32. ZARA
ZARA
“I didn’t hurt him you know. I would never,” Alara said as we strolled down the palace steps to where the carriage was waiting, “but I warned him I’d kick him if he started insulting Seth, so I had no choice but to follow through or I’d have lost all credibility.”
“You may not have hurt him, but you definitely shocked him.” Not that I didn’t think he deserved it. “Does he really think a demigod isn’t good enough for me? I would have thought if anything it was the other way round.”
“I’m afraid he does think that. He’s never liked Seth. He and I were friends long before I met Gideon and he’s never really forgiven him for it.”
“What?” I stopped short as the implication in those words hit me.
“Do you mean the two of you were…” I couldn’t bring myself to finish that sentence.
I knew from what Taryn had told me about him and Alissa that probably no one here would bat an eyelid at Seth taking up with his ex-lover’s daughter, but the thought of it alone had the delicious lunch I’d just eaten threatening to reappear.
She looked at me blankly for a few seconds before she realised what I was getting at and her nose wrinkled up in distaste.
“No! Oh gods, no. That wasn’t what I meant at all. Seth and I were friends. Just friends. We never…”
Oh, thank goodness for that. As much as I loved Seth, I wasn’t sure I’d have been able to get past something like that.
“So why is Gideon so against him then?” I started walking again when she tugged impatiently on my arm to get me moving. “If you were just friends?”
She put her finger to her lips as we approached the carriage and the guard waiting to help us inside and didn’t start talking again until the carriage started moving.
“When a fae first finds their mate, they can become very possessive, and your father was worse than most in that regard. Seth and I were already friends at the time I met Gideon, and he felt that us continuing our friendship was inappropriate and I should cut all contact with him. I refused of course, as any self-respecting female would.” Good for her.
“Every time Seth came to Fae, we’d have a completely innocent catch up, just like we always had, and Gideon would sulk like a baby over it for days, sometimes weeks afterwards.
Of course, Seth being Seth, he started manufacturing reasons to come here just to wind Gideon up, but in the end I couldn’t deal with the stress of it anymore.
I asked him to stop visiting so often and over the years we drifted further and further apart until we rarely saw each other.
“But that’s why Gideon isn’t happy about you being with Seth. First he was convinced he had designs on his mate and now he’s bonded to his daughter. It’s like the poor man’s worst nightmare come true.” She grinned. “Personally I see it as payback for all the sulking he did back then.”
The carriage came to a stop and the same guard who’d seen us into it opened the door and helped us out.
“Thank you, Steven. You may wait for us with the carriage.”
“My apologies, Your Majesty. The King has issued strict instructions I am to accompany you at all times.” The stiff tone and the way he said The King left little doubt about where his allegiance lay.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, what on earth does he think is going to happen to us just doing a bit of shopping?” she huffed, rolling her eyes. “Very well. I suppose you can make yourself useful carrying some bags. Come along, Zara.” She sailed off towards the nearest shop and I scurried after her.
“What do you think of that dress?” She pointed to a floor length white muslin number embroidered with sunflowers on display in the window. With its empire waist and little puff sleeves it looked like something from the cover of a Regency romance novel.
“It’s a bit…” I really didn’t know how to say it was hideous without offending her.
“I know it’s not what you’re used to, but if we’re to present you at Court you’re going to need to dress the part. Gideon would have kittens if you walked around the palace wearing what you are now once we’ve openly acknowledged you as our heir.”
I frowned. “But you’re not wearing a dress like that.” Admittedly her outfit was a lot smarter than my jeans and blouse, but she didn’t look like she’d just walked off the set of Bridgerton.
“Yes, but we’re not at Court now. Look, don’t worry about it today, I can always have a seamstress come to the palace, and we can have her design some dresses you’ll like.
Let’s just concentrate on getting you some more appropriate everyday clothes for now.
” That was a very tactful way of saying I was underdressed.
“Perhaps we should talk about that a bit more before we make any decisions,” I suggested. “But I’m up for getting some new pyjamas if you know anywhere that does cosy ones. Oh, and I almost forgot to ask, will my debit card work here?”
“Oh dear, you really don’t have a clue what being royalty is like, do you?
” she said with a chuckle. “It’s going to be so much fun teaching you.
We don’t carry cards or cash, the bills get sent to the palace and they’ll be paid.
Don’t give another thought to money. Just get whatever you want.
Let’s have a quick look in here before we go pyjama hunting. ”
Within the space of an hour I’d developed a healthy respect for Alara’s ability to spend money like it was going out of fashion. We’d accumulated so many bags and boxes between us that I could barely see our guard as he staggered along behind us, trying not to drop any.
“I would normally have had them all delivered to the palace,” she confided in a whisper, “but that little worm takes far too much pleasure in reporting back to Gideon, so I’m getting my own back. Let’s have some fun with him.”
She spun round to face him, and it was a wonder he saw her in time to stop himself from barrelling into her with the way his vision was hampered by everything he was carrying.
“Steven, you poor thing, you look like you’re about to collapse under the weight of all those bags.
” Her tone oozed fake concern, and I had to turn away and pretend to admire a flower display so he wouldn’t see me struggling not to laugh.
“Why don’t you pop them back to the carriage while Zara and I sit in that café over there and have a nice cold drink. And maybe an ice cream.”
“The King ordered me not to leave your side, Your Majesty,” he said stiffly, his tone just short of disrespectful.
“Oh, of course he did. Silly me. What was I thinking? Never mind then. Look, there’s a nice bench over there you’ll be able to see us from.
Why don’t you sit yourself down there while you wait for us.
Give your arms a rest from carrying everything.
” She pointed out a bench that was positioned right in the sun with no shade whatsoever.
“Of course, Your Majesty.” The poor man looked like he was about to cry as he plonked himself down on the bench and cast a longing look at the drinks on display.
“Don’t you think we should ask him to join us?” I said after we’d ordered. “Or at least send him a cold drink over? He looks like he’s about to pass out.” She flicked her fingers and a silencing bubble surrounded us.
“No. He’s just putting on an act to try and gain your sympathy.
He’s perfectly capable of creating his own shade if he wants to, so don’t make the mistake of feeling sorry for him.
He’s a grovelling little sycophant. Last time Gideon sicced him on me, I went to the ladies’ room and came out wearing a glamour so I could sneak past him.
It was just a bit of fun, and you’d think that when I tapped him on the shoulder and said boo a few minutes later he’d have seen the funny side and been relieved he wasn’t going to have to tell Gideon he’d lost me.
But noooo, not Steven, he actually ratted me out and begged Gideon’s forgiveness for letting me trick him. I detest snitches.”
I almost felt sorry for him, until I glanced back over and saw he was looking perfectly content until he noticed me looking at him and his expression swiftly changed to one of discomfort.
“Look over at him now and then while we’re chatting, it will make him think we’re talking about him,” she said. “It’ll drive him nuts not knowing what we’re saying.”
I wasn’t sure whether to be amused or horrified, and I wasn’t convinced Steven was entirely to blame for the animosity between them.
Guarding her looked to be far more challenging than it needed to be, even if Gideon’s protectiveness irked her.
And she was the queen, after all, so she could hardly expect to go around without some kind of security detail.
“Can I ask you something, Zara?” she said, taking a sip of her iced caramel macchiato with added whipped cream and sprinkles.
Yuk. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but I can’t help wondering why you’re here.
Not that we aren’t delighted to have you.
But it seems very unlike Seth to be prepared to have you out of his sight for so long. ”
It was a question I was expecting of course, but I’d hoped it wouldn’t be asked so quickly.
“Perhaps I can make it easier for you. We’re hearing a lot of rumours that he isn’t even in the mortal realm.
Did something happen between you? Are you going through a bad patch?
” Oh crap. We’d known word would get out eventually, but I hadn’t expected people to think he’d left me.
“Anything you share with me and Gideon won’t go any further. You have my word.”
“It’s true that he isn’t in the mortal realm right now,” I admitted. “But no, we haven’t split up, not at all. I miss him like crazy and I’m sure he’s feeling the same. Something came up that he had to deal with on behalf of the gods, but we’re both hoping that he’ll be back very soon.”