Darling Wife
Chapter fifty-eight
Lucianna smiled over her third cup of tea.
“She cut his shirt right there in the dining hall!” Wren laughed as she told a story about her time at the academy.
Apparently, they were liable to encounter a woman of high rank, Kierana, upon arrival at Stonemouth. As well as her husband, Eindar. The two had been good friends with Wren, Castien, and Finnick. This Kierana seemed to have a penchant for ruthlessly teasing Finnick.
“So I take it that my husband’s Gift did not affect her?” Lucianna mused as she ran a finger over the lukewarm rim of her cup.
More laughter bubbled out of the princess. She shook her head, her blonde braid swaying.
“Certainly not. Though I think that had to do with Kierana’s affection for Eindar.” Wren’s expression softened. “Charm cannot make one forget true love.”
Lucianna swallowed and studied the contents of her cup.
Next to her on the bed, Cora was scribbling away in one of her journals.
Wren sat across from them both, legs crossed beneath her petal-pink gown.
Their conversation had been a welcome distraction from the soreness that lingered in Lucianna’s muscles.
Also, the more Wren talked, the less Lucianna had to.
The endless cups of tea and long periods of rest had served to make her able to use her Gift again, but she needed to be careful.
Soon she would be forced to confess. No time felt like the right time, and she suspected it never would.
Perhaps when they were on land and had enjoyed a warm meal she would divulge her secret.
At least, one of her secrets. Her stomach turned at the thought of her Grimhaven bloodline getting revealed.
She glanced up and saw the princess watching her with curious blue eyes. For all her loveliness, Lucianna couldn’t help but despise Wren’s Gift. She hated feeling as though she had no privacy in the woman’s presence.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Come in!” the princess called out in her melodic voice.
Castien entered the room, his expression finding Wren before anything or anyone else. A smile spread across his face.
“You look to be in good spirits,” he commented.
“I was telling Lucianna and Cora about our academy days,” Wren replied. “Particularly where Kierana’s ire connected with darling Finn’s affinity for pressing upon nerves.”
Castien chuckled as he crossed the room. He bent down and pressed a tender kiss to his wife’s lips.
“Those two have always fought like siblings, to be sure. It will be an entertaining stint on the isle, if Kierana meets with us.”
“Oh, I’m sure she will if we send word to her.”
Castien dipped his chin.
“Are you worried that word of our travels will get to Grimhaven?” Lucianna asked their leader. “That they’ll think we are on our way to them?”
“Not particularly. We will remain beneath notice of most, and Kierana is trustworthy.”
Lucianna did not think anyone to be entirely trustworthy, but Castien was the master of strategy. He would have weighed out their options.
The prince bent down and gave his wife another kiss, this time on her forehead. “I came to tell all of you that we are to dock soon, so that you may be prepared.”
Lucianna looked down at her nightgown. She had remained in it while recovering, but it would not do to appear before curious townsfolk in such a manner.
Especially when traveling with the royal family.
Her heart stuttered when she realized that she wasn’t merely with the royal family but a part of it.
All the more reason to look presentable.
“I should go retrieve some of my things and freshen up before we leave,” Lucianna said, and slid out of the bed.
Her bare feet hit the cool wood floor. She set her teacup on the nightstand, then wrapped a shawl around her upper body for added modesty around the prince.
“Thank you for the tea and conversation,” Lucianna told Wren.
She had thanked the princess several times since the lothyda attack. It never felt like quite enough.
“Thank you, it was lovely to reminisce.” Her expression faltered. “On the good memories, at least.”
Castien placed a comforting hand at her back. Lucianna left the room, not wanting to linger in case they were short on time.
She quickly made her way to the opening in the deck, not wanting to run into any of the men in just her nightdress, even with the shawl.
They had seen her this way before, but it wasn’t something she would get used to.
Lucianna padded down the shadowy stairs into the cabin below.
She halted, however, when she caught sight of her husband bent over a trunk.
He didn’t appear to be going through it, as he wasn’t moving, merely staring inside.
“Finnick?” She called his name with a frown.
He startled at her presence, which was unlike him. It was frustrating the way he sensed her comings and goings. Perhaps he was enthralled with the contents of his trunk.
“Little thief, what are you doing out of bed?” he asked as he stood and turned around.
His blue eyes were bright as usual, but there was a manic tinge to his smile that made Lucianna’s brow furrow.
“I came to change, as we dock soon. I do not think the whole port should see me in my nightgown.”
Finn chuckled, and it sounded raspier than usual.
“No, that right should be reserved for me. Don’t you agree?”
In a flash he reached out and tugged her to him. Her palms landed on his chest. Even through his shirt, she felt the heat of his skin. He smirked down at her.
“I do not have time for your games,” she chided, eying the sweat at his brow.
They had been working hard on cleaning up the lothyda’s mess, but Castien didn’t appear nearly as disheveled as her husband. Though the prince was rarely ruffled.
“I think you would say that even if we had all the time in the world, darling wife.”
Lucianna’s head pulled back. Darling wife? He’d never called her that before. The endearment of darling had been reserved for Wren.
“Perhaps,” she said slowly. “In any case, I must get dressed.”
Finnick’s grip tightened on her waist, making her inhale sharply.
“Do you need any assistance this time, little thief?” he asked in a low and sultry tone. “You refused before, but now you’ve been injured.” His thumb traced circles over the dip in her waist.
Lucianna stared up at him, finding herself on the edge of agreement and not quite knowing why. She fisted the fabric of his shirt. Her lips parted.
Then, Finnick blinked and shook his head. He pulled away so suddenly she swayed on her feet. His hands trembled as he pushed them into his damp hair.
“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t—” He shook his head again.
Realization poured over Lucianna. She felt as though she had been run through by a sword.
“You used your Gift, didn’t you?”
His expression morphed into one of desperation.
“I-I am not feeling quite like myself, you have to understand I would never—”
Lucianna cut him off. “You thought because you saved my life that I would be easy to tempt, is that it?”
“No—Tides—” He fumbled over his words.
Lucianna turned around. It hurt too much to even look at him. To think she’d felt guilty for what she said up in the crow’s nest. All for him to prove her right!
“Lucianna, please,” Finnick begged, then coughed. “I didn’t mean to.”
“Just leave me alone,” she said as tears burned her eyes.
“Please,” he whispered, the word sounding as broken as she felt.
She shook her head. “Go away, Finnick.”
The sound of something heavy hitting against wood made her turn around. Finnick lay in an unnatural heap. His eyes were shut, the side of his face pressed against the floor.
“Finnick?” She swiped at the rogue tear that had fallen. “Dramatics aren’t going to make me forgive you.”
He didn’t move. His lips didn’t so much as twitch.
“Finnick, get up,” she demanded. “This isn’t funny.”
Nothing.
Lucianna’s stomach dropped as she fell to her knees beside him. She pushed him onto his back. His skin was pale and covered in a sheen of sweat.
“Finnick, wake up.” She shook his shoulder, her tears coming faster. “Wake up and tease me!” Her tone shifted into something softer as she begged. “Finn.”
Panic flooded her veins when his eyes remained closed. He was so still, so lifeless, so unlike who she had come to know as her husband. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think of anything other than getting him to look at her again.
Lucianna’s true voice broke out of the cage it had been living in as she screamed, “Help!”
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