Knight in Leather by Holley Trent

those who live in this realm, although we are allowed to pick the occasional favorite. We rarely interfere with the curses our peers have cast. What happened in this case is that some nitwit decided interfering in Simone’s curse would be great fun, and not so they could help her break it in a magically legal way.”
    “Wait.” Princess Simone closed her eyes and leaned against the counter. “Hold on. Someone told Laurel about my curse?”
    “No. They wouldn’t be that bold. They simply gave Laurel the impetus to come here, knowing that you couldn’t refuse to give her hospitality.”
    Princess Simone dragged her hand down her face and nodded slowly. “And this is the same god or goddess who’s been feeding Rhiannon information, I’m guessing.”
    “Yes.”
    “I see.”
    “But why ?” Ethan asked. “Why drag me into this?”
    “You’re fair game just like everyone else in Heath’s crew,” Hestia said. “Rhiannon will look for any opening to make a crack bigger, and you were the most convenient victim at the moment.”
    He looked to the princess. “Should I leave, then? I’m certain she’ll follow. I can get rid of her.”
    Princess Simone grimaced, then walked around the counter. She sank into her desk chair and let her lips sputter. “Heath would probably say that strategy would be too obvious. You puttering around here may suit Laurel, but people waiting outside this warded zone would be happier if you left. You going anywhere on your own would be an ambush waiting to happen.”
    “I can handle myself in a fight.”
    “I know you can. You can take on three or four men no problem, but Rhiannon’s going to change her tactics each time she sends her guards out. She might send more, or she might send some with abilities that you’re not immune to. For the time being, you’re safer here.”
    “But what am I going to do with her?”
    “Ignore her.”
    “Good luck,” Hestia muttered.
    Ethan glared at her. “Can you not lift the princess’s curse? There seem to be extenuating circumstances, do you not agree?”
    “I agree that there are, but I’ve never reneged on a curse. I have a reputation for doing what I promise, and I can’t break my own rules even for a favorite. You’ll find some other way to break the curse,” she said to Princess Simone. “I’m certain you’ll think creatively.”
    Princess Simone narrowed her eyes. “You also said I’d find someplace to put all those fairies who need to be evacuated from the realm that we can’t even easily access at the moment.”
    “Yes. How is that going, dear?”
    “Been too busy to think about making plans, much less to take a piss in peace. That’s how it’s going.”
    “You should work on that.”
    “Yeah?” Princess Simone cracked her knuckles.
    As always, Hestia seemed completely unbothered by the princess’s distress.
    At the moment, Ethan wasn’t so concerned with the fairies in the realm. He was concerned about one pseudo-psychotic mer-fairy being in very close proximity to his true mate.
    “I could kill her,” he mused quietly.
    Both Hestia and Princess Simone turned to look at him.
    The princess tipped her head over the back of the chair and sighed. “Oh, boy.”
    “He’s a fairy, is he not?” Hestia asked. “Your ilk does tend to be practical in that way.”
    “Perhaps so, but I was raised human,” the princess said. “Humans don’t generally go around murdering people who annoy us, even when they deserve the killing.” She stabbed a finger toward Ethan. “Hey. Just to be clear, you’re not allowed to kill Laurel. If you get a good night’s sleep, I’m certain you’ll wake up understanding that would be a regretful move.”
    He doubted he would, but being the loyal and true sort, he’d likely heed Simone’s warning. The last thing he wanted was to be the very next test subject of her “scary fairy rage.”
    “As you wish, Princess. Do tell me, however, what I am allowed to do.”
    She shrugged.