would melt in this office before anyone showed up. The sweater had been perfect for when I was outside and it covered the bruises on my neck, but now I was sweltering in it.

If Ivy hadn’t been in Florida with her husband handling some kind of super-secret mission, she’d be here, sitting in the Hotel Good Fae, acting as the liaison between the Order and the fae. Not me. She was better at handling these types of meetings, and right now, the best needed to here, because things between the Summer fae and the Order were tense.

I found myself staring at the long, narrow desk in front of me as I waited, smoothing a blonde strand of hair back into the ponytail. The surface was free of clutter. Just a large desk calendar and computer monitor. An iMac. My desk at home looked like maps and books had thrown up all over it. I couldn’t even see the top of my desk, let alone use the keyboard to what was definitely not an iMac.

I used one of the guest rooms upstairs for my office, which was perfect, because I could close the door on the room and pretend that a hoarder didn’t live there.

Nervous energy filled me as I dropped my hand and ran my fingers along the neck of the sweater. My throat was still tender and I knew it probably would be for a couple of days. At least the weather was cool enough to wear a turtleneck.

Got to look on the bright side.

Pressing my lips together, I dragged my gaze from the empty desk just as I heard footsteps outside the room. I dropped my hand. Seconds later, the door opened.

The Summer fae known as Tanner strode into his office. His real name was totally unpronounceable, as were the names of most of the fae who lived here. Almost all of them, including the woman behind him, had adopted human sounding names. Even the Winter fae did that, because I doubted Tobias had been that bastard’s real name.

Tanner drew up short when he spotted me sitting there, as did the female fae called Faye, who was carrying a file. Odd reaction considering when they saw me, I looked like I normally did, no wig or heavy makeup. No façade.

I was Brighton today even if I… I didn’t feel like her.

I only saw the mask Faye and Tanner wore for a second before the humanity seeped away and I saw them in all their fae glory. The only thing that hadn’t changed was their hair. Both were dark haired, but Tanner’s was salt and peppered, proving that he was aging like a human while Faye was younger, her hair a deep flaxen color.

“Ms. Jussier.” Surprise colored Tanner’s tone as he crossed the room and stopped in front of me, offering his hand. “I am surprised to see you.”

“Brighton,” I corrected him as I glanced at his outstretched hand. The moment of hesitation didn’t go unnoticed by Faye. The shrewd female cocked a dark eyebrow. I took Tanner’s hand, shaking it as firmly as humanly possible. I didn’t even know why I hesitated other than just being weird—and I was weird. A lot. “You know you can call me Brighton.”

He squeezed my hand affectionately. “Goodness, Brighton, I haven’t seen you in ages. I’m… I am so sorry to hear about your mother and for what happened to you.”

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been in this office or to Hotel Good Fae, but it was before the attack.

“Merle was an amazing and unique woman,” he continued, his tone and pale blue eyes full of