in a breath and tried to focus on the documents, but my eyes were tired, and everything was turning squiggly.
To think, I once thought the greatest tragedy in my life was that I couldn’t get a job and launch my Responsible Adult plan. Hah!
“Queen Leila?”
I leaned forward, slightly upsetting Steve, who was curled around my back. “Skye? What are you doing up this late?”
Today Skye was wearing a pencil skirt and a pastel yellow shirt, but to my surprise, she sat down in the middle of the aisle despite her business clothes. “I’m well aware you’ve been staying up late.”
“Did Chase tell you?” I play scowled. “Considering he’s my director of security he certainly doesn’t hesitate to leak information to you and Indigo!”
“It’s because he’s such a good director of security that he does so.” Skye tilted her head in thought for a moment. “That, and his werewolf nature which drives him to protect you—even from yourself.” She shifted her dark gaze to me. “You’re reading up on the Magiford Midsummer Derby?”
“Yeah. I figured I better make sure I don’t break some random rule that the other rulers use as an excuse to hate me. It says each Court that enters must enter a minimum of six horses, but it says nothing about the required number of riders—that seems weird to me.”
“Ah, I believe that rule was made because a number of the local seelie and unseelie Courts that are normally too small to enter would try to ride double and put an inexperienced rider with an experienced one that would control the horse, thus doubling their rider count, allowing them to enter.”
“You can’t race while riding double!”
Skye shrugged. “You cannot win. But it’s vital for any Court that wants to increase its reputation to at least enter. Only those who place near the top increase their Court’s power, however, which is why the regional Courts struggle greatly to win and overcome their rivals.”
I glanced down at my papers. “Huh. Interesting.”
Skye brushed something off her pencil skirt. “I assume it is the prospect of your marriage that keeps you up?”
“Yeah.” I put my papers down and scratched behind Kevin’s ears. “I’ve been trying to puzzle it through for weeks, but I think it’ll have to be Lord Dion.”
“You sound reluctant.”
“It’s because I am,” I admitted. “I feel like marrying him is just a survival tactic—not that we’d truly be fantastic together or because I specifically think he can help me with my goals and plans for the Court. But no matter how many times I’ve thought it over, there’s no one else.”
Silence stretched between us.
Skye delicately placed her hands on her knees. “Do you wish to set a date to make an official announcement?”
It’s not like someone who is exactly what I want is going to pop out of the Night Realm like magic.
“Yeah. How about in a few days? There’s no sense putting it off until the end of summer when I have no other options besides Dion. Oh, but do I need to warn him?”
“Not necessarily.” Skye said. “In fact, it is strongly encouraged that the monarch does not ask their marriage partner ahead of time.”
“Why not? So everyone can witness the humiliation if the other person says no?” I paused. “The other person is allowed to say no, right?”
“They are.” Skye leaned backwards when Whiskers sat up and inquisitively shoved his long whiskers in her direction. “The silence was often adopted to hold back any political ramifications that other nobles might enact, but I suggest you don’t tell him…in case you change your mind at the last moment.”
“An escape route? Skye—aren’t you cunning!” I smiled at her and studied my animals. “In that case, schedule the announcement for Friday.”
“Very well.” Skye hesitantly patted Whiskers on the head with the very stilted motion of someone not used to animals, then stood. “I’ll make the arrangements.”
“Thank you, Skye. You’re priceless.”
She bowed, and turned on her heels.
“Hey, Skye?”
“Yes, Queen Leila?” She turned back around and smiled at me.
“Can you think of anyone else we might be missing?”
She slightly pursed her lips. “The Day King, perhaps?”
“Eww! Heck no. He looks older than Linus—which means he’s got to be older than him! And I am not marrying someone older than my biological father.”
Skye smiled. “Lord Linus would be greatly encouraged to hear that you referred to him as your biological father.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for the thought, Skye, but that is a hard pass.”
“As you say, Queen Leila.”
I sighed, listening as