CHAPTER 6
Dorian
AS FAR AS GARDENS went, the Seelie garden was above average. Nothing compared to the virtual Garden of Eden my mother had at home, but it was nice nonetheless.
Finding my way there had been a challenge though. It was like I was a pariah. No one wanted anything to do with an UnSeelie, even a royal one. I hadn’t felt so unwelcome since I’d walked in on a faerie mating ritual. I shuddered at the memory. Now that was something I never wanted to see again.
When I had finally found it I’d been about to get one of the servants to direct me to the garden, as I’d already been wandering the palace for a good while.
I found the first bench I could and splayed out on it for a bit. I had just started reading my book when the sound of voices filled the area. As they got closer, there was one that I recognized.
The female from earlier.
My brows furrowed and my face hardened. I didn’t take kindly to being laughed at and even more so that she was now talking to her companion like I was a piece of garbage she had stepped on. UnSeelie or not, I was still the crown prince; she needed to show the correct respect to her superiors.
I was all set to put her in her place when they rounded the corner, and I froze. While she had pale hair like the other woman, her blue eyes held an icy stare. This was without a doubt the Seelie Princess. She resonated royalty and was the spitting image of her mother. I realized then why the woman had been laughing at me so much.
This princess was no pushover.
“Why hello again.” The woman from before smiled as they approached, there was a hint of amusement in her eyes that irritated me to no end.
“Hello.” I snapped my book shut and stood to my feet. “I don’t believe I got your name before.”
“Ah,” the blonde seemed to flush before clearing her throat and placing a hand on her chest, “I am Gab.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. Her name was absolutely ridiculous. Of course, it was probably not her real name. The new rule about keeping your birth name secret had spread across the realms, not that everyone had actually followed them. I was bad about it myself.
Clearing my throat, I gave a slight bow. “It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Gab.” Straightening back up, I turned my gaze to the other blonde still clutching her companion’s arm. “And you must be my beautiful betrothed. I have heard so many glorious tales about you that I feel as if I know you already.”
I held my hand out to her, waiting for her to place her hand in mine. After a moment or so, it was obvious that she would not be allowing me to kiss her hand as was customary. In fact, she was gazing at me in such an odd manner I feared she might be dumb. Was it possible that everyone loved her so much because of some disability?
No. There was no way the Seelie Queen would allow herself to have a disabled child. A Fae so set on perfection, the very thought of it probably horrified her.
Thankfully, Gab seemed to think that she was behaving oddly as well. The blonde tried to discretely nudge her princess causing her to jolt out of whatever daze she was in.
“Oh, uh, sorry,” the princess stumbled over her words, her face coloring a delightful pink. I fought against the need to grin at her. If it was this easy to get her to blush, I couldn’t wait to see how she would react when I started to woo her. The thought made parts of me harden. My arousal was not unnoticed by the two Fae women. The princess’s face heated even more, but Gab had a smug sort of smile on her face.
Sometimes I wished our senses weren’t so advanced. It was impossible to get away with anything without our scent changing. I’d have to remember in the future to refrain from thinking naughty thoughts that might give me away.
“And obviously, I am delighted to meet you as well.” Pretending not to have given away my position was pointless, so I might as well use it to my advantage. The princess must have a better hold on her hormones, or maybe I just didn’t affect her the same way she affected me.
Nah.
Gab giggled and even when her princess gave her a sharp look she kept laughing. “Are all UnSeelie as overeager as you?”
The accusation was so offensive I didn’t know how to respond. Of course, we weren’t. I was just losing my mind.
“Not that I am aware of. So, can you speak or am I to assume you just don’t want to speak to me?” I tried to turn the subject away from my arousal and back to my mute betrothed.
A slight smile spread across her mouth and my eyes were instantly drawn to her full lips that just begged to be nibbled on and would look fantastic wrapped around a certain appendage.
“I don’t know about her but I find your conversation invigorating.” Gab’s laughter filled her voice, but I ignored her, my eyes solely on my betrothed.
Her pale eyes flickered down and then back up as she chewed on her bottom lip and then she spoke, “Believe me, the pleasure is mine.”
The words were so quiet that I almost didn’t hear them but the voice was clear. Like bells, it tinkled a rhythmic sound that caused my body to tighten even harder. This made Gab laugh even more.
Damn. What was wrong with me? I don’t remember ever being this out of control of my body even when I was an adolescent. Maybe it was the innocent way she blushed at my gaze or the slight quirk of her lips at her friend’s laughter but I had a bad feeling this was going to be harder for me than I thought.