by Dawn Brower
Donia nodded and followed after them. It didn’t take long to locate Elodie’s chamber. Donia opened the door for him to pass through. Susanna began to fuss as soon as they entered. Elodie nodded at her and said, “I thought I’d have to locate you.”
Susanna shook her head. “I received word she returned and came straight here to prepare for her. I expected she’d be a mess, and she is.”
Elodie’s maid seemed loyal to her. At least she had one person she could count on. “Good. I’ll leave her in your care. There are some things I need to see to. Tomorrow, she’s coroneted queen. Make sure she is not disturbed and gets the rest her body requires to heal. I’ll check on her later.” To heal her himself if he had to.
Donia exited the room and he followed behind her, closing the door as they left. In the hallway, he pulled out the rattle and stared at the handle. Ryanne was etched in separate letters between the rubies. He swallowed a lump in his throat and handed it to her. “This is yours.”
“Thank you—I...”
He held up his hand, interrupting her. “There is a lot I should explain, but it can wait. You are the heir to Katriel, and Mother will be ecstatic to see you. They should be here tomorrow for the coronation.” And the wedding… “I’ll introduce you then.” It was all he could promise. His world tumbled down around him, and he didn’t know how to stop it. Soon, he’d lose the one thing he held dear, and it would kill him to lose her. “I do have one question for you.”
“Oh?” She lifted a brow. “What?”
“Why didn’t you say something sooner? Why pretend you needed to go through with one of us, and more importantly, why didn’t you come back on your own?”
She turned away from him and didn’t meet his gaze. Donia fidgeted in place, twirling the rattle in her hand. “Returning hadn’t seemed like an option for me before. I didn’t know any other life, or the family I’d been stolen from. The hunters made me feel needed…” Donia slowly turned her head and glanced up at him. “As far as telling you the truth—would you have believed me?”
Daire couldn’t be certain what he would have believed. Even when he’d first noticed the rattle, he’d been reluctant to consider she might be his sister. “I might have been disconcerted at first, but I’d have come to believe the truth. You should have explained who you were sooner. We—I would have been more willing to assist you. Katriel needs you.”
“Just the kingdom?” She lifted a brow. “Not my family?”
Daire wanted to tell her the words she wanted to hear. Fredrik would be angry he had to give up his right to the throne. His parents—they’d be overjoyed. She’d get a mixed reaction from them all, but in the end, she was the heir, and that mattered to Katriel. “You’re my sister. You’ll always matter.”
“I admit it was easier for me to pretend I needed you. It gave me time to discover more about all of you, and in turn, it gave me the opportunity to help. I’d known for a while how to go home if I wanted to.” She blew out a breath. “And for the record, I care about all of you—that made it easier for me to make my decision to return, and find my rightful place in this world.”
“I’m glad you did.” He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. “Welcome home, little sister. Our parents are going to be so happy to meet you.”
“All right,” Donia said as she pulled back. “I’ll leave you for now. I kind of need time to think…”
“I understand,” he said, and he did. They’d been through hell, and it kept throwing punches. They both required time to wrap their heads around the news that had blasted them. “Until tomorrow then.”
Donia bobbed in affirmation, then left him alone. He still had a room in the castle, and he went there for the privacy he desperately needed. Once there, he allowed himself to break down. He’d have to keep himself together when he let Elodie go. It would be the hardest thing he ever did…
The sunlight poured through the room and bounced off the back of her eyelids. Elodie stretched in warmth and comfort she hadn’t felt in days—no, weeks. Wait—she wasn’t in pain, and no longer in Malediction. She opened her eyes and sat up, staring at her surroundings. This was her room. Daire had carried her there the night before for Susanna to fuss over her. Her maid had stitched her wounds. Elodie vaguely recalled whimpering from the pain of it. She ran her hand over the wound and frowned.
“It healed already? How long have I been asleep?” Had she missed the coronation?
“Just the night,” Susanna reassured her. “Your prince came back and weaved a bit of magic once you were asleep. He should have told me he could do that and saved me some time.” She shook her head bewildered. “What happened to you? I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”
Elodie’s cheeks burned. Daire had seen parts of her naked? “How long until I have to be downstairs.”
“The coronation is scheduled to begin in an hour with the wedding to follow directly after. I’ve already prepared your bath.”
The wedding… She’d forgotten that part. Elodie hadn’t discussed that with Daire in a long time. Did she want to marry him? Before she believed herself so in love with Cale she couldn’t see past it. Now she realized her love for the knight wasn’t the romantic sort. But did that mean she loved Daire? “Hurry up and help me prepare. I’d like to speak with Daire before the ceremony.” She had to gauge his feelings and then she’d prepare from there.
Susanna helped her bathe in record time. It was putting on her ceremonial clothing and dressing her hair that took longer than anticipated. It took her maid several minutes to brush the snarls out of her long locks and weave them into an intricate coiffure. “There,” Susanna replied, proud of her handy work. “No, tiara for you. You’ll have a much bigger crown at the end of this.”
Elodie laughed. “That I will. Now I must find Daire. Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it,” Susanna replied. “That boy loves you. I must say I was surprised to see you with him. A lot can happen in a fortnight if he managed to get you to love him back.”
Elodie didn’t admit or deny to having that particular feeling for Daire. She wasn’t sure what was going on inside of her. She knew she had to find him. Instead of answering Susanna, she rushed from her room and went to find him, but he was no where around. She ran into Abram. “There you are, dear. They’re ready to begin.” He held out his arm to her. “I’m to escort you inside.”
“I need a few moments first,” she said. “Can you delay? There’s something I have to do.”
“Don’t take too long, my dear,” Abram replied. “There are a lot of people waiting on you.”
Elodie hugged him quickly and ran off in search of Daire. Where was he? She glanced around and nibbled on her bottom lip. She ran down the hallway and ran into something hard. “Ouch,” she muttered.
“Isn’t there someplace you need to be, princess?”
She glanced up and met Cale’s gaze. Elodie hadn’t had much of an opportunity to talk to him since he’d flown in to save her and Daire. She should have taken the time to speak with him. Now that he was in front of her, she’d suddenly became nervous. “I’m sorry.” She patted his chest lightly. “I should have been watching where I was going.”
“Don’t fret,” he reassured her. “I can handle you running into me. Are you excited to finally become queen?”
That awkwardness between them seemed to grow worse with each second that passed. She hated it and wanted to make it disappear. Cale had been important to her for too long. “Cale?” She frowned. “I wouldn’t be queen if not for you. How many times did you thwart Fiona’s attempts on my life?”
He glanced away. “We don’t need to count those.”
So, way more than she could possibly have anticipated… Cale had been her shield when she hadn’t fully realized she needed one. Her heart skipped a beat. What had she done to ensure such devotion in him? He’d kept her safe for a lot of years. He’d been her rock, and yes, his loyalty had been tested. In the end, he’d done what he�
�d always had—protected her. She knew in that moment she could trust him. “I want you to stay at Zelnon.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I’m still—not me.”
“You’ll never be the same again.” She placed a hand on his arm. “None of us will. But there is one thing that will always remain the same.” Elodie moved her hand and placed it on his chest. “You have a good heart, and it has always remained true. Have a little faith in yourself.”
“I love you.” An unidentifiable emotion edged through his voice as he spoke—hope or maybe sorrow—Elodie couldn’t tell for sure. “I always have.”
“I know,” she replied quietly. “Even when you pushed me away, I realized that. It frustrated me every time.”
“We don’t have a chance anymore, do we?” His eyes held a hint of sadness in them. “I messed up.”
She shook her head. He hadn’t done anything of the kind. Elodie had been the one who changed, had grown into a different person. In some ways Cale was exactly the same, even if he believed otherwise. He loved with his entire being, but the love between them wasn’t of the romantic sort. She could see that now, and he would too in time. “You are a brave, loyal knight, and don’t you forget that. We all had our minds warped in the cursed world. I do not hold you accountable for any of that.” She reached up and forced him to meet her gaze. “I love you, and I always will, but I’m not in love with you. I wanted to be, and I even believed it for a while. You deserve someone who is going to give you their whole heart, and I can’t do that.”
“Because it belongs to him.” Cale took a deep breath. “He’s a good match for you. He’ll keep you safe.”
Elodie hadn’t told Daire how she felt about him. She would when she found a chance to. If only she’d figured it out sooner… “Will you stay? I need a knight I can trust.”
“I’ll think about it.” He wound his arm around her waist and turned her so she faced the opposite direction. “It’s all I can give you right now. I have a lot to think about.” He kissed the top of her head. “For now, how about I escort you to your coronation. Zelnon needs its queen.”
She wouldn’t be able to find Daire before as she’d hoped. It would have to wait until the wedding. She’d hoped to have a discussion with him before then though. “Lead the way,” Elodie said. Cale escorted her to the throne room and then opened the doors.
Trumpets blared as they walked across a long, blue carpet that led through the throne room. People were gathered on both sides of the rug, all clapping as she went past them. Daire’s parents were in the front. Donia was next to Queen Regan—his mother—and Daire stood next to his father, King Cormac. Daire didn’t meet her gaze and almost looked—pained. She searched through their bond and felt his heartbreak. What was he thinking?
The coronation ceremony went by in a blur. She’d barely realized what was going on and spoke when required. All she’d wanted was to get through it so she could finally speak to Daire. The wedding should happen directly afterward. He didn’t want to back out of that, did he? The high priest raised his hands and declared, “I give you Elodie Kendrick—Queen of Zelnon.”
She stood and turned to the crowd. They all bowed or curtsied to her in honor of her new title. She’d done it—defeated Fiona and claimed her rightful place as Queen. One thing remained—Daire. Earlier, she’d had a discussion with her guardian, Abram. She’d explained everything that happened to her, Cale, and Daire. He seemed to believe her… Abram had been relieved to discover her alive and had hugged her repeatedly. He’d probably have accepted any tale she told him.
“I know you all came prepared for a wedding, but it must be postponed.”
“What?” Elodie spun around. “Why?”
“At your request,” the high priest stumbled over the words. “The prince…”
“Is mistaken,” she said her voice filled with authority. Elodie turned to meet his gaze. “Or are you afraid to stand by my side.”
“Never,” he said. “I’d be proud to be yours.”
“Then you know your place.” Elodie grinned at him. “With me, always.” She turned around and then looked at the high priest. “The wedding goes as scheduled.”
She had no idea why she’d panicked when she’d heard it might be cancelled. Up until that moment, she hadn’t been certain what she wanted from Daire, but when she realized she might lose him everything snapped into place. Every fear and uncertainty had been wiped away, and she fought for the one person she needed most.
Daire came to stand beside her. “I think we can say our own vows.”
Elodie had no problem with that. There was a lot she had to say to him. She turned to face Daire and meet his gaze. Something unidentifiable swam in the depths of his sea green eyes. “The day I met you, I’d been frozen by your tenacity and beauty. In that moment, I’d found a home for my heart, but I was too young to realize what that really meant. Our time in Malediction gave new meaning to that one word—love. If I’d lost you there…” He swallowed hard. “I didn’t want you to feel as if you had to marry me. I love you enough to let you make your own decisions. If you want me, then I’ll always be yours. I promise that I won’t let any of my fears prevent me from being by your side, and I’ll protect you with my dying breath if need be.”
Elodie fought back tears. This was what she’d always wanted. Someone who loved her and wanted her as much as she did them. She’d died a little every day waiting for someone like him, and she’d wait forever to have that kind of devotion.
“I do—it’s three little letters, and two tiny words that hold so much meaning. They’re straightforward, yet there is nothing quite so simple about them. I’ve not been easy, and for that I must apologize. I’ve let my fears rule me far too long.” She reached out and clasped his hands in hers and kept her gaze steady as she began speaking. “A vow should have meaning, not be pretty words that hold empty promises. When I say I do, I realize that along the way I could get hurt, but I’m ready for us to heal together. It means I want to try, even though we might face failure, and the future is uncertain, but I’m ready to be surprised. As long as you’re by my side, we can manage anything that fate has in store. Mostly, I want you to know I do want your love, and I do give you mine in return. Without you, nothing would be the same because I would be alone—life will be much better because you and I will be together.”
It was her turn to swallow a lump in her throat. When Daire and she first crossed paths again mere weeks ago, she’d never have thought they’d come to this conclusion. She hadn’t recognized her future then, but she wasn’t a fool to turn away from it a second time.
“I do love you,” Daire said softly.
“I know.” She winked. “Now kiss me.” He complied to her demand with a flair only her prince could, and she adored him even more for it.
The high priest threw his hands in the air again and pronounced them husband and wife. A happy ending they’d come to on their own terms. The curse had finally been broken, and she prayed they knew nothing but peace and joy henceforth… Either way, she’d be content because she had love. The rest she could figure out along the way.
Excerpt: A Lady Hoyden’s Secret
Dawn Brower
Prologue
A careless whisper can lead to a scandal of impressive magnitudes. It’s my pleasure to help those whispers along…
—Whispers from Lady X
* * *
The Season, 1811
Lady Helena Carter tapped her foot impatiently. It was her third season and sadly, she still had no suitors. As far as wallflowers went, she topped the list of undesirables. Most debutantes or ladies on the verge of spinsterhood would start becoming alarmed at the lack of prospects. In that regard, Helena was far from normal. She had decided to utilize the gift she’d been given and prepare for her future. A husbandless one, but she had accepted that two seasons ago.
She didn’t need a man. All right, maybe she did—for now. Her father, the Duke of Montford, supported her,
and she required that support as she made the steps necessary to take care of herself. Success didn’t happen overnight, after all. She fully planned on taking the world by storm—in secret.
“Do I want to know what you have spinning inside your head?”
Helena glanced up at her brother, the Earl of Darcy, and smiled. “I don’t know, Lucas. It might scare you to know my innermost secrets.”
Her brother was dear to her and always would be, but he was one of those dreaded men who believed a lady couldn’t take care of herself. Perhaps she was a tad modern in her convictions; however, that didn’t make any of them less true. If a woman set her mind to something, she could accomplish a great deal. A lot of women already did and didn’t even realize it. The process of organizing a gala the size of the Loxton ball was a feat in itself. Most men didn’t take that into consideration. They thought a woman’s need for balls frivolous and tedious at best. A lot had to come together to launch a successful social gathering.
“I’m already terrified,” Lucas replied. “You’ve been a termagant since the moment you were born.”
“You wound me.” The corner of her mouth twitched as she held back a smile. “Shouldn’t you be in the card room?”
Lucas was five years her senior. He showed no signs of looking for a wife and settling down. Actually, the fact that he was there at all was odd. He usually ran wild around town with his closest friend, the Marquess of Dashville. When either one of them decided to attend a soiree of any sort, they were always together and could often be found at the most risqué of entertainments.
“Shouldn’t you be dancing?” He lifted a brow. “I could be wrong, but isn’t that the point of a ball?” He lifted her dance card and frowned. “Why aren’t there any names on here? You’re the daughter of a duke and have a large dowry. The young bucks should be falling over themselves for a chance to marry you.”
