Page 95 of Kiss and Spell

“We can have our tea now,” Xavier said. “I’ll call the kitchen to make arrangements.”

The Queen shook her head. “No, I insist you come to my castle. We’ll have a private tea and conversation. I want to know all about your visit.”

Xavier smiled bitterly. “I was only gone for a short time. Nothing much happened.”

The lie slipped from his mouth easily. It hurt too much to remember.

The Queen just stared at him. Xavier didn’t look away. And this time he noticed rather than only ice, there was an undercurrent of heartache. Pain. Loss. He took in a sharp breath once he recognized that emotion. She knew how he felt.

“I never like to rush a good cup of tea,” the Queen murmured. “You’ll visit me tomorrow afternoon.”

He was too tired to refuse her order. He bowed again. “I’ll be there.”

The Queen nodded, pleased with his response. “I figured you’d want to be alone, so I told them to not disturb us for the rest of the night. You have the room. I’ll leave you to your thoughts.”

He bowed. She wished him a good night, then departed, leaving him alone. Xavier studied the flame flickering in the fireplace. His future was being written without his permission. He’d once thought it was a relief not to have that responsibility, but now he mourned the life he could have created with Ursula. It was time he told her what was happening and how he couldn’t return to the Grove. The Tin Prince had finally found his heart, but it was back thriving in the Grove. If he was going to learn how to readapt to this Realm, he had to let his heart go and truly reclaim his mocking title.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

What did one wear to afternoon tea with a Faery Godmother?

Ursula decided on a business-casual outfit, a cute moon-and-stars-covered blouse with a pencil skirt and heels. She was trying to give off a head-witch-in-charge vibe. She needed to show Whitney that she was meeting not only to catch up over a cup of tea, but to also get answers about a certain fae prince. Enough was enough. It wasn’t until Ursula was asked out on a date by a strikingly handsome man that she considered her relationship with Xavier. Their status was more than complicated, and she assumed they’d have that “exclusive or not” conversation later, but later never arrived. Where did she stand with him? She didn’t want to move on, but she wanted answers from Xavier.

It was getting busy around Freya Grove with the ball quickly approaching and Ursula working full-time at the psychic shop. She put in her application for the special assistant job and less than forty-eight hours later she had a scheduled interview with human resources and Mayor Walker. Even if she didn’t get the job, she was making a step toward building the life she wished for.

So, when Whitney called Ursula over for tea, she made a point to block out the rest of her afternoon. She drove over to the mansion immediately after the city hall meeting and parked in the driveway. Ursula was welcomed into the home by a stately doorman, who showed her to the reception room. She clutched her notebook to her chest as she stood waiting. Whitney appeared in a cloud of Red Door perfume, dressed to thrill in a cute business pantsuit that showed off her lithe shape.

“Welcome, my darling.” Whitney leaned in and gave Ursula a big hug. Her wings lightly brushed her face. “You’re early!”

“I figured I’d rather be early than late,” Ursula mused.

“I like that about you,” Whitney said, stepping back from their hug. “How are you doing this afternoon?”

Her lip shook. Ursula didn’t have it in her to pretend to be okay. “I’ve been better.”

Whitney pressed a hand to her chest in a sign of understanding. Ursula might have missed her lover, but Whitney was missing her closest family.

She clapped her hands together. “Are you ready for the ball?”

Ursula shook her head. “I have the shoes, but I don’t have the gown. I don’t know if… I want to go.”

Whitney pressed a hand to her throat. Her eyes widened. “Child, give yourself permission to have some fun. Come along. Let’s have some tea and handle our business.”

Whitney showed Ursula into the garden room. There were flowers on everything from walls to the carved roses on the chair backs, to the delicate bluebell design on the teacups. They sat down at the table; Ursula placed the notebook within reach.

“He told me you liked flowers.”

Ursula looked to the roses. Her body hummed. “I do.”

Whitney pulled her wand out of her sleeve. She tapped it in the air and a teapot appeared, filled with hot steaming tea. Ursula noticed there was an envelope tucked between the teacups.

Whitney slid the letter over to Ursula. “It arrived yesterday.”

Her name was written on the front in his elegant script. She snatched up the letter and opened it, half expecting him to jump out. Xavier told her fae were crafty. Instead, his ball ticket fluttered to the table. Her heart dropped at the sight of it. They had planned to go together.

He’s not coming back.

She read the first line. My dearest Madame Caraway,