“My gods,” Neldor whispered in horror. “Surely you aren’t—”
“Do not belittle her again,” Hudson snapped. “You can speak with the hobgoblins at the sanctuary she’s built. The several of them. It’s real. I’ve talked to some too. You weren’t here to protect them, and assholes took that as a free pass to do whatever they could get away with, so go look in the fucking mirror if you want to talk about mistreating fair folk, but leave her alone!”
I couldn’t even hide my shock. I’d never known Hudson to jump on someone like that and a prince, no less, that could start trouble with his family and the dragons.
“Close your mouth, dear,” Katrina teased me.
It was probably wise, but still took me a moment.
“Yes, I would love some pies, thank you,” Dr. Salzman said, trying to cut through the tension.
“A couple of days and no one will know it’s you; they’ll just assume that someone didn’t report it in,” Mel offered. “There have been full weeks like that.”
“But—”
“It’s going to be more than a few days for her to heal enough to use barriers and open temporary portals to get hobgoblins to safety,” Dr. Salzman argued.
“I know, but a few days is enough to get him up to speed enough to tag in and help her, instead of just saying fucking shit and judging how she’s handled everything,” Mel declared, nodding towards Neldor. “Or are you just going to sit on your ass and judge, Prince?”
Oh shit, Mel was super pissed, and that was never good.
15
He met her hard gaze with his own. “Catch me up enough to not cause damage and yes, I will get the fair folk out and lay waste to those who would mistreat them.”
“You can’t do that last part yet,” I sighed, holding up hand when he went to argue. “I know. I get it. I’ve fought the urge too. We can’t, Neldor. I couldn’t risk it. We’re at a tipping point and doing a crazy balancing act of fighting where we can and not getting me caught, as that means I couldn’t fix Faerie. It means we can’t help all the others stuck there.”
That hit me hard, and I blinked at White.
“Yes, I’ve wondered the same, and I would think that’s the first thing we need to check. Faerie might have risked injuring you to awaken him, who is powerful of the other royal bloodline, so he could heal the world as you have, and then you can awaken people. It might have worried you might give up and went for the best help.”
He studied her, but then smiled. “Well surmised, and sounds much like Faerie, Cousin.”
“Cousin?” several people shouted.
“You cannot out people as being children of fairies,” I bit out. “It’s dangerous here. They’re in hiding, as many have wanted to breed them for power and into their bloodlines as probably the last children of fairies. Some have been trapped by councils and forced to mate.”
“You’re sure?” White asked me, cursing when I nodded. “I thought one of their mates was familiar. She was born of a fairy too. Damnit, they must have known before Faerie closed.” She glanced at Neldor. “Yes, my father is a fairy and hopefully still alive. I’ve outed myself as more powerful than most of the councilmen to buy Tamsin more time and take the focus off of her. She needs help. I expect you to.”
He seemed surprised by her declaration, but finally seeming to understand there was a lot more going on than he had gotten. If he wasn’t such a dick, I’d feel bad for him getting dropped into the world twenty years later. Anyone would be reeling from that.
But he was a dick, so he could suck it.
Everyone seemed to agree that the first step was charging up Neldor and seeing if he could fill reservoirs and crystals, work with Dean White and heal Faerie as I had been. That alone would be a huge, huge help.
The Vogels had to leave, which meant the Rothchilds as well, and Dr. Salzman ducked out then.
No one seemed know what to do next, but the awkwardness was broken in an odd way.
Namely, Neldor’s stomach growling obnoxiously loud.
I burst out laughing. “Oh fuck, so I’m not the only one who does that anymore. Nice.”
He cleared his throat, but didn’t seem as amused. “I seem exceptionally famished, and more than from the battle I was engaged in. I would think it was the magic and coming out of it.”
I wanted to roll my eyes. Was that how he asked for more food? I got he was a prince and probably someone wiped his ass with his attitude, but just try to be normal.
At least a little bit.
“What are you in the mood for, agra?” Darby asked, picking up on the cue too.
I smiled at him, knowing he was trying to spoil me as if that could help right then. “Wanna order from that place with the massive tacos?”
“You know I love watching you tuck into those monsters.” He came over and kissed my hair. “I’ll pull up Portal Chow on my tablet and start the order.”
“Thanks.”
“You don’t let him drink from you, do you?” Neldor asked, steam practically coming out of his ears.
I held up my hand to the others, actually having questions about that. “Is it against our customs? I couldn’t find
