Dryad Mated

ALETHEA

“I love him but he makes me want to scream and throw things and just behave quite unladylike in general,” Alethea fumed.

“Can’t speak ill of the King,” Nikki replied. “So, let’s talk hair.”

Alethea threw a grape at her cousin. Every time she ranted about her father, Nikki’s response was the same. Can’t speak ill of the King.

“He’s not going to banish you from the palace. I would never let him.”

“Sorry, but sometimes he has a point.”

“Really? He told me that only ladies of the night wear red lipstick,” Alethea said with a raised brow and a pointed look at Nikki’s own bright red lips.

“Maybe.” Nikki waggled her brows. “Okay. Men of our father’s generation are old-fashioned. Perhaps it’s not excusable for them to remain in the past, but I don’t think goading them is the best way to bring them around.”

“It’s infuriating because when my mother was alive, my father wasn’t like this at all. Now she’s gone, and the entire island is slipping back into patriarchal nonsense.”

Nikki crossed her long legs at the ankles and flipped through the fashion magazine in her lap. “Maybe it’s how he’s grieving.”

“You always take his side.”

“Hair?”

Combing her fingertips through the long strawberry blonde waves, Alethea bristled. “There’s nothing wrong with my hair.”

“I know. I’m just desperately trying to steer the conversation away from uncle Andrew.”

“What do you think about Pavel Illoski?” Alethea stood in front of the full-length mirror, hands on her hips as she checked every angle of her dress. Her father had arranged a date for her. In his mind, the right man would ‘calm’ her. She had to go along because his word was literally royal decree.

But just because she had no interest in Pavel didn’t mean she wasn’t going to look perfect.

Nikki tossed the magazine aside and brushed at her cream pencil skirt. “I think there are worse blind dates.” She tapped a perfectly manicured fingertip to her chin. “We’ve met a few times before. He’s handsome. Charming. I’ve always thought he was the lifelong bachelor type, though. He stands to inherit his father’s dukedom and a ridiculous amount of wealth.”

“That probably explains father’s interest. And let me guess, he’s as conservative as they come?”

“I have no idea. I think he’s always neutral or uninvolved. Honestly, he might be a catch.”

Alethea left the mirror and sat next to Nikki. “I need more than charm and looks. With my luck, he’s going to be incredibly dull.”

“I don’t remember him being dull. He’s a flirt. But not the creepy sort. I think you should play along.”

“Never. I don’t need a man, and any individual perfect for me would never gain father’s approval, so why bother?”

Nikki rolled her eyes. “I mean just find someone to have fun with. For someone who hates the idea of marriage, you seem to equate meeting a man with planning a future. In the real world, we date. You should try it.”

“I date.”

“Your idea of dating is letting a guy take you out once, and you grill him incessantly to make sure a second date never happens.”

“I have more important things to worry about,” Alethea groaned.

Nikki scoffed. “Go out. Order the most expensive thing on the menu, because Illoski can definitely afford it, and I don’t know…maybe enjoy his flirty smile and pretty eyes. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Famous last words,” Alethea said with a sigh.

***

Alethea pushed a cold floret of broccoli across her plate as her stomach rumbled. She was hungry, and not for a fancy salad. What was I thinking, letting him order for me?

Sipping his red wine, Pavel scoped the room. So far, their conversation had been pleasant and light. As Nikki predicted, he’d been polite yet flirty, and aside from ordering her the insulting salad, she thought maybe something could work.

She dropped her fork and took a breadstick from the basket between them.

“Is something wrong?” He motioned to her plate. “Is the vinaigrette unpleasant?”

“No,” she said carefully. “To be honest, I’m not sure why you ordered me a salad. Is it because…”

“Because every time I’ve seen you eat, it’s been salad?” he asked with a confused tilt to his brow.

She picked at the bread and tried to imagine what he meant. “Really?”

“Yes. It stuck in my mind because at the last… What was it… Oh, yes. The silent auction raising money for the local children’s center. They had the most remarkable choices, and you still had salad. I assumed you were a vegetarian.”

She grimaced and nodded. Here she was, thinking it was because he was subtly digging at her weight. “What an astute observation,” she admitted. “But I would have loved anything but the salad. There seemed to be a mix-up that night.”

That mix-up being that her father’s assistant always managed to bribe or possibly threaten the servers at dinner events into keeping food from Alethea. Lydia claimed she was watching out for Alethea’s health, which was code for trying to put her on a diet.

Pavel lifted two fingers into the air, summoning their waiter. “Could you take away the salad and bring the fresh swordfish with a side of lamb?”

The waiter took Alethea’s plate and scurried off.

“A side of lamb? I’m not sure I’m that hungry.”

“I am. I ordered this mushroom couscous because I felt strange eating much of anything if you were eating grass.” He scooped some onto his fork then let it fall off, watching it dismally. “For the prices here, the couscous should have gold flakes, no?”

She grinned, and something shook free in her, allowing her to relax. She’d been too busy analyzing him and being on the defensive to enjoy his company so far, even if he’d been oozing natural charm.

She looked around. “Did you choose this restaurant? Or did my father give you an itinerary?”

He scratched his cheek. “I chose, but where else would one bring the Princess?”

Indeed. The last three men she’d met with had brought her here. It was the most exclusive restaurant for miles. But of course, there was always a private table upstairs if you brought royalty with you.

“I feel I should be honest,” Pavel said, his fingers spinning the long-stemmed glass of wine before him. “My parents arranged this with His Majesty.”

Nothing surprised Alethea about that statement. “You don’t wish to be here.”

“I have no qualms with having dinner with a pleasant companion.”

She shrugged and offered him an honest smile to put him at ease. “It’s fine.” It was fine, except that she suspected she simply wasn’t his type, and that was frustrating. She could have grown to enjoy his company, and he was the best prospect so far. “We can certainly enjoy dinner.”

The waiter returned after a few minutes and set two plates down, both steaming and giving off divine aromas. Alethea immediately dug into her fish and wild rice, but Pavel seemed distracted.

“I should explain,” he said after a moment.

“Hmm?”

“I don’t like the public eye,” he began. “I feel like an ass to admit this, but I just don’t see myself with anyone who is constantly being photographed and scrutinized.”

“Oh.” She’d actually never had a date feel this way before. If anything, most of the men who approached her lived for notoriety. “That’s fair.”

“I’m having a wonderful time tonight. I didn’t know what to expect. But even with that…”

She held up her hand. “It’s okay. I wouldn’t exactly wish the attentions of the paparazzi on anyone.”

He stabbed a piece of grilled lamb and brought it to his lips, blowing on it carefully before eating it. Finally, he said, “I was honest with you. And you can be honest with me. You had no interest in this date. And if we’re both fine with that, then I think we can have an enjoyable time.”

“That sounds like the best suggestion I’ve heard in ages.”

“Well, here’s another one. There’s a matchmaker in town. She’s from the States but her reputation is far spread⁠—”

“No, thank you.” Alethea paused with her fork raised and piled high. “Trying to convince me that I need a man is not my idea of an enjoyable time.”

He tilted his head. “I didn’t say you need one, but why wouldn’t you want to give it a go? She’s here on vacation, I hear, but certainly she could make an exception for you of all people. I’ve got her email address.”

Alethea’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “How do you have her email?”

“She’s from the States, not an enchanted forest. She’s easy enough to look up.” He waggled his brows at her. “Come on. I feel like I owe you.”

Alethea shook her head and returned focus to filling her empty stomach with as much fish as possible.

“Fine. What would be a worthwhile evening for you?”

She swallowed and pondered this for a moment. Behind him, tiers of bottles were glittering in the dim light. She pointed to the bar. “Shots.”