Chapter Thirteen #2
I hear the door click closed, Wren’s attendant leaving the chamber without another word.
Jessah and I enter the washroom, and I ready myself for tea.
…
The ride to the Nephrys’ estate is long.
They live on the west side of Nerine. So it gives Chiron and me time to speak together without the worry of staff or guards hearing us.
Jessah is a discerning young woman, and she did not say anything about what she witnessed between us, this day, but I know that she understood the shift.
“I am sorry, Netta. Wren was out of line today. His job is to be here, with us. But we’ll deal with that later. Are you okay?” Chiron says, his arm sliding behind my shoulders and pulling me closer to his side.
My hair is half down today, a style I have never worn, so it becomes caught under Chiron’s large arm.
He notices and lightly sweeps the hair away from us and onto my other shoulder.
The gesture is easy for him and gallant.
His touches have always come easy, much easier than Wren’s, and that contrast feels huge to me right now.
We haven’t even had a chance to discuss what he said to us in the cave about the lost Queen, so many things remain unsaid between us all.
“I am. I am…hurt by Wren’s response today. I thought last night meant something to him, for all of us. And now I do not know.” I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Chiron’s features are pained; he, too, struggles with Wren’s departure.
His free hand finds my own and brings it to his face. He presses a light kiss to my palm, the sensation warm and delicate. A whisper on my skin.
“It did mean something. It meant so much, Netta. Wren knows that. Maybe he is afraid, maybe he is embarrassed. But I am not. We will move past this. I promise you.” He kisses my hand again before settling them together on his knee.
We ride the rest of the way in comfortable conversation.
Chiron tries to cheer me, and it’s…sweet.
His affections today have been grounded amongst the chaos of our rift.
I try to believe him that we will move past this.
But right now, I do not see how. We arrive at the estate shortly after our conversation, and I bolster myself with Chiron’s words.
Whatever is going on with Wren, we’ll work through it. We’ll try…
We are greeted outside by several members of Lord Nephyrs’ staff.
The walkway leading up to the grand home appears freshly cobbled, but still a little wet from the previous day’s storm.
The home has large windows that open to the evening air, with curtains billowing into the rooms. It’s beautiful, large, and only a little ostentatious.
When we enter through the double doors, Lady Nephrys greets us there, folding me into her thin embrace.
“I am honored to have you, Lady Vonetta. Truly. Welcome to our home.” Her voice is warm, and I believe her instantly; she is glad to host us. My smile back to her is true as I thank her.
“We are humbled by your invitation. Wren wishes he could join us, but he has a prior engagement.” The lie in that doesn’t sit well on my tongue. I don’t linger on it, I just want to appear like things are well, for now.
Chiron offers me his arm, and I take it into my own, my hand wrapped tightly around his bicep.
The Lady nods approvingly at the gesture and invites us to follow her to their tea room.
The setup is simple: a large table filled with small foods I have never seen before, and the options are endless and overwhelming.
Chiron senses the stiffness in my posture and moves his hand to my back, assuringly.
“My Lady, would you do me the pleasure of choosing some things for you?” He asks, looking down at me with his practiced smile.
In the beginning, I wasn’t sure what to make of Chiron’s princely mask, but now it is assuring to me.
He knows what he’s doing; he will help me avoid a misstep.
So I nod my assent to him, smile genuine.
I follow the Lady to a settee trimmed in gold, and we talk amiably about our time in Nerine.
Chiron brings back an assortment of fruity pastries for me, and I am grateful for it.
Everything is sweet and rich, very different from the simple fare we’ve had since our time on the Isle.
The thought shakes me, the Isle. I feel like I left it a lifetime ago, and now here I am, missing her shores once more.
On the Isle, no one sister is of any more importance than the other—stand the Lady herself.
The anonymity of being one of many was a comfort I could never have properly appreciated until now.
A question from the lady, Menira, brings me to the present, and I have to apologize for drifting away.
“No apologies needed, you have had a long few weeks, I imagine!” She says jovially, “Tell me, what did you encounter at the Lake of Nerine? Did the waters rise up and meet you?” She questions.
My tongue is dry, and I do not know what to say to her.
Thankfully, Chiron interjects, saving me from my muteness again.
“That it did, Lady Nephrys. I almost dove into the depths as it were. Wren and Vonetta had to do some quick thinking to right me. Other than that, we cannot say more, I’m afraid. The trials are a sacred space for us all.” Chiron. The man could speak the wildness from an unbroken steed if he chose.
The rest of our time with Lady Nephrys is pleasant.
The Lord joins us after tea has been served and sits down next to his wife.
They greet each other warmly. Her smile to him is luminous, transforming her face from dignitary into that of a lover.
It is so plain to see that great affection exists between them.
I feel joy for them, but I also feel a subtle ache in my chest. The Lord greets Chiron and me, taking each of our hands in his own.
He looks at us both, bewilderment on his face.
“Where is your third, Wren?” My eyes widen against my will.
The Lady answers for both of us, and I can feel the release of a heavy breath from Chiron, though he maintains his smile at them both.
“Husband, the representative of Sky had a prior engagement. Come, sit with us, tell me what kept you away so long?”
When we have said our goodbyes and made our way back to the carriage, I feel immense relief at the success of the evening.
Wren’s absence was felt, but Chiron held us.
By the end, I was even feeling bolstered enough to chat with the Lady and ask the Lord about his travels the last day.
After the storm, he visited the lands under his care and the farmers who held them.
It was interesting to hear that he goes out among his people, and I appreciated the care with which he discussed this with us.
When the doors to our carriage are closed and the horses start to move, Chiron turns to me. His face is serious but not grave. “You were…phenomenal out there. Truly. You held yourself well. My mother could have done no better.” His face transforms to a proud smile, and mine answers him.
“Thank you. You helped, honestly. I didn’t know quite what to make of that.
Especially because Wren…” I do not finish my sentence.
Chiron leans forward and presses his mouth to mine.
Warm lips coast across my own, gentle and searching.
I do not hesitate to kiss him back. The feelings and images of the night prior play through my mind as Chiron’s hand ghosts across my lower back and pulls me toward him.
Heat pools in me, a gentle and stirring thing.
But I remember the touch of Wren’s lips on my neck and shoulders, the way his hand traveled forward… and we cannot.
“Chiron,” I whisper into his lips. The kiss ends abruptly there because his head falls forward to mine.
“I know. It’s not the same when he isn’t here.
” I nod to him. “Exactly. If things were well, I think this would feel okay. But it’s not right now.
” I place my hand on Chiron’s chest, and he leans in and plants another kiss on my hair, just like this morning.
I do not think I will ever tire of those kisses from him.
I rest beside him for the remainder of the ride back to the inn.