“And you want to help me unblock it?”
“I do.” He brushed a kiss against my cheek. “My mother is going to interrupt us again if we don’t start moving.”
“Was I supposed to curtsy?” I blurted out. “Is that why I offended her?” She was married to a king, right? Wait… “If your dad is…” My knees locked, realization slamming into my skull with the force of a freight train. “Holy crap.” I should have deduced this when he first mentioned it. “That means you’re a prince. And a future king?” I squeaked.
“Technically, that would be my role,” a voice drawled from the dark. “But yes, my little brother is every bit the prince.”
Chapter Eleven
Tray
Kols mate
rialized beside us with a wicked grin, knowing how much I hated his little brother comment. “By two minutes,” I muttered.
“Still makes me the future king and you a mere prince.” He waggled his brows. “Unless you want to duel for it?”
The reference to our youth had me shaking my head. “We both know I don’t want to win that challenge.”
“So you continue to tell me,” he replied, meeting Ella’s wide gaze. “My brother here claims that every time I suggest a battle. Not only is he under the misconception that he’ll win, but he also believes it means he’ll inherit the throne.” He zapped my side with a flicker of electricity, causing me to release Ella and send a volt back at him.
“This was an expensive suit,” I complained, noting the fraying material at my side.
“Aw, here, I’ll fix that for you, little bro.” He wiggled his fingers, weaving a hint of magic into the air that threaded the fabric back together.
“Will you two stop showing off and get in here?” my mother demanded from the doorway, her patience officially gone.
Ella appeared frozen, her eyes on the elemental flares lingering near my side.
“Two more minutes, Mom,” I called to her. “Please.”
She held my gaze for all of a second before throwing her arms up in the air in a gesture of defeat and retreating into the house.
“Dad has a meeting with Aswad tomorrow,” Kols informed me. “It’s put Mom on edge.”
“I see that,” I replied, my focus falling to Ella. “Are you okay with going inside, or would you prefer I take you home?” Because if that was her choice, I’d do it. Even if it meant staying up pretty much all night to make it happen. My compulsion had screwed with her sense of time, allowing her to think maybe an hour had passed since the dance. In reality, it was closer to five.
Fortunately, Midnight Fae were true to their name. We were night creatures, and it was only our equivalent of a late afternoon at the moment.
“You’ll take me back?” she asked softly.
“If that’s what you want, yes.” I approached her again. However, I didn’t touch her this time. “It would be wiser for us to stay, Ella. But I’ll never force you to do something you don’t want to do.” Within reason, of course. She would eventually have to attend the Academy. Council rules and all that. Hence the importance of my job—to ensure that she wanted to enroll, thereby rendering the edict a moot point.
“I want to learn more,” she said, her attention flickering between me and Kols before glancing up at our childhood home. “I want you to tell me about my mom.”
I shared a look with my brother. We both knew that subject would upset our mother. She’d been best friends with Siobhan Zorya, once upon a time.
“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know,” I promised. “After we’re done talking to my parents.” It was a point I couldn’t debate.
Fortunately, she accepted it with a nod. “Okay.” She took a step forward, then paused. “Wait, you didn’t clarify the curtsying thing.”
Kols grinned. “I’d enjoy seeing that.”
“Fuck off,” I told him, focusing on her. “We don’t follow human formalities.”
“But we really should,” my irritating twin put in. He feigned a bow and glanced up at her from his position, his reddish-brown eyes twinkling. “Hmm, yes, I do enjoy the view.”
I rolled my eyes. “Stop flirting with my… Ella.”