Page 66 of The Broken Elf King
TWELVE
The next morning we ate breakfast together in the small private dining room I was used to being with him in.
“Can I be your assistant again? Being a party planner is boring,” I asked, taking a piece of egg into my mouth and chewing. It was weird not being the food taster anymore. Somehow there was a more heightened sense of anxiety. Did the new taster really eat a piece of every food? Had they waited the full three minutes? Could they be trusted?
I almost wanted to go back to cooking for Raife and having him do the dishes. It was a simpler time then.
He snort-laughed at my question. “No, you’re my queen. Being my assistant would be inappropriate.”
I chewed on my lip. “Well, I’m bored. Can I help at the infirmary or with planning the war?”
He set down his fork and looked over at me. “I have to go speak to an old friend. It might go better if you were with me.”
I perked up. “A trip? Ohh, sounds fun.”
“Don’t get too excited. This is a trip to see the fae king of Thorngate.”
My eyes bugged. “You want to willingly go see the winter king?”
He laughed, as if he enjoyed my assessment of his “old friend.”
“I need his help in the war,” was all he said.
I nodded. “Okay, and on the way back we can pick up my aunt?”
Raife gave me a stern look. “You’re pushing it.”
“Those are my terms. You have the map Autumn gave me, and we are married now, so I think the council will approve it.” I popped a gooseberry into my mouth and he set his forehead against the table with a thunk.
“Fine,” he grumbled, and I smiled, standing and walking over to him. I brushed my fingers along the back of his neck as I passed.
“See you later, darling,” I trilled.
Maybe being queen wasn’t half bad if I got my way some of the time.
* * *
I would be lyingif I didn’t admit that I was terrified to meet King Thorne. Lucien Thorne had a reputation for being an unforgiving prick. Steal from him, he’d cut off your hand. Lie to him, lose your tongue. Of the four fae courts, he was always chosen as king year after year because this ruthlessness meant he was feared. Those who were feared did not get taken advantage of. There was even a rumor that the Nightfall queen considered Lucien a worthy adversary and didn’t bother him as much as the other royals.
I tried to probe the depth of Raife and Lucien’s relationship as we traveled in the carriage. “So you and Lucien were friends growing up?”
Raife was dressed in a Bow Men warrior uniform, and even kept his bow and arrows nearby as if he expected an attack. “Were,” was all Raife said.
I frowned. “Why did you stop?”
Raife’s eyes flicked to the bust of my cream chiffon gown. I was a queen now, and going to meet with another royal. I had to play the part, and dress to impress. The cut of my neckline was completely proper, and yet Raife still snuck glances as if hoping to catch a glimpse of my cleavage. I wasn’t sure if this made me happy at this point or pissed me off. He needed to figure out what he wanted.
Raife sighed. “I went to a really dark place after my parents died and I was crowned king,” he said.
I reached out and grasped his hand, and he startled a little, as if he didn’t expect the act of kindness. He squeezed it and then let it drop.
“What happened?” Now I really wanted to know,neededto know.
Raife winced. “Lucien wasn’t able to help me in my fight against the queen as he was only a prince then, but he came and visited often. No matter how many times I tried to throw him out, he came back every weekend.”
My heart melted in that moment. Was this the same Lucien Thorne I’d heard about?
“Well, why aren’t you friends anymore?”
