Calix meant exactly what he said. When I woke from a long, delicious nap feeling mostly normal, I found him reading a book in the chair, and when I asked for something to eat, he poked his head out the door and shouted something I couldn't understand—likely Faeish. Or Faeriesh. Or... whatever.

"It'll be here in a moment," he said, coming back to the chair and flopping into it, one leg dangling over the arm. Laced fingers went behind his head. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," I admitted, touched that he asked. Then I remembered he was partly responsible for my illness. "I'd be better if I didn't have to look at your man spreading."

Eyes wide, he looked down. "Man spreading?"

Human sayings. Right. I gestured at his crotch area. "That."

Calix grinned wickedly, the tiny lift at the corner of his mouth doing equally wicked things to my insides, and as if sensing my weakness, he ran his hands over the insides of his thigh and shifted his hips just enough that my gaze snapped toward the impressive bulge between his legs.

"You don't have to look, Little Moon."

"No, I don't. But if a woman walked around with her breasts exposed, you couldn't help but look too."

"Why would I try not to look? That's silly human thinking. You do not turn away from a beautiful painting or flower arrangement. We openly admired these things. Why should a body be any different?"

I gaped at him as I scrambled for a response and came up empty. Sure, I could argue that flowers and paintings were inanimate objects not affected by another's admiration, but it wasn't like he was talking about touching. Just looking.

"But—" The legs of the chair scraped against the floor as he stood. Hands on either side of me, he leaned close and whispered, "Here's another thing you need to know about Fae. We're highly jealous creatures. If you have a mate and decide to invite...admiration... be prepared to deal with the consequences."

Licking my lips, I couldn't stop myself from asking, "What are the consequences?"

Calix's lids lowered to slits and one hand inched closer to my blanket covered thighs. "Claiming your mate over and over until they remember who they belong to."

The door opened, and he jumped back, the edges of his form turning to mist for a moment. A short, plump male carried a tray of food that smelled so amazing, the spell the Fae Prince had cast over me wavered and vanished entirely when it was set before me.

I dunked a spoon into a creamy white soup. Flavors of rich cream, spicy garlic, and browned butter exploded across my tongue. Eyes rolled back in my head, I licked the spoon clean and moaned.

A choking noise gave me pause. Closing my lips around the spoon, I turned my attention to the window where Calix still stood, his eyes almost black and his knuckles white as he gripped the window ledge.

"Are you okay?" I asked after swallowing.

The two-word answer he gave me was all coarse gravel and spit. "I'm fine."

"Good to see you haven't hit her over the head again," Niamh said, entering the room with her hands clasped in front of her again. "We'll take improvement where we get it."

"The best improvement would be if he wasn't hovering."

"Actually, I think it's safe enough to leave you in my sister's care while I rest and eat," Calix exclaimed. He gave Niamh a light peck on her cheek, then glanced at me with a warning look. "That is, if you don't plan on leaving the palace."

"I'll gladly stay here the rest of the evening if it means I get Calix free time."

We bared our teeth at one another. Niamh shook her head. "Go. I'll take good care of her."

I ignored the slight sting of disappointment when he raced out of the room, but it didn't linger. The princess settled herself on the end of the bed, spreading her full sky blue skirts around her before stealing a piece of flaky bread from my tray.

"Where's Lorcan?" I asked.

Guilt washed over me. It was the first time I'd thought of him since waking. My thoughts had been otherwise preoccupied.

"He had to attend to some duties, but he's asked me to convey his continued thoughts and well wishes to you."

Thoughts and well wishes? That sounded a little formal coming from someone who'd made it clear that he had very carnal plans for me.

"Oh. That's fine. I'm sure my presence here has been disruptive. It's only my third day here, and I've almost died twice." I was aiming for a jovial tone, but it fell flat.

"Well, we are going to do our best to ensure your safety the rest of the time you're here, and if you decide to stay, once you pledge allegiance in the Right, no one will dare mess with you."

"Thank you." There was no point in asking about the Right again. I was too tired to argue, and the answer would be the same as always. Evasive.

"And you're in excellent hands. Both of my brothers have made you their top priority. And I would never say this in front of him because his head is already far too swollen—but when the Courts discover Calix has sworn to protect you, they will think twice before attacking again."

"Oh?" That didn't fit with the fuckboy image Calix presented, but then I recalled the dark rage coiled around him when he killed the Fae in the woods. "Why do you say that?"

She bit down on her lower lip. "Well, Lorcan might have great power, but much of it comes from his title and throne. Calix... he came into this world with the power to make the world tremble."