“Welcome back. I hope your trip went well.”
“It was fine,” he replied, still dazed. “What is going on here?”
Bri’s eyes were wide. “It’s a celebration. It’s the tradition. We’re
celebrating the Kings’ bonding with three weeks of festivities. Last
night we had a great bonfire, and the priestess blessed King Cian and
Queen Meg. It was a lovely ceremony. They’re so in love.” Her face
was shining with remembrance. She frowned suddenly. “Your name
was mentioned, Your Highness. Everyone cheered.”
“I’m glad someone remembered me,” Beck ground out. This was
how Cian chose to protect their bride? He was supposed to hide her
from prying eyes. Instead, he’d invited the whole damn plane to a
party. The goddess only knew how many of these people were
actually spies for Torin. He caught sight of a big shape walking
through the stalls. “Is that a bloody goblin?”
The young girl nodded. “Yes, they have brought so many strange
wonders. Some of us worried they would not behave without Your
Highness around to keep them in line, but they are terrified of the
Queen, so all has been well.”
Beck felt his heart seize. His little Meg had met the goblins? Cian
had allowed a goblin to get close to their bride? Had he lost his mind?
What had the girl said? “What do you mean the goblins are terrified
of the Queen?”
The girl smiled proudly. “Our queen beat them and threatened to
never make another cookie for them if they ate her. She got the goblin
chief to back down. Imagine that, a Seelie queen forcing an Unseelie
lord to back down.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “If you ask me,
the force is strong with our queen.”
Beck wondered if that damn vampire had taken him to the wrong
plane. “Someone is forcing the queen to do something?”
“No,” Bri said helpfully. “It’s an old human legend. You see, the