Chapter 21
Valarie
It was the first official day off since we’d arrived—no obligations, brunches, events, dinners.
Sophia had gone against my advice to spend the day sparring and decided she needed some pampering instead.
Queen Raquel had been nice enough to offer up her own entourage, a group of four young women who gossiped, painted nails, washed and cut hair.
In my room, I threw on a pair of jeans and a tank top with a jacket over the top. Outside, I could hear the loudest and youngest of the group spilling the latest news she’d heard.
“The gardener’s apprentice said they had to dig up all the dahlias early. There were—get this—three body prints!”
“Sounds like the King is finally back to his old ways,” one of the quieter girls commented.
“Do you think so?” Sophia asked, her voice light, though I knew she was playing close attention. “What do you think had him so distracted for the last week and a half?”
There was silence as they all contemplated the reason. Then the last girl who had spoken answered: “His mother, most likely, and the pressure of the Hunt. Although he hasn’t been as ornery as he usually is when he’s stressed.”
I tried not to glower on my way out of the suite as I listened to the giggling and chatter.
Sophia and I got along, but this—being girly—wasn’t something I could fulfill for her.
Our gossip was centered around politics, not the cutest betas in the packs.
I was more worried about the approaching transformation night than what color her toenails should be.
Ducking out a side door, I interrupted Princess Morgan and Iris’s maids talking outside. They gave me a quick glare before tightening their circle.
I tried to fight back the roil in my stomach; this was a good sign. The less friendly other pack members were, the better Sophia must be doing. This meant everyone saw her as a threat.
Turning a corner out onto one of the main streets, I threw my hair up into a messy bun before flipping the collar of the jacket up. We were definitely getting into fall; back home, it would be chilly now. Today had just a bit of a bite to it.
This was a different way into town than Gabriel had brought me a few nights before, but I didn’t feel like walking the same streets. There was a bitterness inside that I was trying to quash down ever since hearing he had picked up with his old ways again.
You shouldn’t be surprised, I told myself as I trudged along. This is what you wanted. And what needs to happen.
That didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. But I tried to ignore that, making my way further into town.
The morning after I’d told Gabriel we had to stop, one of the palace messengers came to Sophia’s rooms to let us know my mother had sent a package. I’d offered to go and pick it up myself, knowing that getting off the palace grounds would be good for me. Now I just had to find the post office.
After wandering for a bit, catching a glimpse, and turning away from the canal, I finally caved and asked for directions.
“Hello,” I said quietly as I entered, letting the door shut softly behind me.
An older woman stood behind the counter, glasses perched at the end of her nose. She glanced up at me and put aside whatever she was working on.
“Hello, there. How can I help you?”
“I was sent down from the palace to pick up a package. For Sophia—”
“Of the Autumn pack?” She smiled after she said it and I nodded, smiling shyly back.
“Would it be possible for me to send a few things back to the pack?” I asked, pulling my bag around front. Inside were the trinkets I’d bought Jason, plus a beautiful silver bracelet for my mother and a small pack of carving tools for Dad.
“You’re in luck,” the woman said, eyebrows raised. “The young man who brought the package is still around. Could save you some money, to just send it back with him.”
“A young man delivered it?” I asked, frowning. That was unusual… surely Queen Moira would’ve paid the expense of having it shipped here?
“I believe he’s finishing up breakfast down the street before heading back north. If you’d like, I can have one of the boys run down and ask him to find you at the palace when he’s done?”
I hesitated, but she was right—it would be great to save money, even just a little bit. I hadn’t bought anything for myself, knowing I’d have to mail everything else and pay for that. But now… maybe I could find a bookstore…
“Do you mind if I leave him a note?” I asked, stepping closer to the counter.
The woman gave me a slip of paper and a pen, smiling as I jotted something down quickly.
The walk back to the palace went by fast. I wondered who would show up for the package and realized I hadn’t wrapped it in anything. Jogging toward the kitchen entrance quickly, I leaned inside to see if Ana was around.
She was. But she wasn’t alone.
Gabriel sat on the counter, eating from a plate of Danishes, and licking his fingers. He had obviously been in conversation with Ana, who appeared upset. She heard the ruckus I made stumbling through the door and looked up, panic flashing across her face quickly.
“Val! What… how can I—”
I resolutely kept from looking at Gabriel and focused instead on Ana’s fluttering hands as she straightened herself up.
“I was hoping you had some butcher paper? I need to wrap a few things.”
“Of course!”
She hurried over to some cabinets and dug around for a moment before pulling out an industrial sized roll. When she practically shoved it in my arms, she glanced up and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
I turned quickly and stepped back outside, moving over to a stone wall. It wasn’t like any stone wall we had in the Autumn territory—this wall was perfectly smooth and polished. I rolled my eyes, but it was a good surface for what I had to do.
With deft fingers, I wrapped each item and labeled it with a pen I’d swiped from the kitchen. I’d return it later once I was sure Gabriel was gone.
“Valarie?”
The hair on the back of my neck rose. I recognized the voice… but it wasn’t the King.
Turning slowly, I faced John, who stood with his hands deep in his pockets.
“Hi,” he said simply, sheepishly, his head dipped low the way I always found charming. I felt my face heating—from embarrassment or attraction, I wasn’t sure.
“Hi,” I said back. “It’s you.”
He nodded and glanced around the small courtyard we stood in. My hands were still on the packages, and I startled, picking them up and walking toward him.
“My mom… why did she send a package with you? Instead of just shipping it?”
He met my eyes briefly—his were still that caramel brown, catching the sunlight beautifully—and ran a hand through his hair.
“She said it was important. A… dress. A gown? Whatever it is, she didn’t feel safe just shipping it. Said the package could easily rip.”
Of course—the gown for the final ball. I’d completely forgotten that Sophia had commissioned it specially, and the details had been so fine that Mom hadn’t been able to finish it in just two days.
“Well, that’s good, I guess. I have a few things for her, and Dad and Jason. Would you mind dropping them off when you go back?”
It wasn’t much to ask; his family’s land was close by to ours. He couldn’t quite meet my eyes. But I couldn’t stop looking at him, taking him in, the simple ring he wore. I knew his mate must be wearing a matching one.
It only took a few steps for us to be standing face to face, closer than we had been in months.
John was so unlike Gabriel. He had a thick beard, darker eyes, was only slightly taller than me.
His shoulders and the rest of his body were broad.
I could remember my hands on his back, pulling him closer to me, and my face heated again.
This time with definite embarrassment; shame that I was still so hung up on him when he had clearly moved on.
“Thanks,” I said quietly, handing over the bag with the wrapped parcels.
He nodded and took it, turning away.
I paced a few steps in the other direction before his voice stopped me.
“Val!”
I turned and he jogged over, catching my hand in his. My skin tingled immediately.
“It’s good to see you. Here. In general. I always knew you were meant to make it out.”
He gave me one of his crooked smiles before turning away again and starting back toward town.
My breath was caught in my throat, mouth open as I watched him go.