Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
Rosalina
V ery carefully, I place the last sugared doughnut onto the top of my tower.
“Going to fix the castle with sweets?” A voice carries from the entrance of the kitchen.
I jump and my hand bumps the pile, toppling my tower. I blow the hair away from my eyes with a long sigh. “Great, Cas, now I’m going to have to start again.”
The Prince of Thorns saunters in past the huge stone oven, gliding his hand along the wooden table in the center of the room.
I haven’t spent too much time in Castletree’s kitchen, but it’s quite the cozy space. Set below the main level, it’s made entirely of stone. Dried herbs hang by the arched windows, streams of red midday light flickering through them. Two pantries stand side by side: one overflowing with vegetables and grains, the other chilled by Winter’s magic, stocked with an array of colorful berries, tubs of creamy desserts, and jugs of fruit juice and iced tea.
Since being back at Castletree, I’ve made sure to drink my contraceptive tea. It’s got a bitter taste, but thankfully one cup will last me a whole month.
“You’ve been busy,” Caspian says, eyeing the table laden with food: jewel-toned berries, a platter of ambrosia grapes, tiny tarts with flaky crusts and fillings of sweet cream, and a platter of pastel-hued cakes with edible flowers. There’s also a pot of honeysuckle tea brewing and a few jugs of fae wine. I know I’ll have to be careful with that, figuring the last time I indulged, I ended up showing my ass to Keldarion. But that was only because Day—
A sudden pang of grief ripples through me at the memory of that night. When Dayton had first taken me to the Summer Realm. First kissed me.
You were the first of the princes to kiss me.
I grip the edge of the table and breathe in through my nose. “It wasn’t hard,” I say, my words too high-pitched. “The chef Oliviana helped me for a bit. I’m just finishing up.”
Caspian eyes me carefully, like he can feel all the pain inside of me with just a look. He seems content to play along for now, and pops a berry into his mouth, the juices painting his lips red. “What is all this for?”
“I’m having a sleepover with Astrid and Marigold.”
He raises a dark brow. “Just how much do you expect a little rabbit and raccoon to eat?”
“And with Wrenley,” I say.
Caspian stiffens but doesn’t respond.
“She’s going to be part of our lives now,” I continue, not sure why I feel the need to justify myself to the Prince of Thorns of all people. Maybe I need to hear myself say it. “It’s only polite to try to get to know her.”
“Princess,” Caspian says, anger lacing his words. “What happened to the Summer Wing wasn’t your fault. You don’t need to do something you’ll hate just to ease some feeling of guilt that shouldn’t even be there.”
“I lost control of my magic.”
“Lucky just some parts of the tree fell apart. When Ezryn lost control of his magic, he almost killed you.”
The thought of Ezryn in such pain sends another stab of longing through my mate bond. I’ll find you soon , I think. “Speaking of Ezryn,” I say, “I know why you killed his father.”
“To continue overthrowing Spring and assist in building my mother’s dynasty.”
“No,” I say, crossing my arms. “It was one of the things I spent a lot of time thinking about during my imprisonment. Thalionor was sick. He was going to turn into a monster like that plant rat, wasn’t he? The pus that dripped from under his helm was the exact same as what that monster had around its maw. Perth Quellos must have been poisoning him.”
Caspian avoids my gaze. “Are these cream-filled tarts? Very delicious.”
“Caspian,” I say, “why didn’t you tell Ezryn what was wrong with his father?”
“It wouldn’t have mattered. Ezryn would have wanted to try to save him. But Thalionor was moments from turning and he might have killed you—” He stiffens, then says quickly, “Might have killed us all. I couldn’t take that chance.”
“Tell him when you next see him, then.”
“He won’t believe me.”
“Caspian,” I snarl, smacking his hand away from the tarts, “won’t you even try?”
“Like you’re trying, with all these?” He gestures to the table of sweets. “You’re going to make yourself miserable for what? Do you even know if you can trust Wrenley? She’s still Kairyn’s acolyte.”
“And you’re the son of the Queen of the Below.”
He grits his teeth but says nothing more.
“Besides,” I say, “I have to make this right.”
“Getting to know the little bird chirping in Dayton’s ear isn’t going to put Castletree back together.”
I dig my fingernails into my palms. “I’m supposed to protect Castletree, not destroy it.”
Caspian crosses to me and places a finger under my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “What are you supposed to do? Being her daughter doesn’t burden you with some responsibility. You didn’t sign up for this. Just because you have magic doesn’t mean you have to use it. You could leave.”
I shake my head and turn away from him. “Like you did?”
“You’re upset with me.”
“Why didn’t you come for me?” I whirl to him, and fresh tears spill over my cheeks. “I was Kairyn’s prisoner for months and you didn’t come for me.”
Pain flickers across his features, and he grits his teeth. Then he grabs me around the waist. “I tried. Believe me when I tell you I tried.”
Breath surges out of my throat as he moves us across the room, pressing me against the stone wall. He dips his head, soft hair brushing against my cheek. “I tore myself apart trying to get you back. I wish I had done more. I wish mine and Kel’s plans had worked faster.”
Slowly, I thread my fingers through his hair, and the small sound he makes has my stomach flipping. “Every sunrise, I would whisper the names of everyone I wished to see again, Kel, Farron, Ezryn.” My voice hitches. “Dayton, my friends here, my father, and … and you, Caspian.”
He looks up at me, eyes like a star-swept sky. “You shouldn’t be saying my name like that, Flower.”
“Were you and Keldarion looking for me together ?” I ask.
“Give us the right motivation and anything is possible.” He leans closer to me, lips an inch from mine.
I suck in a tight breath as I feel his hand curve up the side of my waist. “Are you intending to stay at Castletree?”
“I’ll have to return to the Below shortly, but with Kel, Dayton, and Farron giving their magic to the tree, I can lessen my hold on the thorns a tad. It makes it easier to stay on the surface. Perhaps I’ll even have a few days here to keep an eye on things,” he purrs.
“Where will you be sleeping?” I ask as his teeth lightly graze my collarbone before resting on my neck. “Keldarion’s room?”
Then his lips are brushing mine as he speaks. A not-quite kiss. “What use does a wolf have for a big bed?”
That not-quite kiss isn’t enough for me. Not now. Not after everything we’ve lost these last few months. I put my hand on the back of his neck and pull him toward me.
Our lips meet, and my body seems to sing at the connection. At first, he stiffens at my touch, then melts into me, a low growl resonating through his chest. His kiss is everything I remember: glittering starlight and the dark spaces between. My fingers tangle in his soft hair, and he tugs me closer in response.
Is this how Kel felt when Caspian kissed him all those years ago? Lost in starlight and shadow? But that’s not quite right. Because despite the rush of blood in my head, the dizzy sensation that threatens to overtake me as his kiss deepens, I don’t feel lost.
In his arms, I am found.
I pull my mouth away just enough for a breath. I know what the others would say. I shouldn’t play these dangerous games with Caspian. Neither should Kel. “Tomorrow, my touch will keep him fae all night,” I manage. “So, I’m sure it’ll be you on the floor.”
Caspian licks from the corner of my lips to my ear. “Why don’t I join you both and find out how big the bed really is?”