Crown of Shadows (Court of Midnight and Deception #1) - K. M. Shea Page 0,85

amazing cook or anything,” she blurted out. “But I think I’m okay—better than just beef jerky, anyway. And I can only really cook human foods—my mom loves it, that’s how I got introduced to human forms of entertainment.”

I wasn’t just shocked, I was speechless. I couldn’t help but close my eyes and think. I could eat again. No more choking down fruit snacks for breakfast, or eating an entire cucumber for lunch. I could have food. Cooked food.

I’m not an emotional person, but I’ll admit that my eyes felt hot, and I knew if I thought about it much longer I was going to start crying.

Ever since coming to the Night Court my sleep hadn’t been great, and my eating habits were worse. I felt half defeated just waking up in the morning. But if I could eat again…

Maybe I could teach her how to make coffee.

“That is, if all of this is okay with you? And I haven’t offended you?” Indigo’s voice was small now, and I realized in my unsurpassed joy I hadn’t done anything to show just how excited I was.

I almost lunged across the desk. “No—I think it’s an amazing idea. A thoughtful idea! It’s just—no one has been this nice to me since I arrived.” My throat tightened. “And I really, really just want to eat anything cooked.”

Indigo’s eyes were moon-like, and she sucked her neck into her shoulders under my passionate enthusiasm. But when I finished speaking, she offered me a smile. “I’m glad. I was thinking last night when I decided I was going to offer this that it’s not a common role for a monarch’s companion. But you’re not a common monarch, and I want to support you however I can.”

I grinned at her. “Even when I’m planning to rile up my nobles?”

“Especially then.” Indigo rolled her eyes. “Please. The fae might have adopted stuff like cellphones and the internet, but in a lot of ways they’re back in the dark ages. I hope you make them upset—they’re waltzing around like a bunch of regency heroines.”

“Ah-ha!” I pointed at Indigo. “I think so, too!”

Indigo sniffed angrily in agreement. She jumped when Steve put her head on Indigo’s lap, then cautiously patted her.

“Since you’re with me in this, I’m going to let you in on a little secret.” I was so excited, I could barely sit still in my chair. “You know that Court event next week that is supposed to be held at some fancy—and expensive—restaurant?”

“Yes?”

I chuckled. “I’ve canceled that reservation and rented out a different location.”

“Where?”

Chapter Twenty-One

Rigel

“Mini golf?” Dion gaped up at the sign hanging over the location of our Court social. “Is she for real?”

I shrugged. “It seems congruent with her twisted sense of humor.”

“We’re fae,” Dion said. “Does she really expect the nobles to play mini golf?”

I glanced at my friend. “I was unaware you were such an avid hater of miniature golf.”

“I’m not—I’ve actually played it before, and it’s pretty fun. But can you picture the likes of Lady Demetria or Lord Thales?” Dion rubbed his forehead and sighed.

I turned back and looked in the direction of our cars. “Are we not attending, then?”

“No, we’re going in.” Dion grimly squared his shoulders. “I need to convince her to marry me, and you are my moral support, Rigel. Come on.”

We went inside, and the new queen had very cunningly set Lord Linus up as the official greeter responsible for explaining the game and giving everyone equipment.

Lord Linus had always been a Court favorite, and given that he’d managed to avoid making enemies—although he had inspired a lot of gossip given his travels across the human world, much less the fact that he’d married a human and now, apparently, fathered our new queen.

It was an easy thing for him to sweet talk fae ladies into taking brightly colored golf balls, and hand off ridiculously small golf clubs with a wink to his fellow lords.

He got Dion and me through the doors in record speed, ejecting us into the strange world of mini golf—a swathe of fake greenery and plastic with unnatural bright colors that assaulted my eyes.

I stared at the black ball Lord Linus had given me—very original of him—then glanced at Dion. “If you try to make me play, I will kill you.”

Dion laughed uneasily. “Fear not—I’m not that confident in our friendship. Come on.”

The mini golf course was a confusing swirl of holes accented with animal statues, miniature architecture, and blue pools of water that likely contained all