Page 8 of This Prince Is Not Charming

“And you chased them, even though your father and I have both told you not to.”

“Correct.”

He stared at me, ice blue eyes flashing with amusement. “Just like you secretly like it when I annoy Fargus, I think you also secretly like it when the scissors escape.”

“No, I don’t.”

“It’s the thrill of the chase, isn’t it? And you call me irresponsible when you’re in here running after flying scissors. I think you’re the one who might need an adviser, Cerriwen.” He was the only one who ever used my full name. Not even my papa did. “After I get Fargus to quit, maybe he can come work for you, and you two can be boring together.”

I poked him in the arm as he laughed.

“Prince Cillian, my boy.” My father appeared in the doorway, now dressed and smiling. “I told Ceri she needed to see your brother’s wife about that cut.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Cillian stood and strode toward my father, shaking his outstretched hand.

I glared at the high prince. He did this to rile me up, not because he actually agreed with my father.

“I’m fine. Will both of you stop it?” I stood and walked across the store toward the hanging dresses, fiddling with them and hoping Cillian and my father would stop talking about me like I wasn’t here, like I couldn’t take care of myself. I took care of everyone and everything.

I finally turned, and discovered all the mirth gone from Cillian’s face as he stared at me with a strange look, eyes wide.

“What?” I snapped. I didn’t even know why he was still here. He was getting married in mere hours, and he was acting like it was any other day.

“Is that new?” His gaze traveled in a slow trail from my chest down to my slippered feet.

I stretched out the skirt of my dress. It was new. I’d finished it last night and had wanted to wear it for his wedding.

A shriek rang out behind me. “Of course this is new. It’s my wedding dress. What are you doing here, my prince?”

Cillian’s gaze flicked over my shoulder to his future bride, who was currently ducking behind me and hiding.

“This dress is supposed to be a surprise! I wanted a genuine reaction from you. Everyone is going to be looking, and I want them to see the high prince stunned into silence.”

Cillian straightened. “Ah, sorry. I didn’t realize you’d be here.”

“Where else would I be?” Siobhan asked. “Of course I’m at the dressmaker on my wedding day. And”—she poked her head up over my shoulder—“why aren’t you dressed yet?”

Cillian scratched the back of his neck, and my father sent me a “yeesh” face. It had only been a month since the council had decided they would marry. They’d picked Siobhan because her line had personally served Fairwitch centuries ago, and therefore, she was the most esteemed faerie they had—and she also desperately wanted to be queen, even though she and Cillian had barely said two words to each other in total.

Though Siobhan had no problem complaining about Cillian during all our sessions together. Cillian, on the other hand, had absolutely nothing to say about her, shrugging any of my questions away when I’d asked how he was feeling about all this.

“Is that a stain on your shirt?” Siobhan wrinkled her nose. “Please promise you’ll bathe before our wedding ceremony.”

“Yes, that is on my agenda,” Cillian said. His gaze flicked to me again and I raised a brow, nudging my head toward the door. “Ah. I’m due at the castle soon. I just . . .” He hesitated, rocking on his heels. “I wanted to say hi and, um, well, bye.”

He was acting so out of character. The High Prince of Fairwitch Isle was rarely at a loss for words. As I watched him struggle to leave, understanding washed over me.

This was a goodbye.

After he got married, he wouldn’t be able to visit every morning and on random evenings. He wouldn’t be able to dine with us or bring my father his favorite pastries or play cards. He would be married, having heirs, and moving on.

Like everyone in this town. Everyone except me.

“Well, I should go,” he finally managed.

“Bye,” I said softly as Cillian strode toward the door It clicked closed behind him, so much finality in it that my heart lurched..

“Well, that was odd.” Siobhan stepped in front of me. “I swear, he loves to irk me. Doesn’t he understand this is the most important day of my life? I’m about to become queen of not one nation but two, and he’s treating it like a joke.”