Chapter 37
AS WE APPROACHED the dinner plates at one end of the buffet, the toddy left, moving toward the nearby dessert table. We were going to miss our chance. I blurted loudly, “I don’t think my—”
“Wait for me to set you up,” Soren whispered in my ear.
His warm breath on my skin made me shiver. I swallowed, nodded, and picked up a dinner plate when he did. Chill, I reminded myself. This won’t work if you sound crazy.
Whatever food the court served that night, I didn’t know, since I slapped it on the dinnerware without looking.
Soren touched my elbow as we met at the other end of the table, turning toward the desserts and, more importantly, the unaware toddy.
Leaning close to my ear once again, he asked softly, “You’re going to eat pickled marsh grubs?
You should probably know that they’re generally baked with a mold crust as a delicacy for certain folk. ”
My eyes widened. I tried not to gag since we were close to the toddy now, but one glance at the plate had me covering my mouth.
Soren chuckled.
“Shh,” I hissed as we came to a stop by a raised platter of brownies and a five-tier cake.
I smacked his arm, but I couldn’t help chuckling when he raised a brow.
It helped release some of my tension. This time, I was the one to invade his space as I whispered, “You know the food is just for looks!”
“Still,” he murmured back with a teasing glint in his eye as he picked up a cookie. “There were a dozen other options that would’ve been more believable. You really are a terrible liar.”
Adding a slice of cake to my plate, I rolled my eyes.
I was about to ask him why he’d say that right now, since it was literally the worst timing, but he continued speaking at a more normal volume. “If your mother is from the Grimhollow clan, then I would’ve thought she’d come for her family if they were in trouble.”
Oh. Oh! Showtime. Okay, Brynn, you can do this.
“No, I don’t think my mom would come for us,” I said, like we’d rehearsed.
But saying the words out loud made me tense.
I obviously didn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it.
But somehow, saying it, it made me worry .
. . Mom was fae, after all, and I never would’ve guessed that either.
What if I’d never really known her at all?
Was there the slightest possibility she really wouldn’t come for us?
Then I started to panic, because what if I’d just started believing my own lie?
And what if that made it true? Then the toddy wouldn’t smell anything—
Soren must’ve seen the panic written all over my face, because he took my plate out of my hand and set both our meals on the dessert table in one smooth motion before pulling me into his arms. His hug enveloped my whole body.
My face pressed into his warm, firm chest. His arms surrounded me, blocking out the rest of the court and whatever the toddy was doing, but suddenly, I didn’t care so much. I could stay here forever.
My rapid breathing slowly smoothed out.
Without releasing me, Soren leaned down slightly so his lips touched my ear. I closed my eyes and tried not to react. “The toddy is on the move. I think he bought it.”
Reluctantly, I pulled back, just enough to look over my shoulder. “Really?”
“I don’t know what was going on in that head of yours, but it helped sell it.” He let go of me then.
I missed his warmth, wishing I could hold on a little longer.
“Yeah, that was the goal,” I lied, hoping I sold this one too, though I was blinking too much, so not likely. I cleared my throat and smiled at him. “Now what?”
“Now we wait.”
***
Over the next agonizing hour, Julian showed up first, followed by Lore shortly after.
“Aviana looked ready to kick me out so she could go tell someone.” Lore hooted with laughter.
Julian cackled. “I told Dewdrop not to say anything because I ‘wasn’t sure what Caius might do.’ The second I turned the corner, she opened her wings so fast I heard them crack.”
Clapping her hands, Lore hopped in place, grinning wide. “Dewdrop is perfect! She’s too scared of court to go there directly. The rumor will go through at least one other set of ears before it reaches the prince.”
I grinned at their excitement. It was contagious.
“I know Gwen can’t be here, but where’s Peregrin?” I asked after they finally settled enough to eat with us. I’d gone back to get a more edible plate, obviously, sticking to foods I could recognize at a glance, like bread and cheese.
A strange look passed between the three of them.
“I hope to see him soon,” Soren replied vaguely. He kept his eyes on his plate and wouldn’t look at me, which raised more red flags.
“What’s going on?”
“His task is most likely taking him a bit longer,” Soren replied.
I couldn’t pinpoint why that made me even more suspicious. “Why would his rumor take him longer?”
“We should focus on what to do once the rumors reach the prince,” Soren deflected once again.
I didn’t want to let him change the subject, but now that he’d brought it up, I needed to know. “Do you think it’ll be enough for him to let my family out of their contract?”
“Brynn Donovan,” a commanding voice came from a tiny little fae who looked like a porcelain doll with deep blue hair and equally blue feathered wings.
Some of the feathers were plated in gold, and her entire outfit was blue and gold from head to toe.
“You’re summoned to meet with the royal family. Immediately.”
Getting the prince’s attention had been our goal, so why did it feel like being called to the principal’s office?
Two flaps of her wings lifted her off the tall table she’d landed on, and she flitted away without waiting for a response.
“I guess we’ll find out what Caius will do soon enough,” Soren murmured as we all stood.