selfies with him and had to swallow my laughter.
Really, I couldn’t blame the humans.
We supernaturals tried really hard not to publicly invade the human realm much—we wanted them to think we were safe and not a threat.
The downside of that was they didn’t see many vampires, werewolves, or other supernaturals, and they didn’t get to experience fun stuff like petting a sun stallion.
I wish we could change that.
“I’ve got your breakfast sandwiches here, Leila.” Rhonda edged past Landon, passing me a second paper sack. “Are they treating you okay in your Court?”
I juggled my bags and latte. “Probably as good as could be expected.”
Rhonda frowned. “That doesn’t sound encouraging.”
I shrugged. “It’s the fae.”
She pursed her lips slightly and folded her arms across her formidable chest. “Maybe, but you’re you.” She winked. “Give ’em all the trouble you’ve got, girl.”
“I’ll try.”
Rhonda cackled. “You’ll win,” she predicted. “They’ll regret the day they cross their lovely new queen.”
I laughed as I nudged Eclipse into a walk. “Thanks, Rhonda.”
“Of course—and if anyone asks, tell them your favorite café is King’s Court!”
“Naturally!” Eclipse and Solstice picked their way across the parking lot, stopping when I pulled them to a halt just a bit short of Chase and Fax.
“I got you a breakfast sandwich, Chase.” I held the bag up and shook it a little.
“I said I didn’t need anything.” Chase watched a woman who was trying to take his picture and nudged Fax so the sun stallion turned his rear to the lady.
“Yeah, but you’re a werewolf. You’re always hungry. Plus I was going to feel guilty eating in front of you. Should we head back home?”
“Yes.”
“Um, excuse me?” Surprised, I peered down, where I found two college-aged girls standing on the sidewalk. “Could we take a picture with you?”
I blinked in surprise—I figured they’d want Chase’s picture, but not mine. “Um…sure?”
“Thank you!” The spokesperson for the two turned around and held her phone back as the duo arranged themselves so they were in frame along with Eclipse and me.
“You’re a fae warrior, right?” the second girl eagerly asked.
“Nah, nothing like that,” I said.
“She is Queen Leila of the Night Court,” Chase said.
Both of the girls looked at me with dropped jaws. “You’re a queen?”
“Reluctantly, yes.” I tried to give the duo a cheerful smile.
“Oh wow—we’re taking our picture with royalty!” the chattier one squealed.
“Smile!” the other one said.
Once they finished, they thanked me, performed a few adorably bad curtseys that were still better than anything I could do, and were on their way.
“That was fun,” I said as we turned the horses back into the parking lot, preparing to head back home. “I wish more of my role as queen involved fun stuff like this.”
“In a week you’ll be participating in a Court-wide ride,” Chase pointed out.
“Yeah, but it’s not the same.” I sighed, and my stomach took that opportune moment to rumble.
Chase glanced in the direction of my stomach. “Perhaps we ought to head home.”
“That sounds great.” I rearranged my bags, trying to balance them on my saddle, hold my latte, and grip the reins with one hand. “But while I have you alone, I wanted to ask you for a favor.”
A favor—those were dangerous words to say to a fae. Favors meant minute shifts in power, and fae were famous for being able to manipulate something small—like answering a simple question—into something as big as a blood debt if you weren’t careful.
Since Chase was a werewolf, he was the only supernatural on my staff I was comfortable talking to like this.
Chase glanced at me, his golden eyes glowing. “I am yours to command.”
“I’d like you to investigate Lord Linus,” I said. “I know you looked into him when he first came to the mansion, but I want to know more. Specifically, I want to know who he owes money to.”
Chase nodded. “His debt is a dangerous liability.”
“Exactly,” I said. “One I’d like to get settled as quickly as possible.”
“I will look into it.”
“Thanks, Chase. I appreciate it.”
“Of course.” He bowed slightly still on horseback, and his eyes lingered on Eclipse. “You know, Queen Leila, there will be one upside to next week’s ride.”
“Oh? What’s that?” I took another sip of my iced latte and almost shut my eyes in pleasure.
Chase offered me a very slight but thoroughly mischievous smile. “You’ll be riding the night mares—which most of the Court fear greatly.”
Chapter Fourteen
Leila
“I feel betrayed,” I said.
Today’s social event was a Court-wide ride held in the nature preserve in my backyard—which was fun.