Free Goblin Ball by L. K. Rigel Page B

himself and walked on, over the small rise covered in green grass, and on to the pantomime. He had a minuscule part to play, barely a line or two left to deliver.
    IV. Lilith
    “Max, you were right. They came.” Lilith watched a band of half a dozen new guests arrive. They looked like they belonged to each other, all extremely well dressed in designer clothes out of GQ or Vanity Fair. By their expressions, they considered this affair beneath themselves.
    Lilith recognized two of their member right away: Jenna Sarumen and her father. Not so long ago Lilith had envied Jenna her charmed life, not knowing the truth of what she and her family were. “I hope they aren’t here to cause trouble.”
    “They risk the high gods’ wrath if they do,” Max said. “They’re here by Cissa’s invitation. They can’t breach a queen’s hospitality.”
    “It would seem rank has its privileges even in fae,” Lilith said. “Great gods. I know that man, the human trailing behind them.” It was Greg. He looked… pathetic.She silently thanked the high gods for having escaped him.
    Cade had yet to notice the appearance of his adversary, but she wasn’t concerned. They’d decided to take as little notice of the Sarumens today as possible. Wrong place, wrong time for corporate battle. He had squatted down beside Lexi’s cot, and they were having a nonsensical conversation. As if concerned for her father’s mental well-being, Lexi’s eyebrows knitted up. She kissed her palm and pressed it against Cade’s cheek and laughed.
    Watching her husband and daughter play, Lilith relaxed. “I’m sorry everyone’s disappointed Lexi hasn’t visited the faewood,” she said to Max. “But a hundred years might pass while she was there.”
    “The ones who matter will visit in the human realm,” Max said. “The others will be satisfied with seeing her here at the gifting.”
    “A fae gifting.” She was still uneasy about the concept.
    “There’s nothing to fear.” Max said. “The fae adore children, and your daughter is of the queen’s own blood. They would never hurt her.”
    The queen again . So impersonal. So distant. Lilith was pretty sure Max liked Cissa. Loved her, even.
    “None of their presents will be so unwieldy as mine,” he said. “Or as tangible.”
    “What do you mean, tangible?”
    “I’ve heard the leprechauns are giving her a pair of grow-booties. They’re the most dangerous gift coming that I know about.”
    “Grow-booties?”
    “Baby booties that will never fall apart. They’ll grow as Lexi grows, and change to whatever style suits the day. Their charm—”
    “Indestructibility and adaptation not being at all magical?” Lily smiled.
    “To the leps, those are run-of-the-mill qualities in baby shoes. Not good enough for the queen’s only heir. The charm in Lexi’s pair is that as long as she wears them she’ll never take a wrong step or fall.”
    “That sounds good. Why do you frown?”
    “One person’s charm is another’s curse. If the child never falls, she’ll never learn to rise.”
    “Ah, I understand you.”
    “The other presents will be ephemeral and benign. Beauty, kindness, grace, good fortune, the ability to dance, to tell a good joke.”
    “Nice, sparkly, fairy things,” Lily said.
    “Just so.”
    “Those gifts I don’t fear. But I worry about unintended consequences.” Lily stopped. “Max, when I went to Avalos for Mistcutter , I met someone there. He was unlike anyone. Not human, not any kind of fae.”
    “Velyn of the fallen.”
    “Yes. He said he’d known me in my past life as Igraine. It was he who told me about my and Cade’s reincarnation. I asked him if he’d ever seen heaven, and he said he’d seen the highest heaven. The highest god. Max, I believe Velyn is a fallen angel.”
    Max nodded but said nothing.
    “Lexi was christened last week. I never believed in such things before, but now… I do.”
    “I don’t believe a christening would offend the high