“Allows you,” I repeated, disliking the sound of those two words used together.
“Shadows are servants to demonkind. That’s how it’s always been. He told you what you wanted to hear because he loves you and wants you to be happy. Please, Princess, don’t make a big deal over this.”
“I don’t know if that’s possible. It is a big deal.”
He hesitated. “Does it change anything … between
“No, of course not.”
“Good.” He nodded, and that smile I found so completely devastating (in a good way, that is) touched his very kissable lips again.
I took his hand in mine. His skin was warm but coarse, as if he did manual labor. When we first met, Michael had kept his servant status from me because he’d been under the impression that I would think him less worthy. He’d been dead wrong. I didn’t care who he was — rich, poor, a servant, a Shadow, or whatever.
I set aside my annoyance for now, but my father and I would be having a talk about this issue very soon. “You said my father wants to see me? About what?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Didn’t he tell you?”
“No. He only said it was important that you come back with me immediately.”
“I wonder if it has to do with the prophecy,” I mused.
His dark brows drew together. “What prophecy?”
“Apparently there’s some prophecy about me that was just uncovered.” I shivered, thinking about it.
“Who would have told you something like that?”
I glanced over my shoulder and a distinct feeling of unease flowed through me when I saw the bearer of my prophecy news exit the cafeteria and scan his surroundings before spotting me.
“I really wish he’d just go away,” I grumbled, and let go of Michael’s hand.
“Who?”
I gestured in the direction of the approaching faery king. “Him.”
“Nikki,” Rhys said drily as he reached us, his eyes flicking to Michael for a moment. “There you are. Trying to avoid me doesn’t change anything, you know.”
“Who are you?” Michael asked.
Rhys stared at him. “Who are
“You didn’t answer my question.”
I cleared my throat. “Rhys is the king of the faery realm.”
It took a moment for this to register with Michael. “What are you doing in the human world?”
Rhys pursed his lips. “I thought that was going to be our little secret, Nikki. Or maybe you want me to spread your little secret around as well?”
I glared at him. “Michael lives in my father’s castle. He’s not a student here.” I looked at Michael. “Rhys came here to investigate me. Thinks I’m some sort of threat to his fellow iridescent-winged friends. He’s the one who told me there’s a prophecy.”
Michael took this information in, his expression steadily darkening. “Did he threaten you, Princess?” he asked quietly.
The implied threat in biology was still at the forefront of my mind. “A little. But I—”
Before I could say another word, Michael grabbed Rhys by the front of his shirt and slammed him against a nearby locker.
“Leave the princess alone,” Michael growled, sounding as dangerous and protective as I’d ever heard him. “Or you’ll have to deal with me.”
My eyes widened. “Michael …”
“Let go of me,” Rhys snapped.
It took several seconds, but Michael finally released him. He held his arm out to block me from Rhys, who was leisurely brushing off the front of his shirt.
“I’ll forgive that behavior only once,” Rhys said calmly, although his brown eyes swirled, a sign I now took to mean he was more worked up inside than he cared to show on the surface. His gaze dropped to Michael’s amulet. “I wasn’t aware Shadows were allowed to leave the dark worlds.”
“I guess you were wrong,” Michael replied tightly.
“I guess I was. Still. It doesn’t seem appropriate for a Shadow to enter the human world.”
“It doesn’t seem appropriate for a faery king to go to a human high school, either,” Michael said, standing protectively between me and Rhys. “Don’t you have a kingdom to run, Your Majesty?”
“The safety of my people comes first, no matter how I need to ensure it.”
“The princess isn’t a threat to your people.”
“We’ll see.” Rhys looked at me. “I think you need to keep a tighter rein on your servant, Nikki.”
“Michael’s not really—,” I began.
Rhys cut me off. “So, Shadow, are you here because of the prophecy?”
Michael continued to glare with unfriendliness at the faery king. “You shouldn’t be filling the princess’s head with lies that will only worry her.”
“It’s not a lie,” Rhys said firmly. “Besides, you’re in no position to tell me what I should or shouldn’t do.”
Michael ignored him. “Princess, we need to leave. Your father’s waiting.”
There was no question whether or not I’d go. I’d ditch my afternoon classes; not a problem. My father wouldn’t summon me if it wasn’t something important. And besides, I really wanted to talk to him about Michael’s continuing servant status. I needed answers and I needed them now.
I looked at Rhys. “I’ll make sure to tell my father that you’ve decided to harass me.”
Rhys’s eyes stayed on Michael. “By the looks of the company you keep, Nikki, I’d say I’m the least of your problems.”
I frowned at that. “Thanks so much for your opinion.”
I expected him to walk away, but he stood there, his arms crossed, watching Michael carefully before his attention returned to me.
“Just be careful with this one,” he said distastefully.
“With who? Michael?”
“Yes.”
I snorted. “You’re really telling
His eyes swirled. “Fine. Forget I said anything, then.”
Without another word, he turned and walked back into the cafeteria.
Um, what was that? The dude who was thinking about killing me if he decided I was evil suddenly wanted me to be careful?
Sure. That made sense.
“I don’t know what his problem is,” I said as Michael and I left the school. “Why would he tell me to be careful if he hates my guts?”
“Because he doesn’t hate your guts. I think he likes you.” Michael was walking so fast I had to jog to keep up with him. “Isn’t it obvious?”
I gaped at him. “You’re not serious.”
“I am.” He stopped walking and turned to me to show he actually looked a little amused now.
“You think this is funny?” I asked.
“When I got here and you said he’d threatened you, I was worried you’d been in danger and I’d had no clue.”
“Kind of difficult for you to know what’s going on from the Shadowlands.”
“I know.” His amusement faded. “It’s disturbing to me.”
“He doesn’t like me. I saw it in his beady little faery eyes. He can’t stand me, actually. And he’s a little bit afraid of me. It’s a whole mix of unpleasantness.”
“Why would he be afraid of you?”
“He’s scared of my Darkling side. He thinks I’m all nasty and evil underneath my shiny, happy exterior.”
