Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
Rosalina
E verything is finally ready. Everything is ready and normal. Because it’s totally normal to have a sleepover with your two best friends, and the girl who is now mated to a man you’re trying hard to forget you’re in love with, all while on a three-day break from trying to save a realm from the tyrannical younger brother of your mate.
I look around my bedroom in the Spring Wing. The only thing left to do is enjoy the present. Or at least try to. After working all afternoon to make everything perfect, it’s almost time for the festivities to begin. I am so not doing this just because I feel guilty, like the arrogant, stupid, perfect-haired Prince of Thorns suggested.
“I think these are going to be absolutely perfect.” Flavia, the castle’s seamstress, holds up four custom-made nightgowns.
“These are amazing!” I rush over and run the fabric between my fingers. The dresses look spun from threads of moonlight, shining like light skipping over a pond. The bodices are adorned with tiny pearls, with delicate frills of lace sewn around the hem.
“So cute!” Astrid says, hopping up and down.
Flavia has made two human-sized dresses, and two small enough to fit a racoon and a rabbit. The sun hasn’t set yet, but for most of the night, they’ll be in their animal forms.
“I think Wrenley will really like this,” I say, quickly changing into my own nightgown, then holding hers up to the light.
Flavia clears her throat. She’s always so elegant. Her blue and green hair is swirled in a dramatic updo, and she wears a simple black dress.
“Aren’t you happy Dayton found his mate?” I ask. “You won’t have to become a peacock at night anymore.”
Flavia exchanges a sidelong look with Astrid and Marigold before stepping forward to cup my face. “I suppose we just all thought it would be you.”
My heart sinks, and I wring my hands in the silken fabric. “Thank you for this. It was really kind of you to make them. Are you sure you don’t want to stay?”
Flavia had overheard my idea of a sleepover from some of the other staff and jumped at the chance to create some new nightdresses.
“Nonsense, lovely. It was a welcome distraction from everything.” She gives me a smile and makes to leave. “I’m going to have a restful sleep tonight.”
Flavia opens the door and gives a little chirp. “Oh, hello, Wrenley.”
“She’s here!” I shoot a panicked look at Marigold and Astrid. A part of me wasn’t sure she was going to show up. She hadn’t seemed overly enthused when I’d invited her earlier.
“Well, let her in, girlie,” Marigold says, placing a hand on her hip.
“Come on in, Wrenley,” I say, leading her inside.
Wrenley’s eyes dart to every corner of my room before landing on me. “ What are you wearing?”
“A nightgown!” I say, plastering the biggest smile on my face. “There’s one for you as well!”
Wrenley awkwardly takes it, and I grab her arm. Immediately, she jerks out of my grip. “Come see the rest of the room,” I say quietly.
When I first arrived in Castletree, my cherry blossom tree had been in full bloom, sprouting pink blossoms. But now, it’s a little wilted. Actually, it’s a lot wilted, with bare branches and a mulchy floor.
“Farron taught me a fairy light spell.” I point to the top of the tree where tiny little lights bob around the branches. “He helped me drag in all these pillows and blankets.” I gesture to the mounds of cushions all throughout the room. “Oh and see here!”
“There’s more?”
In the far corner is the spread of all the food I made. Beside that is a big pile of snow that I’m using to store bowls of ice cream and cold drinks. “Kel made that. I’ve never used ice magic before. Though, there’s always time to practice. Not in the training arena though, because that’s, uh, collapsed …”
I trail off awkwardly as Wrenley gives me a flat stare.
“Why don’t you head into the privy, dearie, and put that gown on?” Marigold places a hand on Wrenley’s back and directs her to the attached washroom.
“Ugh …” I rub my hands over my eyes once she leaves. “Why am I such a mess?”
“You’re doing great, Rosalina!” Astrid smiles.
There’s a light knock on the door. “Come in,” I sigh, flopping down on the cushions.
“Thought I’d see how it’s going,” Caspian says, sliding inside and raising a dark brow. “Oh, very cozy.”
The privy door opens, and Wrenley walks out wearing the frilly nightdress. With her short brown curls and heart-shaped face, she looks younger than when dressed in her acolyte robes.
Caspian snorts when he sees her. “Nice pajamas.”
“Shut up,” Wrenley sneers, throwing her own simple dress to the end of my bed. I’ve got to give it to her. Not many people would talk so carelessly to the Prince of Thorns. Though, I suppose one must be fearless to work with Kairyn. I wonder how long Wrenley’s served as a Golden Acolyte. Did she work with Kairyn before he took over the monastery? Was she there when he was first banished to Queen’s Reach Monastery?
“No, I mean it,” Caspian says, stepping farther into the room. “Pink is really your color.”
“Leave her alone, Cas,” I say. “You haven’t complimented me at all.”
“Flower, you know I’d prefer you with nothing on at all.”
I launch a pillow at him, which he dodges easily, smirking.
“Now, there’s a man who isn’t afraid to speak his mind.” Marigold sighs.
“What are you doing here?” I growl. “ You weren’t invited.”
“Thought I’d bring my favorite girls a little gift.” He holds up an elegant purple bottle.
“That’s my idea of a gift.” Marigold saunters over.
“Careful, darling,” Caspian says so slyly, a blush crawls up Marigold’s cheeks. “There’s something special about this wine.”
“What is it?” I ask, an edge to my voice.
Cas tosses the wine from hand to hand. “My sister, the Nightingale, dabbles with potions. This wine is infused with her truth serum. One sip, and you won’t be able to lie. Thought it might be fun for some of your games.” He sets the bottle down and strides from the room. “Not that any of you have anything to hide.”
The nearly full moon has risen in the sky, casting its luminous gaze through my window. So far, I’ve eaten my weight in tarts, participated in an embarrassing round of charades, and we’ve attempted to do each other’s hair. This was hindered by the fact Marigold and Astrid turned into animals, and Wrenley wouldn’t let me touch her.
The acolyte sits on the floor, picking at the lace of her nightdress, as we prepare to play another game.
“All right,” I explain. “This one is from the human world; it’s called Never Have I Ever. Everyone holds up five fingers, and we take turns saying things we’ve never done. If you have done it, then you have to put down a finger and have a drink. The first one to lose all five has to …” I bite my lip, thinking. “Has to take a shot of that disgusting whisky from the Autumn Realm.”
“Marigold, you’ll have to hold up your fingers for me,” Astrid giggles.
“Never have I ever gotten drunk with woodland creatures,” Wrenley says, a curved smile crawling up her face.
“A first time for everything,” I say.
“Sounds fun, girlie,” Marigold says. “But let’s make it interesting. Break out the prince’s wine and make sure no one lies.”
“Are we sure that’s a good idea?” Wrenley says. “Do you really trust what’s inside?”
“No,” I say, but I pop the cork and pour the liquid into three cups and one little saucer for Astrid. It’s smooth and looks to be flecked with stardust. “But I trust Caspian.”
Wrenley snorts, and it almost reminds me of the way Caspian laughed when he first saw her. “Wait, you’re not kidding. You really do trust him?”
“For better or worse, and I’ve got nothing to hide,” I say, taking a sip of the wine. It’s sweet and smooth with undertones of blackberry and a lemony tang.
Marigold takes a cup in her little racoon paws, and Astrid laps up a sip, the wine coloring her white muzzle purple. I hand the last cup to Wrenley. “You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to.”
Wrenley takes it and sips. “What would an acolyte have to hide?”
I place the truth wine down in front of me. As long as no one says, Never have I ever been in love with the Summer Prince despite him having a mate , then this shouldn’t be awkward at all.
“All right,” I say, trying to think of questions that will apply to the fae realm. “Never have I ever gone skinny dipping.”
Wrenley rolls her eyes but doesn’t lower her finger. Astrid gives a little giggle. But it’s Marigold who lowers her little racoon finger.
“What?” She smirks. “I had quite the nightlife before this curse.”
Wrenley bursts out with a laugh. I’m so surprised to see her laugh, my own bubbles up. “Something funny?” I ask.
She shakes her head, voice lowering. “I was just imagining her doing that as a raccoon.”
“Hey.” Marigold fluffs her full cheeks. “This form is quite good in the water, I’ll have you know.”
The four of us chuckle a bit more. “You go, Wrenley,” I say.
She chews on her lip. “Never have I ever made a fae bargain.”
Both Astrid and Marigold shake their heads. I sigh, lowering one of my own fingers, thinking of the two bargains I’ve made: the one with Caspian on the battlefield and the one with Kel to find his mate. That icy bastard. He knew the whole time it was me. “Got me, Wrenley.”
She combs a hand through her hair, looking away. “Bargains are binding. I can’t think of a worse fate than being bound to someone.”
Astrid’s ears go straight up. “I’ve got one that’s going to get Rosalina.”
“You guys can’t gang up on me!” I laugh.
“Never have I ever,” Astrid says, “been in love.”
“Ahh, my dear Eldor.” Marigold sighs dreamily, lowering a finger. “It’s the facial hair, I tell you.”
“You got me, Astrid.” I smile, thinking of my mates. But … it isn’t only my mates that my heart calls out for.
“Well, I’ve never—” Wrenley starts confidently, but then it’s like the rest of her words won’t come out. The truth wine. I’d almost forgotten we’d taken it. She shakes her head, her expression going from confused to angry. “No. I’m not in …”
Astrid and Marigold exchange a wary look before Astrid ventures, “Maybe your mate bond makes you fall in love.”
“It doesn’t do that,” she snaps.
“Well, I fell in love with his abs at first sight,” Marigold hiccups, then laughs. “And that’s the darn truth.”
“Lucky Dayton,” I breathe out, then stand quickly, heading for the privy. “Excuse me for a second.”
The moment the washroom door closes, my tears fall. Wrenley really does love Dayton. She loves him. She couldn’t fake that, not with the truth wine. Was that Caspian’s purpose, to show me how much Wrenley loves Day? Is he trying to help me get over this in his own twisted way?
I slide down the bathroom door, putting my head on my knees, painting my nightdress with my tears. “But I love you, Dayton,” I whisper out loud. “I love your smile, how you make me laugh. I love the feeling when you kiss me. I love how you light me up in the darkest moments. I don’t want Wrenley to be your mate. I wish it were me, Day. I wish it were me.”
I shake my head, hugging my legs. I hate myself for thinking such an ugly thought, for being able to say it out loud with the truth wine. If I really loved him, I’d want him to be happy with her. To break his curse, to regain his magic and save his realm.
“I’ll try to make it easy for you, Day,” I whisper to myself. “I’ll try to love her because I can’t love you anymore.”
When I finally dry my tears and leave the bathroom, I see Astrid and Marigold are in a fit of giggles, still engrossed in the game. Wrenley is surprisingly still here, swirling her finger in the top of her wine like she’s brewing a potion.
She looks so uncomfortable, it reminds me of myself, sitting in the cafeteria at high school, surrounded by everyone who had their own inside jokes.
I sigh, walk over to the spread of food, and start dishing up bowls. “Hey, Wrenley, will you come here for a second?”
She stiffly stands then walks over to me.
“Try this,” I say and hand her a bowl.
“What is it?” she asks.
“Elderberry swirl ice cream. Trust me, it’s delicious.”
Wrenley raises a curious brow and takes a bite. “Interesting.”
I place a hand on my hip. “What’s your favorite flavor?”
She tilts her head. “I guess it would have to be elderberry swirl.”
“Wait, are you telling me you’ve never had ice cream before?”
She shakes her head slowly.
I look over to Astrid and Marigold. “We’ll be right back!”
Marigold hiccups, which sends Astrid into another burst of laughter. I turn back to Wrenley and hold out my hand. “Come with me.”
Wrenley doesn’t take my hand, but she nods. I lead her down into the kitchen, then into the cold room.
We stand in front of rows and rows of glass containers full of ice cream. Moonlit mint chip, elderberry swirl, pixie peach melba, starlight sorbet, unicorn dreamsicle. I remember a day during my first month in the castle when Astrid and I made labels and chose the names for all the flavors the chef had created. “The flavors are a little different from the ones I grew up with in the human world,” I tell her as I scoop a little of each into a bowl, “but these are all very good. Trust me.”
Wrenley watches me with a curious expression. Then, after a long pause, she asks, “What’s your favorite flavor?”
“Oh, that’s easy.” I carry the two bowls and spoons back into the main kitchen. “Cookie dough. But when I’m sick, vanilla. Peanut butter when I need to celebrate. Of these fae flavours, probably … unicorn dreamsicle.”
I jump to sit up on the counter. After a moment, Wrenley mirrors my movement, taking a spoon and trying a few of the flavors. “The starlight one is good,” she says softly.
“You know those hot summer nights when you’re a kid and the sun seems like it’s never going to set?” I ask. “On those nights, my father and I would walk down to the wharf and get ice cream, then we’d sit and look at the water. Sometimes we’d get lucky and see a seal or an eagle. The best was when we’d spot an orca. Orca Cove is where I’m from.”
“In the human world,” Wrenley says.
“Yeah.” I touch the tips of my pointed ears. “I thought I was human for a long time.”
Wrenley takes another bite. “Your father … what’s his favorite flavor?”
“Moose tracks. It’s filled with peanut butter cups, and he’d pretend they were moose poo when I tried to take a bite.” I laugh. “Then, he’d act like he was doing magic and turned them to peanut butter and chocolate. He’d let me have as much as I wanted.”
She stills, spoon halfway to her mouth.
“What about you and your father?” I ask. “Did you do anything special together?”
“I’ve never met my father,” she says, then her eyes widen.
“You told me he was a merchant and a cartographer.”
She drops her spoon into the empty bowl and jumps off the counter. “I lied. When you were telling me about your father, it made me jealous. Listen, I’ve got to go.”
My heart clenches at her admission and the fact she had to say something so personal just because of Caspian’s drink. “I’m sorry.”
She pauses by the door, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. “No, Rosalina, I’m sorry.”