The Dark Fae (The World of Fae #1)(17)

“No,” Lorelei nearly snapped. When everyone looked at her, she smiled. “Tonight we shall have a grand ball…a masked affair. I insist that Ritasia and your cousin attend. We will all have such fun.”

“I will stay,” Ritasia said, but her voice was not cheerful. More than this, she sounded concerned and Deveron’s face appeared to mirror this.

Evidently, they knew Lorelei was up to something, and Alicia hadn’t a clue. She envisioned it was something wicked.

“I don’t dance well,” Deveron said.

Alicia couldn’t imagine the dark fae hunk wouldn’t be able to dance. He appeared to be the kind of guy who could do anything with great success. But she wondered why Ritasia didn’t jump in to confirm Deveron’s claim.

“Nonsense,” Lorelei said. “I saw you dance with Princess Nevian last year and believe me, every marriageable young lady watched the two of you. I was green with envy that I could not catch your eye as I was too young.”

“How old are you?” Alicia asked, surprised that the girl would have been too young the year previously, but was now being foisted on Deveron.

Lorelei tilted her chin up. “Sixteen. And you?”

Then Alicia noticed the fae didn’t have the golden fae ring around her eyes. Why not?

“Seventeen,” Alicia said, still trying to discern the meaning of the fae having no ring. She glanced over at the ladies who waited on Lorelei. Both had the shimmering rings encircling their eyes. What did it mean?

Deveron smiled at Alicia’s answer.

Did he like that she was more his age? Come to think of it, she didn’t know his age.

Loud brass bells rang out across the castle grounds, sending a shock wave through Alicia.

Lorelei pulled Deveron past Alicia and Ritasia toward the castle. “Time to eat.”

Ritasia helped Alicia to stand, then looped her arm through hers. “You stick close to me, Alicia, whatever happens.”

“Why do you want to help me? I thought I’d made you pretty mad when I called you a jealous fae, then ignored you existed. Of course I only did so because I’d come to my senses and realized I should have held my tongue in the first place.”

Ritasia giggled. “I’m like my brother. I don’t get mad, I get—”

“Even.”

Ritasia’s eyes sparkled in amusement. “You must have realized I was pretty shocked to hear you speak to me. I knew I wasn’t a jealous fae, for one thing. How could I be jealous over my brother’s interest in a human girl? In truth, Deveron’s escapades liven up fae life, which can be rather dull at times. Why else would we visit the humans?”

She took a deep breath and looked pleased with herself. “Now you are irking Lorelei more than I ever could. I will help you to widen the rift and protect your back at the same time.”

“Great. I already have your mother and all her people ready to do me serious harm. And if she discovers your brother is irritating the fae that your mother intends for your brother to marry all because of me—”

“Yes, well, fae business can be rather dangerous at times. Aren’t you game? I suspect you wish to find your father. Deveron and I will help you in that endeavor. And I further believe you have no more desire that Deveron marry the witchy Lorelei than I wish to wed her despicable brother. And finally, I don’t think you’re the type of human who flinches when faced with danger.”

Well it depended on the danger. Snakes and poisonous spiders Alicia flinched at.

As they walked into the great hall filled with fae courtiers dressed in their evening finery, a red-haired male, who looked very much like Lorelei, approached them. He reminded Alicia of a stick figure she might have drawn with a mop of unruly, curly red hair that rested at his shoulders. Maybe that’s why Lorelei kept her hair confined. It was a bushel of red frizz. Okay, so that was catty. It might be very pretty.

Though she hoped it was not.

“Prince Phillinois,” Ritasia said, curtseying.

Alicia quickly attempted to copy Ritasia’s graceful curtsey, but because her equilibrium was still slightly out of whack, she ended up sitting very quickly in her shimmering purple gowns on the terra cotta tile floor.

Ritasia hurried to help her up. “My dear cousin, Princess Alicia, who is ill,” Ritasia introduced her to the prince.

Alicia was sure her face looked feverish and perfectly ill as she unconsciously played her part so well. She caught Deveron’s actions as he hurried to help her. His face looked quite aghast. And Lorelei attempted to prevent him from going to Alicia’s aid as she dug her claws into his arm.

Prince Phillinois stared at Alicia for a moment, then nodded. He turned his attention to Ritasia and smiled. But it wasn’t a warm smile, rather a look like she should be pleased she would be his. “You will sit beside me at the high table.”

“And Alicia,” Ritasia said, pointedly.

Alicia liked the fae’s determination when Ritasia was on her side.

He glanced at Alicia with condescension. “And your cousin.”

When they reached the high table clothed in a shimmering gold cloth, the king and queen were absent. Ritasia explained to Alicia they were away on holiday.

But then the shuffling of seats began.

Deveron insisted Alicia sit between him and his sister to ensure they could both watch her during the meal—owing to the fact she had collapsed in the great hall already.