The Dark Fae (The World of Fae #1)(44)
“No.” He couldn’t look her in the eyes or she’d see he was lying.
“Liar. You do, too. Do you think I’m that fickle?”
“I worry your grandfather may use this as a time to find someone more of his choosing to court you.”
“I won’t see anyone.”
He smiled. “But me.”
“Not even you, so my grandfather says.” She reached over and touched his hand.
He wrapped his fingers around hers. “To think I thought you were half human.”
“You couldn’t have been more surprised than me.”
“You know a cousin of mine saw you turn invisible.”
“I did?”
He nodded, then smiled. “As soon as you can fae transport we can secretly rendezvous,” he whispered.
“You may disobey your mother all of the time, but I don’t mine.”
He buttered a slice of bread, totally amused with Alicia. “When you have not had my kisses for so long, you will find a way to see me.”
“I will obey my grandfather. What if he said I couldn’t marry you, if I saw you behind his back? No,” she said lifting her goblet off the table, “it wouldn’t do to anger him.”
She glanced at her father. “He looks just like I remember him, only a little grayer. And he loves my mother still. I don’t want us to have to steal moments like that, if my grandfather should say no to my marrying you in the end.”
“I would pine away for a year if I could not see you for all of that time.”
She twisted her mouth in thought. “I could see Ritasia.”
“What?”
“Sure, I could visit Ritasia, and then if you happen to be with her at the time—”
“That’s my faery princess.
“If my grandfather will permit it.”
“You promised you’d teach Ritasia how to practice with a bow.”
“Ah, I did.”
“And I want a rematch.”
“You’ll never beat me.” She grinned at him.
He wanted to kiss her smiling lips again, but caught her grandfather’s concerned eye. “We will just have to find a place to make it happen. Neutral grounds, so to speak.”
“To neutral grounds,” she said, raising her goblet to his.
But when the feast was done, the king ensured Deveron was smartly escorted out of the hall after barely giving Alicia a quick peck on the lips.
Alicia gave her father a warm hug. “I would come visit you at Venicia, but Lorelei tried to poison me and had me imprisoned in the sphinx’s dungeon.”
“You may visit me anytime, Alicia. I will let your sister and brother know how displeased I was with their actions toward you. And they will also know what would become of them should they try anything more when you visit.”
Queen Irenis gave Alicia a strange little smile. “You know my son I believe almost as well as I do. And I approve.”
Alicia wasn’t sure what the cryptic message meant, but she thought it might have something to do with her son disobeying orders, only this time it benefited Queen Irenis. In fact, the last time it had, too.
Queen Irenis kissed her cheeks, then hurried after Deveron.
“We must get together to practice archery,” Alicia said to Ritasia next.
“Oh, yes.” She glanced back in the direction of her disappearing mother. “You know what my mother meant, don’t you?”
Alicia took Ritasia’s hands and leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Deveron wishes to see me despite my grandfather’s orders.”
Ritasia’s broad smile indicated Alicia had guessed right. “Archery, yes. And I will help you in any way that I can.”
She hugged Alicia, then hurried after her mother.
King Persenus said to Alicia, “I’m your father’s brother, and therefore your uncle. Do not be a stranger to our kingdom. You are always welcome.”
Prince Raglan chimed in, “And I’m your cousin, disappointedly.”
When the rest of the royal guests had taken their leave, Alicia met with her grandfather and mother in his solar.
“Are you happy about the arrangements with Prince Deveron?” the king said, taking a seat on a well-cushioned golden chair.
Alicia knelt before him. “Very. It will be all right with you if I visit with Princess Ritasia to help her to improve her archery skills? She is most awful at it.”
He smiled. “Yes, but she will never be as good at it as a female dragon fae archer.”
“No, but anything would be an improvement.” She took a deep breath, thinking about how she’d never return to her human world again. But she couldn’t leave things as they were without saying goodbye to Cassie. “One other thing, if it pleases you. Can I return to finish my vacation on South Padre Island with my friend, Cassie?”
“The human girl?” Her grandfather wrinkled his brow. “I don’t want you to see any more of the humans. For now you need to learn of our own kind. And make friends with those who are here.”
“But I left without saying goodbye. I want to tell her I’ll be moving away. And maybe, with your permission, I could see her from time to time.”
She could tell the way his frown lessened he was giving in to her wishes. Inwardly, she smiled. For whatever reason, he seemed to love her despite the fact she was the product of a fae he didn’t approve of. Though her father had become a king as well.