Contents
9. Nine
Overview
Poppy brings Amara to a private dinner where King Ezra formalizes plans: their wedding will occur in two weeks, with Poppy coordinating. Ezra reveals he hid staff to ease Amara’s discomfort, requires daily meetings and nightly dinners to convince a priestess of their love, and promises to return Amara to the human realm after the ceremony.
The enforced proximity raises stakes, forcing intimacy despite mutual wariness and Amara’s conflicted fear and curiosity.
Summary
On a rainy day, Amara lingers in her room until Poppy arrives, excited, to announce that King Ezra has requested dinner to discuss important matters. Amara, wary but curious, agrees.
At the dining room, Ezra greets Amara with uncharacteristic casualness and courtesy, then has wine and a cheese soufflé served. When Amara asks why staff avoid her, Ezra admits he instructed them to hide because he knows fae unsettle her and he wanted to make things easier after learning she met Gil.
Ezra sets the terms: the wedding will be in two weeks, with Poppy handling preparations. He further declares that for the next two weeks they will spend one hour together daily and dine together each night. Amara bristles at enforced closeness yet feels a confusing mix of fear and excitement in his powerful presence.
Ezra promises to return Amara to the human realm after the wedding. He bluntly says he dislikes being around her but insists the routine is necessary to convince a priestess that they are in love, making clear the stakes of their performance and the path forward to break the curse.
Who Appears
- AmaraHuman apothecary; summoned to dinner; questions Ezra, feels conflicted fear and excitement; learns wedding timeline and staged-courtship plan.
- King Ezra KincaidFae king; courteous but blunt; set wedding in two weeks, hid staff to ease Amara, mandates daily meetings to convince a priestess.
- PoppyAttendant; delivers invitation and will coordinate the wedding preparations.