Chapter 46
Simeon stared at me like I was crazy, and I sank deeper into the bath water. I knew Seelie hated Unseelie, but it had seemed like Simeon had seemed less biased against them and I figured it was because his territory was furthest from the dark Fae border.
Plus, he wasn’t as battle-ready as Darrius and never said an unkind word. I thought he, out of the three cousins, would be the least to say no.
His face lost some of its color. “Your mother was the Fae queen. There are tons of records about her here.”
“No, not my biological mother, though I would like to know more about her too. And my fathers.” I shook my head, still trying to wrap my mind around how Fae royalty had multiple spouses. Not that I was complaining about my three princes. “I’m speaking of my foster mother, the one who raised me Earthside.”
He stiffened. “But she was Unseelie.”
What had gotten into Simeon? He knew all of this already. “Are you feeling okay?”
“I-I haven’t slept well since your first attack.” He raked a hand through his silver hair.
A wall of ice rose between us and I wondered why he was acting this way. Was it because of the shadow kin in the castle that Simeon was acting like this?
“I’m not asking to bring the Unseelie court over for a picnic.” I shivered. Last time they’d come over for a banquet, the tension choked the air, and we got a parting gift of at least two dark Fae. “This is my friend. She won’t hurt me.”
“She might not, but the Unseelie could do anything to make her. A walking Pandora’s box that pops open with things worse than you can imagine.” His dark eyes shone like someone polished them with silver. “They are our enemy.”
“And yet my foster mother kept me alive.” I grabbed the liquid soap and squeezed some into my palm. “She could’ve killed me any time she wanted, so why didn’t she?”
I rubbed soap on my arms and chest. Simeon stared at me, watching my movements. And I continued washing for a moment.
“Perhaps she was guarding you for ransom or some other nefarious purpose.”
“Then why so long? Why not trade me in when I was a baby or child.” I swallowed the jumbled knot of emotions in my throat. “Eleven years, Simeon. And I never felt like a prisoner or unloved. If the Unseelie are all horrible, then why would she raise me like I was her daughter?”
“I don’t know,” he said in a quiet voice, his brow pinched.
“All I’m asking for is to speak to my friend and try to find answers.” Answers to questions that were burning a hole in my gut. From everything I’d been told about Unseelie, it didn’t make sense. I’d been prejudiced against all Fae since her death. Now I was beginning to wonder if the Seelie were looking at their world with blinders on too, just as I had.
Simeon pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed before looking back at me. “And if I refuse to allow this?”
“I wouldn’t dream of going against the wishes of my three princes,” I said sweetly.
He chuckled, the tension between us abating for a moment. “Fine. I’ll send for your friend, but we’re going to take extra precautions. More guards and you are to have an escort at all times.”
“Don’t I already between you, Darrius, and Malcolm?” I arched an eyebrow and stood so I could wash the rest of my body. My hands moved over my body, lathering the soap, and knowing Simeon watched every move I made with lust heating between us.
“You are a temptress, but as much as I want to climb in there with you, Helga would skin me alive if I messed up her healing spell.”
I pouted even though he was right. Hard to ignore the handsome man with his violet eyes and silver hair that hung down to his shoulders. But my migraine had faded to a dull headache and the last thing I needed was to have a relapse. No, I needed to be on full alert and ready for when Maggie got here.
Before, I hadn’t been able to speak with her for long and had been shocked to learn she was with the Unseelie. Guilt clawed at my chest. It was my fault she was there. If she hadn’t crossed over the border to try and find me, she wouldn’t have gotten taken by them.
What if they were holding her there against her will?
“Is there more to bringing your friend here than finding out about your foster mother?” Simeon asked.
“Of course, I miss her and want to make sure she’s okay.” I sank back into the barrel tub. Soap bubbles covered the surface of the water.
“Didn’t she tell you when you spoke with her before at the banquet?”
“That was different. We were both—busy with keeping the peace of the Fae during the dinner and peace talks afterward.” Talks that had done nothing but turn into shouting and swords drawn. I had been under stress as well having recently learned about my mom, become queen, and that I had three princes as lovers. And seeing Maggie had been a wonderful shock, but one that I regretted not pulling her aside and checking on her. We hadn’t even had time to catch up, really.
The water was chilly, and I washed my hair fast, rinsing it while my teeth chatted.
“Would you like me to reheat the bath for you?”
“No. I’m already prey and would be enticed to stay in even longer.” As soon as I was dry and dressed, I was going to get my weapons. Being without them had made me feel naked and vulnerable and I wanted any shadow kin who tried to attack me to fear me.
Simeon handed me a towel and I stepped out of the barrel and into his warm embrace. His magic wafted over my hair and skin like a summer breeze.
“How soon did Helga say you could resume normal activities?” he asked in a husky voice.
I laughed softly, kissing his lips. “Not until tomorrow.”
“The day can’t come soon enough for me.”
“Me either.” I blushed, something I was doing more and more around these princes. Liquid heat pooled between my legs. Damn, the fucking shadow kin messing up my sex life. But if I unraveled Helga’s healing, I didn’t doubt she’d chain me in her room and have me guarded against the Fae princes for a week. I pushed down my libido and smiled, jumping back into our business talk. “So, you’ll find a way to invite Maggie here?”
He hugged me tighter. “Yes, but only because I know you’ll do whatever you can on your own even if it’s dangerous if I say no.”
“Of course.” I wanted to make sure my friend was happy. If they had hurt her or done some stupid spell to make her compliant, then I would give them a war.