Chapter 36
Cillian
We reappeared in the throne room, dazzling light swirling around us as the music died down and everyone stopped dancing, turning to stare at us, which was when I realized she was still clutched tight in my arms, her dress bunched in my fists, her curly hair mussed, and the lipstick she wore smeared.
I suspected some of it was on my own lips.
She cleared her throat and whispered, “We did not think that through.”
I smiled broadly. “No we didn’t.” I leaned in so only she could hear. “Do you think they know I just made you come with my fingers?”
“Cillian!” She pushed me away, and we both turned toward the crowd.
“The fourth trial has ended,” Morton announced from next to us on the throne. “And Cerriwen Morgane is the winner.”
“Whoo!” Marsten cheered, raising his goblet.
“That unfortunately means, we have to say goodbye to someone,” Morton said.
Ceri tensed beside me, and I put my arm around her.
“Lila, you are eliminated.”
She shot a terrified look at her betrothed, who wrapped his arms tight around her.
“No,” she said. “No, don’t do this.”
She disappeared like the others had in a swirl of golden magic.
Everyone gasped, backing away. They’d all heard about the contestants disappearing, but for almost all of Fairwitch Isle, this was the first time they’d seen it.
Ceri frowned, staring at the spot where Lila stood while others murmured.
I stepped forward before this got out of control.
“I can assure you that we are doing everything we can to find these contestants. I’m hoping that once the trials are over, Castle brings them back, but in the meantime, my guards are scouring this mountainside while my council pores over books, trying to figure out where they might have gone. ”
Everyone shot each other uneasy glances, and I knew my words hadn’t calmed them. I didn’t blame anyone. This was not an easy situation to understand or accept, and if it had been Ceri who disappeared, I’d be tearing this town apart stone by stone until I found her.
“I think that concludes our ball,” I said. “Thank you everyone for attending, and please, try to resume all activities as normal while we make sense of what is happening.”
Slowly the crowd began trickling out of the ballroom, and I turned toward Ceri. “Are you okay?”
She bit her lip. “Not really. Eventually, I’m going to disappear. Or Marsten. Or Meera. And we still don’t know why.”
I grasped her shoulders. “I know, and we are truly doing everything we can to understand what’s happening. Morton has assured us the contestants are safe.”
She eyed the pink bookwyrm over my shoulder as he scratched his back with his tail. “I’m just worried about them.”
“I am too,” I said, “but I also want this night to be about us. I’ve waited half my life to tell you how I feel, and I finally did, and now I get this one amazing night with you, and I just want to enjoy it.”
She gazed up at me, her lips twitching. “I want that too.”
“So can we set aside these worries and discussions for tomorrow?” My hands slid down her arms.
She placed her hands in mine. “Of course we can.” She nudged her head to the side. “But I think we have an audience.”
The ballroom had cleared aside from my family, who stood there, staring at Ceri and me with wide, mystified eyes. Except Enid and Niamh, who shot each other knowing glances, Niamh looking smug.
“I knew it,” she said, elbowing Wolfe. “I told you there was something between them.”
“Cillian always said there wasn’t.” Wolfe huffed. “I believed him.”
Nevan scratched his head. “I’m shocked.”
“That’s because you’re oblivious,” Enid said from his side. “Everyone can see it.”
“See what?” Wolfe asked.
“That they’re in love,” Mother said in an exasperated tone.
Ceri shifted from foot to foot. “I feel like I’m the main display in an exhibition.”
I held out my hands. “Okay, enough gawking. Yes, we love each other. Yes, we always have. Yes, we’re finally admitting it. But we also have a lot to figure out.”
Mother grabbed Father’s hand, both of them beaming. “I’m just so happy for you two.”
“What happens if he has to marry the cat?” Wolfe asked, and Niamh flicked him in the arm.
“That’s one of the things we’re figuring out,” I said.
“Can he even legally marry a cat?” Nevan asked.
“Okay, let’s stop talking about me marrying the cat,” I said, not wanting to think about anyone but Ceri becoming my wife.
“Aside from the cat, what is there to figure out?” Mother asked.
“That’s not really any of your business,” I started as Ceri’s father burst through the doors.
“I came as soon as I could,” he said, wild-eyed and hair going in all directions. He was wearing his nightgown, and I wondered if he’d been asleep and something had awoken him, scared him.
“Papa.” Ceri immediately ran from my side and joined him, holding his arm. “Why are you here? In the castle?”
He swallowed, eyes swiveling around to everyone. “I had a nightmare. A bad omen, Ceri, I’m telling you. About the castle swallowing you whole. You must come home immediately.”
Understanding lit Mother’s eyes.
“Papa, I won the trial, and now I’m supposed to have a date with Cillian,” Ceri said, though her voice shook. It broke my heart to see the way she was trying to hold back tears.
“Ceri, it’s okay,” I said. “We can wait.” I would wait as long as I needed to. “In fact, why don’t I walk you two back to your apartment?”
“Let’s go home, Papa,” she said, nodding at me. “We’ll get you back to bed with some tea.”
Niamh stepped forward, grabbing Gerald’s hand.
His head snapped in her direction as she smiled at him.
“You know, I’ve been meaning to stop by and bring you some books I thought you’d like.
Maybe tonight would be good? I could even read some of them to you.
You’re on book four of the Godwitch Wars series, right? ”
He shook his head and looked at Ceri, who nodded. “That’s right. You just finished the third book. I returned it to Niamh last week.”
“Oh. Yes, then. I suppose I would be ready for book four.” He paused. “I was taken aback by that cliffhanger.”
“Book four is my favorite,” Niamh said, and Morton slithered along the ground and flapped his wings, lifting to her shoulder.
“I couldn’t believe what I saw after I ate that book,” the bookwyrm agreed.
“What if Morton escorted you back to your apartment and I brought the books along?”
He shot his daughter an unsure look. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. What do you think, Ceri?”
“You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with, Papa.”
He paused. “Well, I do like a good book. But I don’t like the idea of being alone all night long without you.”
“I’ll take good care of her,” I said. “Always.”
Her eyes welled with tears, and Gerald met my gaze, brows furrowing. “Yes. Yes, I believe you will. Will you be home for breakfast?” he asked.
Mother stepped forward, tugging Father along. “I think tomorrow morning would be a perfect time for us to bring some pastries and tea. I think we’re going to be spending a lot more of our time together.”
Father smiled. “Splendid. I do love a good pastry and tea.”
My heart warmed at the way my family was stepping in, ready to help in whatever way they could, and aside from the trials, for the first time, I saw a solution to our problem.
“Okay, then,” Ceri’s father said. “You’ll stay by Cillian’s side?”
Ceri raised her hand. “I promise.” She leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow after breakfast.”
Morton fluttered to her father’s shoulder. “Did I tell you my theory about Bravos and his magic?”
Ceri’s father turned, walking toward the doors. “I don’t believe you have. I’m suspicious of that fellow.”
“That’s what my theory is about. I think he’s a spy.”
“No,” Gerald said as they walked through the doors. “You think?”
“Oh, I have an entire list of reasons why.”
“Well, I want to hear them.”
Their voices faded as they disappeared through the doors.
I was about to thank my family, but I didn’t have a chance before Ceri and I were once again disappearing from the room.