“Well, go on then. Can’t go breaking your word.”
As he kissed her fully, thoroughly, the events of the day faded away. She didn’t want to stop, because that was when the questions flooded back, the insecurities and sorrow. When she kissed Griff, she didn’t have to mourn her best friend or worry about some far-off fire queen who wanted her for some unknown reason.
And best of all? His lips silenced the part of her mind that waited for the perfect veneer to fade from this new life, because if her old life taught her one thing, it was that Brea Robinson didn’t get easy, she didn’t get a happy ending.
Chapter Ten
“Festival? What festival?” Brea stared blankly at her new Lady’s maid. Neeve was a thousand times better than the creepy triplets, but she still wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to having servants.
“It is Beltaine, my Lady.” Neeve stared back at her, equally perplexed.
“What is Beltaine?”
“It’s one of our most special holidays. It’s a celebration of peace and prosperity for all Faekind. It is why her Majesty invited the delegations from Iskalt and Eldur, my Lady.”
“Please, Neeve, I’m begging you, enough with the ‘my Lady’ this and ’my Lady’ that. My name is Brea, when it’s just us here in my rooms, it would please me if you would call me Brea.”
“Yes my—Brea.” Neeve stumbled over the name.
“I think I’ve read something about Beltaine before.” Brea scratched her head. “Isn’t that a summer holiday?”
“Summer?” Neeve frowned. “It is always spring here, ma’am.”
“Ha!” Brea whirled around with a smile. “Nice try, but no ‘ma’ams’ either. Isn’t Beltaine in May?”
“Yes. It’s always the first of what humans call May.” Neeve couldn’t seem to sit still, bustling about Brea’s rooms with a duster, but there wasn’t a speck of dust anywhere. Brea had looked on one of her many boring days spent in her rooms over the last week.
“But that’s months away.”
“It’s tonight.”
“It can’t be.” Brea’s heart climbed up in her throat. She couldn’t have been here four months already. “It was January when I arrived. That was just a few weeks ago.”
“Are you quite well, Brea?” Neeve crossed the room to help her sit in one of those vine chairs Brea was always afraid she’d crush.
“I don’t know.” Brea fanned her face, blaming her too-tight corset for her dizzy spell. If she was going to be here much longer, the fae world was about to discover sports bras and yoga pants. Surely someone around here could grow her a pair with their magic.
“Are the rumors really true?” Neeve leaned close to whisper. “Did you come from the human realm?”
“There are rumors about me?” Brea groaned. That was all she needed.
“Just a few. Our people are very curious about you. I promise… Brea… I will not repeat anything you tell me. You can trust me.”
That’s what he’d said. Lochlan. If you need help, trust Neeve. No one else.
Brea nodded. “Griff brought me here from the human realm. But I’m fae,” she added quickly. “I just didn’t know it till recently.”
“Of course you are fae. You have the look of royalty, no less. You’re the Fargelsi Queen’s niece. Which means everyone is curious about you.”
“I get it, but I just… how have I been here four months and not noticed the time passing?”
“Oh dear, I’m sorry, I thought you knew, but of course you’d have no reason to know. Our calendars don’t exactly line up with the human calendar. You arrived here when it was January where you came from, and it’s been three fortnights. So for you, it’s not quite March yet. According to our calendar, for you it is only early spring, though we do not adhere to human months.”
“So I didn’t lose a whole bunch of weeks I don’t remember living?” Brea took a deep breath.
“No, of course not.” Neeve laughed. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to laugh. You are just quite funny sometimes.
“So I’ve been told.” Brea got back on her feet and crossed the room on shaky legs. Reaching for her teacup, Brea tried to pour hot water over the tea leaves.
“I’ll get that for you, my Lady.” Neeve swooped in and grabbed the cup from her hands.
“I can pour myself a cup of tea.” She felt like stomping her foot, but that was childish. She wasn’t above it, but she needed to keep her cool and remember Neeve was only trying to do her job.
“Please relax, you have a big night ahead of you.”
“And what is expected of the queen’s niece tonight?” She sighed. Not looking forward to this first of many formal events.
“You will sit in a place of honor with the queen, where you will meet the delegates from all the fae courts. Beltaine is a celebration of peace, love and fertility. A night where all our differences are set aside and new friendships are formed.”
“So, I just have to sit there and look like I belong? I think I can manage that. What do I have to wear?”
“You’re going to love it.” Neeve smiled, but then she probably remembered who she was talking to. “At least I think you will.” A frown marred her face. “Are you ready for the triplets? They’ll be assisting me tonight.”
“Must they?”
“I couldn’t manage to get you ready without help.”
“You know.” Brea sipped her tea. “In the human world, I managed to dress myself without any help at all. I even made my own breakfast.”
“This is different, Brea.” A note of annoyance crept into Neeve’s voice. “Your human clothes were simple. Your costume for tonight is—”
“Costume? You didn’t say anything about a costume.”
“Well, yes, it’s tradition on the night of Beltaine for the nobility to don costumes for the festival. Everyone will dress like flowers and creatures of the forest.”
“So it’s like a masked ball?”
“No masks tonight. Would you like to see your gown?”
“Call in the trio if you must.” Brea sighed. “Any chance someone has a stash of mood suppressers around here?”
“Is that like… a potion? Tonight won’t be that bad, Brea.”
“Not for me. For the three little maids on speed.”
Brea couldn’t walk. Her gown was too heavy. It had to weigh more than she did.
“I’ve heard people talk about suffering for fashion, but this is a new one.” Her knees nearly buckled.
“Just lean on me. If you fall down, at least we’ll go together.” Griff chuckled, tucking her arm around his. “If it helps, you look stunning. Like the first perfect white rose of spring.”
“Ooh that was cheesy.” Brea giggled behind her fan—an actual white lacy fan!
“Cheesy usually works for me.” He straightened his tie with an arrogant smirk.
“You know they built a crazy contraption under all this tulle, you wouldn’t believe it if I told you. I’ve got pillows stuffed around my hipbones to keep the dress foundation from stabbing me. The scaffolding under here weighs a ton and that’s before they decorated me like a cake with all these fresh roses. They actually made the roses grow around the dress.”