The Dark Fae (The World of Fae #1)(18)

Lorelei seemed more than a little perturbed as Alicia assumed the girl wanted to sequester Deveron as far away from her as she could.

When they settled down in their embroidered golden seats, the feast began.

Deveron immediately leaned over Alicia and spoke to Ritasia. “Be sure she only eats part of your food. And she can share mine.”

Lorelei would have Alicia poisoned? The viper. But Ritasia had said the fae liked dangerous games. And what if Alicia died at the meal?

Then she thought of her grand entrance to the great hall. Again her cheeks burned just thinking about falling on her butt. Here she thought she’d mastered a pretty good curtsey, until her knees melted into heated butter, and she collapsed in a non-too graceful manner.

Deveron grasped her hand and squeezed. “Do not eat any portion of your meal, nor sip from your goblet.”

He wouldn’t have to tell her twice.

She nodded.

He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “You are playing your fragile role very well, my faery princess.”

She poked him in the ribs and scowled at him. How could he mock her after she had thoroughly embarrassed herself in front of the entire fae court of Venicia?

He chuckled, then handed her his goblet.

Lorelei said, “She has her own.”

“Yes, but she prefers to drink from mine.”

Lorelei’s green eyes narrowed with vengeance. Alicia had no doubt whatsoever that the spiteful fae would speed up Alicia’s demise if she could manage it. Alicia also noticed that the steward watched her, too. Had he a hand in this? Most assuredly. Alicia was from a minor royal house, or at least pretending to be. Would it be presumed that no one would miss her horribly if she took a fatal bite from her meal?

Ritasia handed Alicia a wedge of cheese.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, or perhaps because of it, Alicia couldn’t help the fondness she felt for the dark fae sister and brother for attempting to keep her safe. They genuinely seemed to like her. Or was it just another deadly faery game?

Stir up the Venicians as neither Deveron nor Ritasia wished to wed their royal offspring? Use Alicia as the wedge? The human girl of no consequence?

She groaned inwardly with the notion.

“How are you feeling now?” Deveron asked her as he slipped his spoon underneath a stuffed mushroom, then leveled it at her lips.

She reached for the spoon, but he refused to give it to her. Her gaze shifted from the mushroom resting on the spoon to Deveron’s face and that roguish grin he so often wore in her presence.

How could she not find the dark fae so totally appealing? She had to face it. She was a genuine human sap when it came to his charms.

“Open up,” he said pointing the spoon at her sealed lips.

“I’m not a baby bird.”

He chuckled. “Come on, Alicia. Please me.”

She folded her arms. Please him? Who did he think he was? Okay, so he was a dark fae prince of one of the major kingdoms. Didn’t matter to her. She didn’t need to please him unless it was her idea. “You’re making me look foolish.”

“I am not. A fae who offers sustenance to another is being—”

Ritasia interrupted, “Chivalrous beyond reason.”

But the way she spoke, Alicia wondered if Ritasia hadn’t a different sentiment in mind. Her brows were raised as if she didn’t think her brother was being chivalrous, rather something else.

Alicia wished she knew more about fae culture.

“Go ahead, Alicia. It’ll irritate Lorelei all the more,” Ritasia whispered in her ear.

All right. That she could do. Particularly since the vamp might be trying to poison her.

Alicia took the mushroom and enjoyed the sautéed breading and cheese-covered shrimp stuffed into the mushroom cap.

He watched her enjoy the morsel, then smiled. “See now? That wasn’t so bad was it?”

She noticed then that Lorelei’s face had reddened to the same color as the brilliant roses in the garden.

Good. Was that Deveron’s plan? To stir up the witch who was trying to poison her? What if she wasn’t?

But then again, the dark fae would know better than she would.

Alicia grinned. “Can I have another?”

She couldn’t be sure, but she thought she heard Lorelei hiss a curse under her breath.





CHAPTER 9





Deveron felt remorse for what he was putting poor Alicia through. How could a human hope to understand the ways of the fae…the dark, dangerous, deadly ways they handled matters when they so chose to sway a situation in their favor? He needed her to help ensure he’d never wed Lorelei. Though he hadn’t realized how much she’d turn the stakes. Especially since he’d only kept her with him initially to prevent her from being caught by his mother and her royal guard. No telling what the queen would decide to do with Alicia. He was bound and determined to protect her, just like he’d promised. Another dark fae quality—extreme loyalty despite the dangerous consequences.

Alicia was a natural at fae games and couldn’t have done a better job if she’d been born of the fae. But if Lorelei injured her, he’d never forgive himself.

When he’d fed Alicia the mushroom, he’d done it in fun—at least that’s what he’d told himself. Though he knew what the significance of his actions meant to the fae, he was certain Alicia didn’t. At first he was afraid Ritasia would try to stop him. But then she seemed to realize he was pushing the issue forward as forcefully as he could. Never would he consider marrying Lorelei. If he showed Alicia endearments that he would only share with the one he had chosen for his own, then Lorelei would come to realize, she’d lost him.