by J. D. Wright
“I’m sure King Frederick is watching you, right now, and I’ll bet that he just loves your dress. I know I do.”
“Do you miss your mother?”
“I do. Just like I’m sure you miss your father?”
“Yes… It’s easier this year, though. Last year was hard. But Bree says he’s very proud of me and he would be here if he could be.”
“That’s true. He is extremely proud of you. And he would definitely be here if he could be.”
Sarita nodded and gave a small smile. Then she kissed Rowan on the cheek and walked over to Celeste. Even though she had kissed his cheek many times, this time hurt more than the others.
He was torn. On one hand, he lost a parent, so he understood exactly what she was feeling. King Frederick was the only father she ever knew. The only father she still knows about. On the other hand, he wanted to tell her how incredibly happy he was to learn that he was her father. But how could he? Would she ever understand and accept the truth?
He tried to hide how angry he was that King Frederick had taken this precious girl away from him. He didn’t deserve to be removed from her life. Tossed aside.
The room suddenly felt crowded. He needed to get away. Finn walked toward him, but he brushed past him and into the courtyard. Bree spotted him leaving as she came down the hallway.
“Where is he going?” she asked Finn when he stepped out.
“I don’t know. He was talking to Sarita. Then he just walked out.”
“I’ll talk to him,” she said. “Just keep them busy, inside. Lie if you have to. Don’t let anyone come out here. Not anyone. Understand?”
“Sure.” Finn nodded and went back into the hall, shutting the large doors behind him.
Bree found Rowan on the other side of the courtyard, pacing and kicking the dirt.
“What happened? With Sarita?”
Rowan shook his head and looked up at the stars.
“I don’t think I can do this, Bree. Pretend like I don’t know. Or worse, pretend that I’m not angry about it all. It hurts just to be in the same room with her.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t know! You can’t know! It isn’t the same for you! You’ve seen her every day of her life. You’ve held her when she cried and celebrated her birthdays. Maybe not as her mother but as her sister. You’ve been here and she loves you.”
He started pacing again and pulled a dagger out, twirling it around as he tended to do, often. Bree wasn’t even aware that he had any weapons on him, but she should have known. Old habits never die.
“Rowan, we can tell her. When she gets older, we can tell her.”
“That would destroy her, Bree. It would make her feel like her entire life is a lie, the same way that I feel like those seven years apart were a lie.”
“We will figure it out like we always do.”
“So you don’t plan to cut me out of all decisions like he did?” Rowan pointed the blade toward the noble courtyard, where the late king was buried.
“Do you think you are the only one who was wronged by this? Do you think I’m not angry? The whole time I was pregnant, I talked to the baby. I told her about you. About us. I had no idea that when she was born my father was going to lie to the realm and steal her away from me. I hated him for it. For years! Years, Rowan. Not only did he pass my baby off as his own, but he took you away from me, too.”
“How did you do it? How did you forgive him? I would love to know because I can’t come up with a single reason why I should.”
“I didn’t forgive him until just before he died. Seeing him like that... You remember what it’s like. I know you do. You watched your mother wasting away.”
“My mother didn’t steal my daughter from me! How can you even compare her to him?”
“He did something terrible, Rowan. I know that. But he also did something I could never be angry with him for…” Her voice was cracking.
“And what is that?” he said, disbelieving that she could defend her father.
“He let you live.”
Rowan stopped spinning the knife and looked at her. He just now noticed her dress and how stunning she looked in it. The light from the torches lining the walls of the courtyard gave her skin a golden glow that matched the details on her dress and her gold crown.
She was right. King Frederick could have had Rowan executed for tarnishing his only daughter’s chances of entering into a royal union. It had happened before in stricter kingdoms. Had Rowan been killed, Bree would have had to live with that for the rest of her life. And she still would likely have lost her daughter as having a child out of wedlock is certain proof of a tainted virginity. It was just as much Rowan’s fault as it was Bree’s. And he did owe King Frederick a great debt for sparing him. It had allowed him to return to Bree. He wouldn’t be there with her now if not for the king’s mercy.
Rowan dropped the knife and walked straight into her arms. He held her as she cried and stroked her head. He wasn’t the only one who was hurt. They were in this situation together. They would have to figure out what to do, together.
“Oh, Bree. I’m so sorry.” He took her face in his hands and kissed her. “I keep making a mess of this.”
“No, Rowan. We both made a mess of this.”
“It doesn’t matter now. We are in this life together, you and I. After all, you’ll be my wife soon.”
She laughed through her tears.
“Wife. I like the sound of that,” she said. He kissed her again.
“I like the sound of that, too.”
~*~
Rowan entered the hall but stayed by the door. He knew Bree would be there in a moment. She just needed time to put herself back together after falling apart in the courtyard. When she arrived, the entire hall stopped and stared at her. Rowan bowed before her and she returned with a curtsy. Then he took her hand. But instead of kissing it, he pulled her glove off and slipped her ring on. A few gasps could be heard from behind him. He took her hand and lifted it up into the air.
The guests went wild with applause. Bree cried, but these tears were of joy as her mother and aunt rushed forward to congratulate them. It had been hard to keep the engagement a secret, but Bree knew she wanted to tell all of their family and friends at the same time and the Winter Ball was as good a time as any.
Nick pulled Rowan into a tight hug and boasted to Sir Raymun and Sir Luthias that his son had won the heart of the queen. Rowan shook his head and laughed. It appeared that Nick had already drunk his fair share of the wine for the night.
Dagan and Finn came forward to offer congratulations. Even though they already knew, they pretended like they didn’t. When Reeve approached him, Rowan pulled him to the side.
“Whatever happened between you and Rhea, fix it.”
“I can’t. She won’t speak to me.”
“Make her listen. She deserves to be happy, the same as you do. And since she can’t have me, and I’m most definitely the better prize between us, she should still be happy to settle for you,” he teased.
Reeve laughed and hugged his brother. He was starting to feel better about coming to Junacave and disrupting Nick and Rowan’s lives. Now he just needed to do something about his wife.
Rowan returned to Bree and led her to the throne where she gave a short speech thanking everyone. Then the ball was officially under way. People scattered all over, eating and drinking. Dancing commenced in the center of the hall as the musicians played a fun tune.
“Where is Dahlia?” Rowan asked Bree, as she took off her crown and laid it on her throne.
“She decided to leave. She’s going to start traveling the realm, again. Singing, like before.”
“Really? That’s surprising.”
“She just needed to get away for a while. She’ll return when she’s ready.” Bree took Rowan’s hand. “Now, let’s dance!” She led him into the center of the room and they fell into step with the other people
who were dancing.
Reeve watched Rhea, trying to decide when he should approach her. He looked around the room and spotted Gabby, sitting next to Sarita. When Gabby looked up and saw her brother watching her, she gestured toward Rhea. Reeve shook his head. He wasn’t ready to talk to Rhea yet. But Gabby kept giving him angry looks and indiscreetly pointing over to the fairy. Finally, Reeve relented. He walked over to where Rhea was sitting. Then he took a deep breath and stepped in front of her.
“May I have this dance?” he asked.
“I don’t think—“
“I never got to have a first dance with you. It’s tradition. And besides, as mad as you may be, you wouldn’t want to embarrass me in front of my sister, would you?” He moved so Rhea could see Gabby was watching them. Reluctantly, Rhea agreed and took Reeve’s hand.
They were quiet during the first song, which was a group dance, requiring that they switch partners occasionally. The second song was slower. They spun around the room. Rhea had never danced with a man before tonight. She was actually enjoying it. The steps were fairly easy to learn and Reeve was a great dancer, leading her around the room.
“Is that a smile, I see?” he asked, looking down at her.
“I enjoy dancing.”
“I know. I’ve seen you twirling around in the gardens.”
“You were spying on me?”
“Before, when I was tasked with protecting you, I did.”
“Oh.”
“But, yes, I have noticed you since. I know you enjoy eating vegetables and barely touch meat. I also know you like to climb into trees when you miss your home. And I know that you secretly like living in the castle.”
“Yes, those things are true. But—“
“You cry in your sleep when you have a bad dream. And you also cry when an animal dies. Any animal. Hell, you cry an awful lot, come to think of it…”
She laughed before she could stop herself.
“I saw your eyes light up when my sister came in the room. And I’ve seen you touch your neck at least a dozen times tonight, out of habit. I know all of these things despite the fact that you have avoided me since that night in the stables. Imagine how well I could get to know you if you gave me the chance.”
They stopped dancing when the song ended but stayed on the floor.
“Reeve…”
“Take a walk with me.” He didn’t wait for her to refuse. He just pulled her arm toward the door and she followed him. When they were in the hallway, he stopped pulling her and let go.
“All of those things you said about me are true, but it doesn’t mean anything,” she said. “We were forced into this marriage and we can absolve it. You can move on once I leave.”
“You’re right.”
Even though she knew she was right, it hurt to hear him say it. He could move on and be happy with someone else. Even he knew it.
“Then that settles it,” she said. “We will end the marriage.”
“Yes.”
Ouch. Part of the reason she was avoiding him was because she didn’t want to have this very conversation.
“Alright, then…” She turned to go, but he grabbed her arm.
“Before you go, I have something for you.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small star-shaped locket on a thin chain. He held it up to her.
“What is this?” she asked. It was beautiful. The center of the locket had a bright green stone that reminded her of the tree leaves in Anestas.
“It’s a locket. Silver, not iron. I found it in the village on the day you got your collar removed, while you and Gabby were with the seamstress. I was going to give it to you that night when we met in the stables.”
“That was months ago. Why did you keep it?”
“I wasn’t going to keep it. I kept meaning to return it or give it away. But I decided that you needed it, even if you didn’t need me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’ve seen you touch your neck over and over again, where the collar used to be. And I know you stop every time you see your reflection and look at it.”
He held the locket out to her. Slowly, she reached her hand up and took it. She rubbed her finger over the stone.
“Wear the locket,” he said. “Don’t let your past control you. When you wear this, every time you touch your neck you will be reminded that you survived what those men did to you. And every time you see it in the mirror you will remember that you are fearless. You chose to leave your home and help the pixies. Then you chose to come here and help restore Junacave after the wildfire. You even saved me from your mother. As long as you’re wearing this, no one will ever be able to control you or make you feel inferior again.”
She was speechless. She clung to the locket as tears started to fall. No one had ever called her brave, before. Or given her a gift like this. He had bought it on the same day he asked her to go riding with him. He cared for her, even then. Her mind was jumbled and she couldn’t organize her thoughts.
“I will ask the queen to send for the mysta,” he said. He started to say something else, but stopped and pursed his lips together. Then he shook his head and walked away, leaving her alone.
She slipped the chain around her neck and gripped the locket in one hand. The metal was cool against her skin. She would wear it, but not for the reasons he said. She would wear it and it would remind her of him.
~*~
“Are you sure you have to go?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“Stay, just one more day. I’ll make it worth your while.”
The look he was giving her made her want to strip naked and pounce on him right there. But she knew she had to leave. The other Sabras were depending on her. She was their leader. Adelphie kissed Finn goodbye and mounted her horse.
“This is too familiar,” he said. “Standing here, watching you ride away.”
“I will return. Even if it’s only for a short while, it’s worth it. You’re worth it.”
“Aww… m’lady is going soft on me.”
“Not a chance little boy.”
Finn watched her ride off into the forest, carrying a piece of his heart with her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The Sabras greeted Adelphie when she returned. Iona was the first to require details of her excursions with Finn. Adelphie avoided it as long as possible, but she finally gave in and told them all about the carriage ride to the village and the second time in his chambers. The third and fourth times had been in her guest chambers, and the last time was in the back of the stables, just before she left. That one was completely unplanned.
“It’s just so romantic. Like the stories, I’ve been reading. The man sweeps the woman off of her feet and they make sweet love… Aaahhhh! I am so jealous of you!” Iona said, fanning herself.
“You should stop filling her head with these stories. She may explode,” Dyna said.
“Oh, Dyna,” Adelphie said, dismissing her friend’s attitude. “Even you would have enjoyed the Winter Ball. There was food and dancing. I know you love to dance.”
“Not with men,” she replied. “I prefer to dance alone.”
“There are plenty of dances that you can do alone. But there is something special about being in his arms and swaying to the music.”
Iona sighed, again, hanging on to every word. She wasn’t the only one. Every other Sabra was sitting around Adelphie, listening to her review the entire ball. She told them about the queen’s engagement. They seemed very interested in what happened while she was gone.
Before, they could have cared less about what went on in Junacave. But now that they had visited the kingdom and met the people, they couldn’t help but be curious as to what happened after they left. Finn told her about the wildfire, so she told that story to them, as well.
When Adelphie was too tired to share anymore, she went into her hut and fell asleep. She dreamed of Finn. It was becoming
routine for him to make an appearance in her dreams. She would spend the entire night with him as she slept. Then, she would wake up expecting him to be there, but he wouldn’t be. It was depressing, to say the least.
She tried to stay focused on her tasks, but there wasn’t much to do in the middle of winter. Their hunting parties were shorter and less often. Wood was already cut and stacked for the fires. And the storage hut had enough food in it to last through the rest of winter. There simply wasn’t enough work to keep her mind from wandering.
She caught herself humming one of the songs from the ball. This was getting ridiculous. It was consuming her every thought. She looked down at the leather hide in her lap that she was supposed to be sewing into a new pouch for her hunting belt. It looked terrible. She had gotten so distracted that her stitching was uneven. It looked like something Sidonie had sewn. Sewing was one of her sister’s weaknesses.
“Are you alright?” Dyna said, poking her head into Adelphie’s hut.
“No, but I will be. Eventually.” She forced a smile and started to pull out the stitches.
Dyna wasn’t convinced, but she left anyway. Adelphie finished removing the stitches but decided to give up on the pouch for today. Dyna called out for Adelphie, so she walked outside of her hut.
“Why is my horse saddled?” she asked.
Beauty, Adelphie’s horse, was in the center of the encampment, wearing her saddle, and had several bags tied to it.
“Because you are going back to Junacave,” Dyna said, holding the reins out.
“No. I’ll be fine. I just need some time to return to my usual routine.”
“You will never be able to return to your usual routine. And I think you know that.”
Adelphie looked around to see the other Sabras watching her.
“I can’t go back. It is a nice suggestion, really. But my place is here. My place is with you. I’m a Sabra, not a citizen of Junacave.”
“Maybe so, but you can’t stay here forever, pining over the fire-headed man.”
“He has a name, you know.”
“I know.”
Adelphie was confused.
