Chapter 36
Castle
Things were changing between the king and queen.
They’d agreed no one needed to cede their crown.
They were sleeping next to one another every night.
They were opening up and learning about each other.
They still argued. Castle suspected they would always argue, but they did so without the hatred and spite that had previously filled their disagreements.
This was something Castle could work with.
Castle had matched all the other Wolfgang brothers with their wives. Now, it was finally time to match the final brother with his.
They were already married, after all. That was half the battle.
Castle just needed to get the king and queen to admit what it already knew: that they were perfect for each other.
Except Castle wasn’t sure how to close that final distance. Getting along and respecting each other was an improvement, to be sure, but it wasn’t enough. They needed a push, something to make them cross that line from allies to lovers.
Luckily Castle wasn’t alone in these schemes. Right this very moment, Ceri, Niamh, Enid, Margaret, and Morton were in the library having the same conversation.
“I’m telling you, they have feelings for each other,” Ceri said as she and Niamh sat in two overstuffed armchairs, both of them sipping tea.
Morton lay on the arm of the chair, his eyes heavy with sleep, his body curled up.
Margaret nodded from where she stood in the painting. “I’ve seen them throughout the castle this last week, walking and talking.”
Enid rolled her eyes. “Just let them be. Aoife is not one to be trifled with. Remember, I’m the only lot of you that knew her thousands of years ago. If she doesn’t want a romantic relationship, we shouldn’t push her into one.”
“But she does want one!” Ceri said and raised an eyebrow in Enid’s direction. “And you’re one to talk. Of all of us, you wanted a relationship the least, and it was exactly because of our pushing that you are now married to your dream man.”
A smile twitched the corners of Enid’s lips. “Oh, hush. Nevan and I would’ve found our way to each other without all your meddling. Let Aoife and Lor talk. Maybe that’s what they need to do.”
“But talking isn’t enough. They need to do more than just talk,” Niamh said into her tea cup, the steam curling into the air.
“With the way Lor looks at Aoife, I’d bet there are a lot of things he wants to do.” Ceri waggled her eyebrows. “You both are married to a Wolfgang brother,” she said to Niamh and Enid, “you know what I’m talking about.”
Niamh patted her round belly. “How do you think this one came to be? Wolfe gives me those looks all the time.”
Morton huffed, smoke puffing from his nostrils. “I just wish he wouldn’t do it while I was around.”
Enid just got a dreamy smile on her face, then realized everyone was staring at her and the smile turned to a scowl.
Margaret squealed and clapped her hands. “Does this mean our king and queen might actually be more than just an arranged marriage soon?”
“Not if both of them keep being so stubborn,” Morton said.
Castle agreed. That was its very concern.
“What’s the problem, do you think? Why can’t they just figure it out?” Margaret leaned forward in her painting.
“They’re scared,” Niamh said, giving Ceri and Enid a look. “We know a little something about that.”
Ceri huffed a laugh and took a sip of her tea. “Yes we do. It took Cillian and me a lifetime to admit our feelings for each other.”
“It doesn’t help that they’re both so busy,” Niamh said. “They barely see each other outside of official meetings and events.”
“And when they sleep next to each other every night,” Ceri added. “Not that that seems to be doing anything.”
Niamh flicked the bookwyrm gently and his eyes popped open. “What? What’s happening?”
“Morton,” she said, “when is your next lesson with Aoife?”
“This afternoon,” he said, “and I’m trying to get a nap in before our session, if you don’t mind.” His eyes closed again.
“I smell a scheme,” Margaret said.
Enid shook her head. “I don’t want any part of it.”
“Maybe Morton can be sick?” Niamh suggested. “And Lor can show up just in time to tutor Aoife instead.”
Ceri leaned forward, nodding. “Oh, that’s good.”
Niamh smiled. “You know, Wolfe and I have had many of our own . . . sessions . . . in this library. So maybe while they’re in here, we can disappear for a little while. It’ll be quiet, cozy, private.”
Morton popped up at that. “I absolutely do not approve!”
“Oh, hush,” Niamh said.
“I like where this is going.” Ceri tapped her chin. “But how are we going to get Lor to come to the library?”
Castle could help with that, and now it knew exactly what it needed to do.