Chapter 72
RAINE
I’ve got my witch’s hat on, and I’m placing more full-size candy bars from the chocolate shop in town into a cauldron for the trick-o-treaters, when Roark wraps an arm around me, pulling me into an alcove. “Duchess,” he growls. “You smell delicious.”
“It’s the chocolate.”
“It’s not the chocolate; it is you.” He takes the plastic cauldron from my hand and places it on the ground. My hat follows it, and he pushes me up against the wall. I’m laughing and panting at the same time.
“I need to pass out candy. Mary from the pub told her grandson’s class that they should come up here.”
“They will not come. There’s too much history.” Roark nibbles along my jawline. “I don’t want to disappoint you. We will just have to eat all the candy ourselves.” He crouches and scoops up one of the full-size bars. “This is much better than those half-bite plastic chocolate things.”
“Thank you for taking me to the village.” We had a nice time, the two of us, though the villagers did give me a wide berth when Roark growled at them.
Roark straightens, and his eyes catch mine.
“I am sorry.” His blue eyes flick down. I shouldn’t like his groveling so much.
But he shouldn’t have scared Percy, either.
The male was just trying to do his job. Roark eats a whole full-size bar in one bite.
Fingers run down the side of my arm, and his fingers intertwine with mine.
“I suppose we should welcome the tricksters with some candy.”
“I thought you said no one would be coming.”
“I was wrong. There are cars coming up now.” He kisses my hand and smiles at the ruby ring on my hand.
Kieren and Evander are already outside.
“Good, Raine. I didn’t want the castle to be toilet-papered,” Evander says.
“Swiss children, littering?” Kieren laughs. “I almost want to see if it’s possible.”
Two little children climb out of a car. Their parents are more standoffish than the children who race for the cauldron in my arms. The kids are dressed as a caped superhero and a Swiss guard.
“You are very fierce,” Evander says, crouching next to them.
“Are you a dragon?” the guard asks with wide eyes.
“I am.”
“And you have fire breath?”
“I do.”
“That’s cool. I want to have fire breath.”
“It’s cool.” Evander blows a puff of smoke above his head.
“Wow. Can I have candy now?”
“Yes, you can have candy now.” Evander stands, letting the guard take his choice from the bowl.
“Thank you.”
It’s amazing how good both my French and German have gotten in the last three months.
It’s also wonderful how many children and parents arrive.
After five cauldrons are emptied and every child from all of the surrounding villages leaves our door, we fall into the den and Evander rubs my feet while I rest my head on Kieren’s lap. My eyes close.
Days roll on. Leo makes a giant Thanksgiving feast, and the guys have their first Thanksgiving.
Christmas comes, and Roark lifts me onto his shoulders so I can put the star on the top of the ten-foot tree.
After the paintings, I set a strict gift limit for the guys.
Which I knew they’d ignore, and it’s fine.
They’re billionaire dragon shifters. And I’m going to need a larger jewelry box.
Not that I’d say that out loud or they’ll get me one.
They’re all loving and attentive, but with February racing toward us, the clock is always ticking at the back of my mind.
They said they want me no matter what. Kieren heads back to the realm at least a few times a week.
He doesn’t say what’s going on, at least not in front of me.
But it’s not good. The crease in his forehead is becoming a permanent fixture.
The collection’s great. Not perfect. It would take three of me a lifetime to do everything I want to do with it. But it’s safe now, and I’ve only got a few more crates to unpack.
The bright January sunlight illuminates the atrium.
As I descend the stairs, the tiffany-blue sky with white fluffy clouds peering in through the skylight holds my attention.
I’m bundled up for a walk, and it’s only when the heel of my shoe clicks on the mosaic that I notice the tapestry curtains are open and pulled away from the portal.
Leo stands beside them with a tall icy glass of something—lemonade maybe.
It’s still hard for me to get used to the fact that their realm doesn’t line up with ours.
Summer to winter, but not exactly. Their days are longer, their seasons too.
“Are you expecting Kieren?” I ask.
“Yes.” Leo nods at the same time the portal opens and Kieren steps out. His sister is with him. She’s wearing a lightweight, light-blue cloak, while he’s naked.
“You don’t have to hold me so tight. Where am I going to run to?” Aisling steps away from Kieren and takes the glass from Leo’s tray. “Hey, Leopold. You look good.”
“Thank you, Princess Aisling.” Leo inclines his head. “I will return with another tonic for you, sir.”
“I’m good, Leopold. But thank you.”
Aisling’s eyebrows shoot up. “‘Thank you.’ She really has changed you! Where is she? Raine!”
“You need to—”
“Hello.” I wave from the middle step.
“There you are.” Aisling runs toward me with force.
“I’m Team Raine. My parents are idiots! You can tell them I said that.
Wait, you better not. Kieren needs to do that for me.
” She winks a sparkling blue eye, and I get the message.
Pretend we haven’t met. Her long, wavy, almost blonde hair shimmers with strands of gold among the light brown. “You need to have the lightning.”
“It’s not something that can be forced,” Kieren says.
“Don’t move; I’ll be right back.” He points at his sister, but his eyes plead with me to keep her under control.
She is a ball of energy, maybe eighteen?
I’m not sure, but she bounces with an exuberance that I haven’t felt in a long time.
It’s like pure light. “You’re not staying here.
Evander’s going to take you right back. Don’t get comfortable. ” He thuds down the hall.
“Whatever, big brother.” Aisling takes my hand and leads me past the guys’ office to a room three doors down.
This room’s bright and cheerful, where the guys’ office and den are dark, like from an academia office in a movie.
Here, the curtains are light blue and there’s a fuzzy white rug in front of a fireplace.
“From the look on your face, you haven’t been in here before. ”
“No.”
“It’s the female study. It’s yours.”
“I haven’t—”
“But you’re going to. Kieren says you’re his mate. That the thunder is complete with you.”
I nod and sit on a light blue velvet sofa. “Kieren didn’t look happy about you coming with him.”
“I was hiding next to the Thessari, and when he activated it, I jumped through with him.”
“Oh.” I stand and move over to the dark fireplace. “Why were you hiding?”
“My parents think they can make Kieren’s thunder do what they want by using me.”
I nod.
“Right, they don’t want me to be queen. But they’re keeping me from the academy because of . . . I don’t know, I guess all the rumors around Firested.”
My father taught me if you want more information from someone, the best way sometimes, with some people, is to just keep quiet and let them fill the dead air with their voice. So I wait.
“And if they mate you, they can’t rule. Not unless you have the lightning.
” She clamps her hands over her mouth. But I already knew that.
The guys haven’t kept it a secret. But Aisling .
. . they haven’t kept her a secret either.
If she hasn’t gone to the academy, how can she rule?
If they keep her locked away, she won’t find her mates.
She’s Kieren’s sister. I’m sure in time she’d make a good queen with or without mates.
“What happens if your parents don’t have someone to take over?”
“A challenge. It’s a bloodbath. It hasn’t happened in a long time, though. And a good thing too.” She tilts her head. She’s holding something back.
“Aisling!” Evander’s voice echoes down the hall. The door opens. Evander’s eyes widen at the two of us. Or maybe it’s just me in this room. “Time to go. You can’t stay here.”
“I know, I know. If the portal closes, I won’t be able to get home . . .”
“Come.” He holds out his hand. “I’ll see you tonight, Raine.” Evander takes Aisling’s hand, but she rips away from him and flings herself into my arms.
“It’s like we’re sisters already. And sisters do anything for each other.”
“Now, Aisling,” Evander commands.
Sisters do anything for each other. What would I do for Wren, if she was the one being controlled by our parents? Wren took me into her apartment. Saved me from having to go home. I can’t let Aisling be locked back in the tower.