Page 18 of Fae's Mate
“Right, I am off to explore, and maybe find someone who can point me toward something I cansmoke.”
With that, Willow rises from the cushioned floor and heads for the wide-open door, bangles jangling and patchwork skirt swishing.
“Want me to do yours?” Amber asks Charlotte, gesturing to her hair.
“If you don’t mind…”
“Keeping my hands busy is stopping me from getting stressed out about this whole situation.”
Charlotte smiles excitedly and scoots in front of Amber, pulling her hair free of a hair band and leaning back, sighing happily as Amber finger combs her honeyed locks.
I drag a book over from the pile that Alana and Riley have accumulated and start sifting through the pages, in search of anything that will help us get out of Ethea.
Chapter 12
High Lord
My sister is waiting for me when I enter my study. A good job too, as it saves me from tracking her down.
“This just arrived for you,” she informs me, holding up an ivory envelope.
I take the letter from her and open it silently. She stays draped inmychair, looking bored, while she twirls one of her thick brown curls around her finger.
“Good, the High Lord of Summer Court has agreed to host five of the humans. He’s expecting them by the end of the week. With our brother detained, you will need to escort them.”
“I have other plans.” She brushes me off.
“Cancel them.”
“I can’t,” she insists.
“Then I assume you will be happy to run things here whileIescort them to Summer Court.”
She glares at me then, a look that would have a lesser fae on their knees, but I simply tilt my head in challenge. Her features twitch with frustration and she runs her tongue along her teeth.
“Fine.”
I bob my head in forced appreciation. “You should dine with us tonight. Get to know them.”
“A generous offer, brother, but I’ll pass.”
“I think it will do you good.”
“I have no interest in getting to know any of the humans. As soon as you release our brother, I expect we will shove them straight back through that portal. It will be bad enough travelling with them to Summer Court. Although admittedly ithasbeen a while since I attended one of the High Lord’s beach parties.”
“And you didn’t want to go.”
She gives me a sarcastic grin, then rises from my seat. I can almost understand why other fae throw themselves at my sister. Nearly my height, she moves with a fluid grace that is unparalleled. Her thick, dark curls reach nearly to her waist, interrupted only by her delicate high pointed ears and adorned with gold cuffs. Immaculately dressed, as always, she wears colours and cuts of cloth that accentuate her figure. If only she weren’t so bitter and lazy.
As she glides across the room to the door, I remember why I wished to see her.
“Sister, one more thing,” I wait until she turns back to me before continuing. “The humans need clothing. I will arrange something for the male, but I seem to recall an entire room of unused dresses in your possession. I will send servants to collect them. Be sure to have ten suitably selected when they arrive.”
“The servants can select them themselves.”
“I would prefer you to do it.”
“I’m far too busy to rummage through my old attire in order to dress your new pets.”
