acceptable, Queen Leila?”
“Yeah. Yeah, it’s fine.” I forced a smile. “Thanks, Skye.”
Skye nodded and stood up, pushing her chair back a little. She was picking her way through the shades when I called after her.
“Skye, who would you recommend?”
Skye passed through the wall of animals before she turned around, her expression contemplative. “Logically, Lord Dion would be the easiest partner,” she said. “He will cause the least trouble, and won’t actively scheme against you since he is a friend of the Paragon’s.”
I narrowed my eyes, hearing something in her voice. “But?”
She hesitated. “I’m not certain he would be the best spouse. He would remain loyal and friendly. But I suspect he wouldn’t quite know how to react to your fire—like the majority of the fae.”
To my fire, huh? I don’t know that I can afford to be sentimental like that, but it still makes me happy Skye notices and thinks about these kinds of things.
“Thank you, Skye.”
She bowed. “Of course, Queen Leila.” She strode from the room—all beauty and elegance despite the cat and dog hair that graced the legs of her slacks.
I leaned back into my chair and groaned. “Am I crazy, Indigo?”
“Yeah,” Indigo factually said. “But that’s okay. Your Court is filled with a bunch of psychos. They could use your brand of crazy.”
I laughed. “Thanks.”
Indigo shrugged and shed her sweater like she tended to do now when it was just the two of us. Today she wore a yellow Hufflepuff shirt, which she fidgeted with. “My Sovereign?”
“Hmm?”
“I wanted to offer my help, if you think you need it,” Indigo said.
“Oh!” I perked up. “Really? I actually do need some help, and I’m fairly certain you’re the only one in my Court who can help me.”
Indigo pushed her glasses farther up her nose. “With what?”
“This.” I pulled out a catalog of horse equipment and clothes for riders. “I need, like, three of this helmet—in this size.” I tapped the helmet I’d circled with a red marker.
Indigo took the magazine, but her forehead was more wrinkled that the clothes sitting at the bottom of my closet. “Why do you need me to get them?”
“Because I’m guessing based on how much merch you buy online, you have Amazon Prime, right?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect! That means free shipping—and I checked, it’s the same price on Amazon as it is in the catalog!” I clapped my hands in glee.
Indigo peered down at the glossy catalog page. “Are you seriously having me order this just so you can save a few bucks on shipping?”
I scowled. “You have no idea how deep in debt this Court is. Every dollar counts!”
“Then why are you getting new helmets?” Indigo asked. “I thought Dusk and Dawn found one for you.”
“Yes, an older one with no head vents. It makes me get as sweaty as a pig, and I’m pretty sure it’s been sitting around for a long time. Who knows if it will actually protect my head when I fall?”
“You take head damage very seriously,” Indigo said. “I would have thought you’d trust your night mares more.”
“I trust my night mares. I just don’t trust any of the fae nobles, unless they are unconscious,” I corrected.
“I see,” Indigo said.
“Do you mind getting it? I can get you the money right now.”
Indigo breathed out, making her cheeks puff. “Sure. I’ll order them tonight.”
“Thank you!”
I was trying to remember where I’d hidden my wallet, when Indigo continued.
“I’m happy to do this for you, but when I offered my help, I had something more specific in mind.”
“Oh?”
Indigo tugged on the hem of her Harry Potter shirt. “Yes. I was thinking that since it seems like you trust me these days?” She looked up at me for confirmation.
“I do,” I assured her.
“Maybe, so you don’t have to eat protein bars and jerky all the time…” She sucked a big breath in. “I could cook for you!”
I blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I know you don’t want to eat anything made by a fae—and after the night at the restaurant I totally understand why. But I’m still concerned about your health, and it doesn’t seem fair that you have to run on such terrible food. I was thinking that I could make your meals. We could keep your food in a locked fridge, and as long as I make it and we banish everyone from the kitchens while I’m finishing so no one can do something to it, it should be safe.”
I leaned back in my chair, making it creak, and stared dumbly at Indigo.
“I’m not an