Bonds of Cupidity (Heart Hassle Book 2)

“Oh yeah? What’s the other purpose for you helping me?” I ask the princess warily.

She taps a long finger against her arm in thought. “There is a movement against the current monarchy,” she says, throwing me off.

“What?”

“Fae all over the realm are unhappy with how things are currently done. A rebellion has been formed. And I am one of them.”

She couldn’t have surprised me more if she’d gone down on all fours and started licking the ground. Whoa. Weird visual.

“Umm, maybe you haven’t noticed, but you’re kind of part of that monarchy now.”

“I am. I had hoped I could bring forth some changes within, once I became queen. It is clear now that that plan is fruitless with the way Prince Elphar does things.”

“Where do I come in with all of this?”

“That depends. Tell me why were you spying on the prince.”

How can I explain that I wasn’t spying, but doing my job? She might have taken me in off the streets, but I can’t just admit to being an entity that belonged in the Veil.

“I wasn’t spying for any sort of political reason.”

“Hired by an assassin then? I admit, you don’t look the part, but that may be part of your disguise.”

The thought of being a badass assassin makes me snort. I might be a pro at the bow and arrow, but as far as any other physical skill, I’m less than impressive.

Or average.

Okay, I pretty much suck.

“Yeah, no. Not an assassin.”

“So…?” she looks at me questioningly.

“Look, this is probably going to sound creepy, but I was mainly here for you.”

Her purple brows shoot up. “Me?”

“I wanted to see that you and the prince had a happy marriage.”

She doesn’t believe me. I can see it in her face. Heck, I barely believe me, and I know I’m telling the truth. Still, she’s a princess through and through, because she doesn’t blatantly call me out on it. She’s careful to be diplomatic.

“I see. Well, in that case, I am sorry to disappoint you.”

“We both know it wasn’t your fault. The prince is a giant jerkwad.”

“…Indeed,” she says with a glint of humor in her eyes.

“So what do you want me for?”

“You have the ability to turn invisible and resist harmful magic. I want you to spy for me.”

That takes me aback. “I can’t. I mean, that invisible stuff was…” I sigh in frustration at my lousy explanations. “Okay, look. You’re probably gonna think I’m insane, but I’m just going to lay it all out there. I’m a cupid.”

She stares at me and blinks her huge eyes twice. “I’m not familiar with that type of fae. Is it a mixed breed?”

“I’m not a fae at all. I don’t even belong here, to be honest. I’m meant to live in the Veil—the dimension that separates me from your physical world. Cupids use their powers to spread love and desire. We’re basically glorified matchmakers.”

She frowns fiercely, her eyes growing a darker shade of violet that makes her seem suddenly scary. “So it’s your fault that the prince—”

I interrupt her. “No! Gods, no. He’s a dog all on his own. I was trying to fix it, I swear. I was trying to make him loyal to you. I tried everything,” I say, my bitter frustration dripping from my tone. ‘Nothing would stick. That guy is slipperier than lube on a toy.’

She blinks at me like she can’t believe this is her life. I guess the lube bit was too much for a royal princess? But the furious color of her eyes has faded, so that’s good.

“So that’s why you were invisible? Because you are a Veil entity? Not because you have any great power?”

I bristle a little. “Hey, I might not be some awesome assassin, but it’s not like I’m a slouch. A cupid has some impressive powers, if I do say so myself.”

“Like?”

“Like I can start an orgy faster than you can say ‘slam-o-rama.’”

Okay, that didn’t sound as impressive out loud as it did in my head. But still.

“…All right. So you’re a cupid. We will just have to work with your unique…strengths.”

I won’t embarrass myself and say I don’t have many strengths except good hair and a winning personality. “Okay.”

“Nothing to worry about for now.”

“There’s something I’m confused about,” I admit.

“What’s that?” “I sort of…well, I liked to check on you, you know? Follow you around, make sure you were all right.” Did ‘checking on’ her sound less creepy than stalking her? Here’s hoping. “I watched you at night. You cried. A lot.”

Her eyes harden. “What’s the question?”

“It’s only been a couple of months. How did you go from crying over the prince not loving you every night, to heading the rebellion and wanting his head on a spike?”

She lets out a humorless laugh. “You think I was crying over him?”

I frown. “Well, yeah. I could feel your heartbreak.”

“My heart was breaking. But not for him.”

“Oh,” Then, “Ohhh. You loved someone else? Before you married the prince?”

She doesn’t reply, but I can see the truth in her eyes.

“I didn’t know. I’m sorry. So why’d you marry Prince Prick, then?”

“For the fae who want change. So I could be in a position of power.”

“You’ve been planning this for a while then.”

She nods her head.

“The one you love, where is he or she?”

She swallows hard. “Gone.”

“Did the prince…?” I let my question trail off. If the prince killed the fae she loved, that just makes me hate him even more.

“That is not a topic up for discussion.”

I put my hands up in surrender. “Sorry. Cupid tendency. Needing to unbreak a broken heart is like needing a drink of water when you’re super thirsty,” I say, running my tongue over my teeth. Who knew dry mouth was a side effect of heartbreak? ‘I always just assumed your broken heart was because of the prince,” I admit. “But if there’s anything I can do to help fix your heart, I’m here.’

I tilt my head in thought. ‘Or even if you just wanna get back at him. I could so get down with that. You wanna catch a ‘hay ride’ with his favorite guard or something? That would probably piss him off. Or I could try to make him fall in lust with one of those gross goblin chicks. That would be hilarious.”

The corner of her mouth tips up slightly. “I think I’ll pass for now, but thank you.”

“Any time.”

“So, Emelle, when I think of something you can do for the rebellion, can I count on you?”

“I mean, yeah, but what exactly is your goal here?”

She looks me dead in the eye and says, “Overthrowing the king and prince, of course.”

I blanche. “You can’t be serious.”

“Indeed I am.”

“But he’ll kill you.”

Suddenly, the demure lady is gone and a fiery princess stands in her place. “Not if I kill him first.”

I whistle under my breath. “Wow. You’re, like, super scary right now.”

My words surprise a laugh out of the princess, and the sound is so contagious that I laugh, too. It feels good to laugh, but then I remember my guys being locked away in the tower and the smile falls from my face.

“I’ll help you, but can you help my genfins?”

After a moment of thought, she nods her head. “I won’t lie to you. I can’t do much while they’re awaiting the culling, or even while they’re competing in it. But I will do what I can.”

“Thank you.”

The hurt in my stomach lurches suddenly, making me hiss in pain.

Princess Soora frowns. “Are you ill?”

“Not exactly.”

How in the realm am I supposed to explain it? I didn’t want to admit that I’d go invisible again in case she wanted to use me that way. I couldn’t risk going full invisible and not being able to turn back. No, I have to keep this to myself for now.

“If I go too far away from the genfins, the ones in the prison, then I sort of start to feel…not well.”

“I see. I’m afraid I don’t have the power to undo any kind of spells.”

“Oh, that’s okay. Don’t worry about it. I can handle it.”

“There isn’t any sort of herb or tonic I can get for you?”

“No, I just need to see them.”

“I don’t think that will be possible. You may have to wait until after the culling.”

I wince. I don’t know if I have that long. It seems it’s not just a distance thing, but a time apart thing, too.

“Now, the story is that you were my handmaiden at my home island and I’ve requested you here. No one will question it, but don’t expect any sort of welcome here, because you’ll get none except with Duru. Under no circumstance should you trust anyone inside these walls. Loyalty is just a seven letter word here.”

Since I lived here for a few weeks during my last cupid stint, I know that all too well. This place is filled with more backstabbing pettiness than a human prep school.

“Got it.”

Duru pops her head back in the room. “I have everything ready for her, Princess.”

“Very good, thank you, Duru.” Turning back to me she says, “I have to go now, but Duru will take you to the baths and get you sorted. No one will be there now. She will dye your skin so you look more high fae and get you anything else you need.”

“Thank you,” I say, pulling off my bag and leaving it on the bed.

“And I don’t have to stress to you on the importance of secrecy for this, do I?”

“Nah. I got it,’ At her arched brow, I go on, “I mean, no ma’am. Royal Highness. Princess. Top secret rebellion equals Emelle shutting up.”

Her lips tilt up at my staggering eloquence. I don’t blame her. Then she sweeps out of the room.