be concerned for his wife’s wellbeing?” I asked, neatly sidestepping any personal implications with my phrasing.
Leila laughed. “Very true. Okay, Chase. I think we’re done.”
“Agreed. Unless you wish to go over the security measures we are taking for the celebratory party of your crowning?”
“No, thanks. We’ve reviewed that three times today alone. I think we’re good.” Leila shivered.
Unable to resist baiting her, I adjusted my teacup. “But, Queen Leila, one can never be too prepared. And your security is of utmost importance.”
“It is,” Chase agreed.
“No—no.” Leila jabbed a finger first at Chase, then me. “You two can’t gang up on me like this.”
“But I’m your consort. Your safety should matter to me,” I said with zero conviction.
“If we just go over the patrol rotations one last time,” Chase tried.
“Chase, how can you let him use you like this?” Leila asked. “He just wants to annoy me!”
Chase blinked. “If it means you review security protocol again I don’t much care what Consort Rigel earns out of it.”
When Leila thumped her head on the table and groaned like a wounded hippo, I took another sip of my tea.
Perhaps it’s not wholly unexpected I would act on a threat to her life. She has made daily life more…interesting.
Chapter Three
Leila
The doorbell was ringing, and even though the party only started about twenty minutes before, I’d already greeted a number of nobles and common fae from the Night Court, and the Day King.
Of course, because I was fae, this meant the party had to be a huge production and was a big deal. Big enough that Indigo had talked me into ordering a custom dress for the occasion.
Typically I bought clothes off the rack and paid a seamstress to tailor them for me, but for my first banquet and my “introduction” to the other fae Courts, Indigo insisted we get something made for me, even though those other Courts weren’t likely to show up and see it.
The gown was a deep blue color with silvery star-spattered lace covering it. Purple and white roses were set into the bodice and the hemline, and silver chains crisscrossed across my back. It matched my crown—a silver circle studded with opals and topped with a silver crescent moon—and since it lacked sleeves I was pretty comfortable in it despite its flowing skirts.
I’d never tell her, but I secretly loved it.
“Eventide, if you would open the door?” I asked the faun.
Eventide bowed to me, tugged his dark blue vest—which was the same color as my gown—then turned to the door.
As he opened it, I belatedly realized that while I had forced Indigo to make sure I wore cheaper, store-bought clothes, I had never made the same declaration about the servants’ uniforms.
For Heaven’s sake, no wonder the Court is up to its eyeballs in debt!
Eventide pulled the door open, his goat hooves tapping nervously as he bowed to the guests and took their invitations.
He turned to me, his eyeballs popping out of his head. “The Eminent, Killian Drake of the Drake Family and Adept Hazel Medeis of House Medeis,” he announced.
“HAH!”
I turned around to scowl at Lord Linus, who had clapped a hand over his mouth, but his mirth was obvious. He stood with Skye, Chase, and Indigo a few feet behind me.
I shook my head at him, then grinned at Hazel and Killian—who also happened to be my parents’ neighbors.
“Hazel, it’s good to see you!”
Hazel—wearing a beautiful sky-blue dress—squealed and jumped across the door’s threshold to hug me.
“I’m excited for you! I’ve been dying to see your place!” Hazel said.
“I’ll give you a tour, and don’t worry. I actually managed to set up some fun entertainment.”
I swung my gaze from Hazel to Killian and his First and Second Knights who entered behind him—a Latina beauty named Celestina, and a rather depressed looking vampire named Josh. “There’s a shooting range outside with bow and crossbow artifacts,” I said. “There are a few fae attending to it—they’ll get the weapons powered up for you so you can see what it’s like to shoot magic.”
About half a dozen additional Drake vampires crowded behind Celestina and Josh. They flicked their eyes from me to Killian Drake.
Killian nodded, and the vampires stampeded over one another in their rush to the shooting range.
“Which way to the back?” a sweet-looking vampire asked, her red eyes bright with excitement.
I gestured to Eventide. “Eventide will be happy to show you.”
Eventide quivered a little under the vampires’ intense gazes, but he bravely trotted out in front of them. “This way,