Fifteen
I slept through the night and woke up feeling lighter, as if a weight had lifted off my chest. Telling Adrian the truth about Gideon’s betrayal had made me feel at peace, as if I had exposed a dark secret to light, and it had chased away the shadows.
Since I had slept in later than usual, the lord was already on the patio with a coffee and a book when I walked out. Another steaming cup and the book I had been reading awaited me on the coffee table.
“Good morning.” I smiled in greeting as I sat down beside him on the wicker sofa. “How thoughtful of you to bring a coffee and my book!”
“Good morning.” He smiled back as he handed me the drink. “Killian made your coffee. If it’s not to your liking, the blame is on him.”
I chuckled. “I’m sure by now he knows how I take it.” I tried a sip and sighed with content.
Adrian’s smile grew. “I was worried it would get cold. You came out a bit later than usual.”
“Yes, I’m sorry I’m late. It was hard getting out of bed this morning.”
His smile fell. “Are you not well?”
“No, I feel fine! Last night, I got the best sleep I’ve had in a while.”
“I did, too. I feel…” His brows pulled together as if he weren’t sure how to put something into words.
“As if a weight had lifted off your chest?” I prompted. The smile was back on his face as he nodded. “I feel the same way,” I confessed.
“I’m glad to hear it.” He reached for his coffee and brought it to his lips.
My gaze snagged on his mouth as he took a sip, and my cheeks flushed as our almost kiss flashed through my mind.
Forcing myself to look away, I picked invisible lint off my skirts.
Dressed in a butterfly-sleeved, dusty-pink gown, I was comfortable without a blanket since the warmer weather from last night had carried over into the morning.
“I saw Quilliam this morning,” Adrian said, drawing my attention back to him.
“You did?”
He nodded and gestured to the overgrown section of the gardens to our left. “His new nest appears to be over in those bushes.”
My heart swelled with joy. “That’s wonderful news! Things are really looking up. Maybe today is the day I will finally unlock my magic.”
“Only one way to find out.” He gave me an encouraging smile.
My palms dampened, and I ran them over my skirts as I prepared for yet another attempt.
Sitting up straighter, I closed my eyes and went to the source of the magic inside me.
The well I always pictured looked different today.
The water in it was sea-foam green, not the usual murky, dark blue.
Holding my breath, I reached down and dipped my fingers in.
The water was warm, not icy cold as it had been in the past. The corners of my mouth lifted as the liquid molded to my fingertips, tickling my skin.
Still holding my breath, I submerged my whole hand and slowly moved it back and forth.
Ripples disrupted the flat surface as I felt my magic come alive.
My eyes flew open as I gasped. “My magic moved! I felt it come alive!” I threw my arms around Adrian’s neck in excitement.
His deep laugh reverberated through me as he pulled me close. “I told you it wasn’t too late.”
His hold on me was tight, and I melted into the embrace, soaking up his warmth and his fresh scent.
Seconds ticked by as we sat unmoving, neither of us willing to let go.
I could stay in his arms forever. Warmth blossomed in my chest before spreading through my entire body as I felt extremely hopeful, not only about my powers but also the matters of my heart.
The sound of the patio door opening severed the moment of bliss. Adrian tensed as his hold on me loosened. I promptly dropped my arms from his neck and pulled away, blushing.
Thea stood on the patio, looking between me and the lord. “The king is here,” she said, locking eyes with Adrian.
“My father is here?” I jumped to my feet as a different kind of excitement took hold of my senses. I couldn’t wait to see him after being away from my family for a month.
Thea nodded. “He’s in the parlor with Tom.”
Adrian rose from the sofa, and the two of us followed Thea inside the house. My excitement turned into elation when I walked into the parlor and discovered that the king hadn’t come alone.
“Hello, Sunshine.” My mother scooped me up into a tight embrace. “Oh, how I’ve missed you!”
She held on for a few seconds before pulling away. Her wise blue-gray eyes flicked over my features as if to make sure I hadn’t changed much since the last time she had seen me.
“I’ve missed you, too, Mother.”
Her name was Dahlia, and like the flower, she was vibrant and bright. I had spent most of my life under her protective wing. Being away from her hadn’t been easy, but I was immensely proud that I hadn’t given up and run home.
“Emelin.” My father hugged me next.
His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled at me.
Deep shadows crawled behind that smile. The state of the kingdom had been eating at him.
He had lost weight in the short time we had been apart, and his hair and beard had grayed even more.
I couldn’t wait to tell him that I had been able to awaken my magic.
I still had a long way to go before I could help to reinforce the wards, but I refused to dwell on that.
My family was here, and I wanted to enjoy my time with them instead of wallowing in the dread about our uncertain future.
“Hey, Em.” When my brother, Sebastian, grinned at me, the tight feeling in my chest evaporated.
I grinned back as I wrapped my arms around his wide frame. With barely a year between us, we had always been close, and in him, I had not only a sibling but a friend for life.
“Something’s different about you,” I said when I pulled away. His hair was longer than how he usually kept it. “You need a haircut,” I teased, reaching up to ruffle the fair locks.
“Miri prefers my hair longer.” He chuckled as he ran a hand through his hair to tame it back down.
“Miri?” I arched a brow. He must be talking about Mirielle, Lady May’s daughter, whom she had adopted when the girl was only a babe. I had met her before, and from what I remembered, she was a demure young lady about the same age as my brother.
Sebastian smiled coyly instead of replying, and I giggled with anticipation as I couldn’t wait to coax more information out of him.
“Your Majesties.” Adrian bowed before my parents.
“Lord Gray.” My father acknowledged him with a nod.
My mother’s greeting was much warmer. “Lord Gray, it’s so nice to finally meet you! I trust you have been taking good care of Emelin?”
For some reason, my cheeks heated at her question.
“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s been a pleasure having her around.” Adrian glanced at me as one corner of his mouth lifted.
“Pleasure’s been all mine.” As soon as I uttered the words, my blush spread, setting my whole face on fire.
“Interesting,” Sebastian mumbled under his breath.
“The carriage is ready,” Killian announced as he walked in.
Adrian gave Tom standing nearby a questioning look.
“The king wishes to travel to the border,” the adviser explained.
The lord bowed again before my father. “Of course, Your Majesty. As you wish.”
We took two carriages, with Killian driving the one with my father, Adrian, and Tom, and my parents’ coachman, Jack, driving me, my mother, and Sebastian. Thea had decided to stay behind to ensure the guest rooms were ready for when we returned.
“I was shocked to learn that you had remained in Zalie when your father returned from the trip alone,” my mother said as soon as our carriage left the manor.
“I wasn’t,” Sebastian chimed in. “I had urged Father to tell you the truth. I knew that you would step up.”
I gave him an appreciative smile—he always had more faith in me than I did in myself.
“How is your training going? Have you made any progress?” my mother asked.
“It has taken all that time, but just this morning, I was able to awaken my powers!” I said excitedly.
“That’s excellent news!” my brother exclaimed.
My mother clapped her hands in celebration before she winked at me. “I bet you have enjoyed training with Lord Gray.”
I ignored her comment. “How are things at the capital?”
“Same old.” She waved her hand. “Christian was asking about you.” Christian York was the youngest son of the lord of the Rhoarvin region and a friend who had always wanted to be more.
“He’s looking forward to seeing you at the Solstice Ball in two weeks, but I think he’s going to have competition,” she uttered the last part in a sing-song manner.
“I don’t know what you mean.” I feigned ignorance, even though the blush suffusing my cheeks gave me away.
“I noticed how Lord Gray was looking at you.” She gave me a knowing smile.
When Sebastian chuckled next to me, I playfully swatted him on the arm. “And what about you? What’s going on with you and Miri?”
His eyes widened as his cheeks turned red. “We’re talking about you, not me! What’s going on with you and the lord?”
“Nothing!” I exclaimed, throwing my hands in the air.
“Truly?” He narrowed his emerald-green eyes at me, fighting a smile.
“Truly. I don’t know if I’m ready for anything new,” I confessed, sheepishly looking between him and my mother.
Sebastian’s expression turned serious as he said, “I know you got hurt, but you shouldn’t give up on love.”
“When did you become such a hopeless romantic?” I teased with a smile.
He smiled back. “When I started dating Miri.”
“I knew it!” I exclaimed, and Sebastian burst into boisterous laughter.
When we arrived at the Enwyld Forest, everyone climbed out of the carriages and strolled to the border. My mother focused on Adrian and Tom, leading them away from where my father, Sebastian, and I huddled together near the tree line.
“What is she doing?” I asked, watching the queen in conversation with the two men as they walked away from us.