be called pots. Fae lights hung from the ceiling, brightening the room to sunlit levels, and a strip of thick carpet ran down the center of the space, leading us to a polished wood desk. But the man behind the desk took one look at Kardri and jumped off his chair to rush over to us.
“Leopard Lord.” The man bowed deeply to Kardri. “It's an honor to serve you again. I have the royal suite available for you.”
Kardri nodded. “That will do.”
“Wonderful!” The man clapped and a flock of humans scrambled over from their posts throughout the room, all dressed in tasseled uniforms. “See to the Leopard Lord's belongings while I escort him to his suite.”
“My attendants and personal Guard will need accommodations as well,” Kardri motioned to our escort as they came in with the footmen and the trunks.
“Of course, my lord,” the man practically drooled over Kardri. “We'll see to them as well.” He nodded to one of his employees, and the man ran to the desk to check everyone in. “Right this way.”
We were led up a grand, central staircase, across a landing that overlooked the entry, then over to a locked door with a brass sign that read, No Admittance. The clerk opened it for us, and we followed him up several circling flights before we stepped into an antechamber. I'd expected a corridor of doors, but there was only one door directly across from the stairs. A brass plaque above the door was engraved with the words, The Royal Suite.
That stairwell was a private entrance? What the fuck?
The clerk opened the door for us and light—pure, bright, fae light—illuminated the space beyond. As I mentioned before, humans generally don't use faerie lights, but this hotel was made to make the Fae feel at home and it looked as if they used nothing but. The clerk stepped back so that Kardri could enter first and then bowed as Kardri breezed by. I followed Kar into the room, giving the human a small grin as I passed him. He nodded respectfully to me, closed the door behind us, then rushed forward to flit about a living room that could have fit Kardri's entire tent. The man fluffed pillows and inspected the space before rushing off into another room.
“This place is ridiculous,” I whispered to Kardri as we wandered through the extravagant living room with its two separate sitting areas, a fireplace, and a bar. Oh and let's not forget the glittering crystal chandeliers above our heads—there were three of them.
“It's adequate.” Kardri shrugged.
I gaped at him. The couch probably cost more than I made in a year, and he thought it was adequate. “There are tassels on everything. Do you put tassels on everything in Varalorre?”
“No.” Kardri snickered. “This is a human's idea of how we live.”
The clerk returned to us via another doorway, “I've turned on the lights and turned down the bed for you, my lord. Would you like a fire as well? The evening is rather chilly.”
“Yes, thank you.” Kardri headed past him toward one of the open doors in the left wall.
I followed Kar into a bedroom that did the suite's name proud. A giant bed, covered in a puffy blanket and more pillows than were remotely necessary, lounged beneath a golden crown large enough for Kar to wear in his leopard form. The crown hung from the ceiling with pieces of silky fabric falling from its center to flow out and drape over the four posters. Around the bed, delicate furniture with matching, hand-painted designs, stood proudly along the walls. But Kardri only paid the bedroom a cursory glance before he went through another doorway.
I felt a little like a puppy, but I couldn't stop following him. The room he'd entered was a bathroom, most of its surfaces tiled in glossy blue, with countertops of creamy marble. There was a shower, a tub, and a toilet in its own room. A fucking room for the toilet. Probably to confine the odor if someone went number two. Rich people act like their shit don't stink, so I assumed this room was to help maintain that illusion.
I snorted and walked out, but Kardri turned on the taps in the enormous, white tub. I glanced back at him. He left the water running and passed by me, heading out of the bedroom and into the main room. The clerk had the fire going and was standing beside it with a large, tasseled set of keys.