7. Puck
I silently fume. Edina’s my friend and she’s colluding with the enemy. I know that makes me sound like a spoiled brat, but I feel a bit like one at the moment.
I keep hunting for similarities between Lysandra and Titania, but besides the short stature, I can’t find any. Where Titania was all hard lines and sharp features, Lysandra is soft and gentle. Even the hardest parts of her—her glares and the way she lifts her chin when challenged—are a far cry from the woman who bore her.
Either way, it makes me uneasy. The rage I thought was quelled when I severed Titania’s head writhes in my chest. It’s a heavy, breathing thing that twists my insides and makes me want to do the same to Lysandra simply so I don’t have to be reminded every time I look at her.
“I think we should make the inaugural ball a masquerade,” Lysandra announces, her eyes sparkling with the idea.
I scoff in derision. “You want your introduction to Faerie to be behind a mask?” I lazily cross my legs, propping my ankle on my knee as I lean back in my armchair.
“What’s your idea, then?” She crosses her legs, mimicking my posture, but all it does is draw my attention to her thick thighs wrapped in denim—which is more like a second skin. A vision of those thighs wrapped around my head comes unbidden into my brain; I shake it away before it can take root. What in the goddess’ name is wrong with me?
Edina watches me with her head cocked to the side, as if she saw right into my mind and watched the fantasy play out. I scowl at her in return. If I can focus on my anger toward my friend, maybe I won’t get caught up thinking other forbidden thoughts.
“I think we should have a Spring Court tradition,” I counter. Lysandra may have studied Faerie extensively, but there’s no way she can know everything. “A labyrinth party.”
Larisa coos in excitement and claps her hands, while Eldoris groans good-naturedly. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a true labyrinth party, though the hedge maze has been used frequently by children of the court and during some outdoor festivals.
“A what now?” Edina asks, looking between the rest of us.
“It’s a maze with a party at the center, Larisa says.
“You’re gonna make me work for my food?” she whines, and Eldoris leans in and whispers something that makes her giggle. “Okay fine, it sounds fun.”
“Remind me how it works here,” Radley says. “When we have corn mazes in my court, they change every time. Isn’t the hedge maze always the same?”
“The gardeners change it right before the party and seal off the top so no one can fly over and cheat,” I explain. Radley snaps his fingers like he was planning on doing just that.
“You don’t want me to wear a mask, but you think a maze is a good introduction to Faerie?” Lysandra asks flatly.
I shrug. “It works in my favor to have you lost in a maze while the rest of us party in the center.”
Her lips turn up into a Cheshire Cat smile. “On second thought, I think a labyrinth sounds amazing. It will give you a taste of what it’s like to lose.”
Radley whistles low while everyone else’s heads ping-pong between us. I lock eyes with Lysandra. Her gaze is unwavering, barely blinking as the two of us engage in a battle to see who will break first.
In an odd stroke of genius, I reach out with my mind to see if hers is shielded. In Faerie, one of the first things we learn is mental magic: the art of reading someone’s mind or communicating with telepathy. Unfortunately, since everyone in the realm can do it, we often opt to keep our minds locked in impenetrable shields.
But Lysandra didn’t grow up here. She grew up in the mortal realm, where only a select few know how to use mental magic. It stands to reason she never learned to shield her mind.
Keeping eye contact so she doesn’t suspect anything, I gently slide into her mind and find a shield erected, but it doesn’t deter me. So she learned how to shield; it doesn’t mean it’s any good. My magic surrounds it, searching for a way in. I find a small crack and slip past her defenses.
Inside, I find an image—the same image that seared my mind minutes ago. Lysandra is naked and running her hands over her body, starting at her soft stomach and sliding up to her large breasts. Her thighs are clamped over my head as she rides my face. She leans back, giving me a view of her face twisted in ecstasy. I stifle a moan as she reaches behind her and wraps a hand around my cock.
Then, her eyes pop open in the vision, full of mocking and malice. Did you think I didn’t learn to protect my mind? The words fill my brain, and all too quickly I realize she let me in.
And she did it to prove she read my mind earlier, catching my brief fantasy.
Seething, I withdraw and look away from scrutiny, letting her win our unspoken battle. She gives a satisfied smirk and says, “What should we have for food?”
I let Larisa and Edina give their opinions on food for the ball, muttering in agreement with whatever they wanted. I’m vaguely aware when my attendant, Darient, comes to take orders and relay them to the palace staff, but my head isn’t in it anymore.
When the litany of details is finally planned, Lysandra stands with an exaggerated yawn. “I’m off to my rooms. I need to change.” She tugs down her black shirt, the neckline riding lower on her tits and drawing my attention straight to them.
Fucking hell, I need to get it together.
“If anyone would like to join me, I’ll be next door.” She doesn’t wait for their answer, just waves and exits my rooms. Immediately, I put a shield around the room so she can’t come back and stalk to the bar cart.
Radley bursts out laughing. “Don’t you even dare,” I warn, taking my frustration out on my decanter as I squeeze the neck and slosh way too much whiskey into my tumbler. I shoot it back in one gulp and repeat the process.
“What was that?” Larisa asks.
“Looks like Lysandra got the jump on Puck,” Edina teases. She leans into Eldoris, who tries to hide his grin behind his glass.
“She did not.”
“Mhm. So, she slipped past your mental defenses? What on earth—”
“That’s a human phrase,” Eldoris murmurs.
“—Did she see that has you so rattled?” she continues, ignoring her betrothed’s correction.
“Something salacious, I bet.” Radley leans forward, putting his arms on his knees and dreamily sighing. “There’s nothing sexier than a mouthy female who puts you in your place.”
“Can’t argue with that.” Eldoris raises his glass in cheers, and Edina playfully swats at his arm.
“If you’re not taking a run at it, do you mind if I do?” The glint in Radley’s eyes is mischievous and goading, and I hate that my body reacts to it. The rage that was coiled in my gut from Lysandra is now directed at him for speaking about her like she’s an it. Like she’s just another conquest for him to claim.
“Fuck off,” I grumble and take another drink. Edina watches my drinking, concern creasing her brow. After I rejected her, Edina used alcohol as a way to numb the pain, and she worries I’ll do the same. With one final swallow, I abandon my whiskey in favor of water.
“You can’t do anything with her,” Larisa insists when I resume my seat. “Goddess, what would people think if you’re fucking the female trying to steal your crown? Never mind the fact that she’s Titania’s daughter.”
“He knows,” Edina snaps in my defense. Larisa purses her lips but thankfully stops talking. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I let the hum of the whiskey quiet the thoughts of the day and return me to some sort of normal mental state.
“I need to have sex,” I mutter. That has to be it; it’s been too long. It’s the only reason Lysandra is appealing to me.
“Not it,” Edina says, placing the tip of her finger on her nose. Everyone looks at her curiously, and she huffs. “Lysandra would have understood that.” I glower; she blows me a kiss. “But seriously, do you want to go out? I can find you a male or female who’d be happy to take the edge off.”
“I’m not asking my former mate to help me get laid.” But the offer brings the first genuine smile to my lips since this whole mess began.
She places her hand on her chest, feigning offense. “I am an excellent wing-woman.”
“That’s another human phrase,” Radley says. Edina throws a pillow at him. “But I can corroborate that. Not that I need the help, but she did close the deal between me and two Dragon shifters.” He reaches over and bumps Edina’s knuckles with his own, a human gesture she’s insisted we adopt.
“Can we talk about literally anything else?” I ask, causing the group to laugh.
“Want to talk about why you didn’t pick me for your team?” Larisa asks. Her tone is a little snotty, but I know her well enough to recognize the pain and betrayal beneath her words.
“Because I’m an ass and an idiot,” I say and reach for her hand. “Forgive me?”
“You’ll find a way to make it up to me.”
Fuck. She wants a favor.
I reluctantly agree, knowing it’s better not to make an enemy of her than to give into my aversion surrounding favors.
“Larisa, you should take one for the team and screw Puck,” Radley declares.
“I have a boyfriend.”
“And you’re exclusive?” he grimaces. Larisa takes a page from Edina’s book and throws a pillow at him. He’s unphased, shoving the pillows behind his back and wriggling obnoxiously to get comfortable.
“What do you think the trial will be?” Edina asks no one in particular.
“It’s about leadership, right?” Eldoris asks. “I’d wager it will be something about your ability to command us. Which is difficult, since we’re all headstrong royals who don’t want to listen to anyone.”
I groan. “So, basically, I’m fucked.”
Everyone but Larisa laughs. “Do you want me to sabotage her team?” she whispers. “I can make it very hard for her to work with me.”
I consider it, but something about her offer doesn’t sit right. It feels like another trial, something that’s meant to test my integrity. “No,” I say finally. “No, I want to win on my own merit.” Her eyes meet mine and something passes between us, some echo of our former friendship. Its not much, but her nod of approval means something. It means I can still mend the bridges I burnt over the past four hundred years.
“So you three—” I point at each member of my team in turn, “—better fucking listen.”
“I’m a soldier, I can take orders,” Eldoris says, raising his hands in surrender.
“I got you, brother,” Radley says.
I turn to Edina, who grins sheepishly. “I will do my best.”
We spend a bit longer discussing ideas and contemplating what the trials will look like before Radley, Eldoris, and Larisa head to their rooms, leaving me alone with Edina.
“You have nothing to worry about,” she says, sitting on the arm of my chair and resting her head atop mine.
“I’m not worried.”
“I meant about me.” I pull back and meet her eyes. “Look, I met Lysandra a few times in the mortal realm. She was training with Katie, and we all got along. I won’t be an asshole to her, I may even be her friend, but I’m on your side. I hope you know that. I’m Team Puck through and through. You’re the one that deserves this crown.”
“Thanks,” I murmur and wrap my arm around her waist. I didn’t know how badly I needed to hear that until she said it.
“Now, tell me what she saw in your mind.”
She squeals as I shove her off the armchair.