Chapter 13
The interaction
“Will you be spending your day off with him today?” Nikolas asked as he carved into a small, wooden, cedar box.
Adalia was standing in the kitchen making tea as Nikolas lent against the counter. “He has a name, you know. Can you please do that outside? You’re making a mess on the floor.”
Her brother huffed before placing the knife and wooden box down on the counter.
“And keep your voice down. Matthias is still asleep.” Adalia added with quiet force.
“He could be laying there listening to our conversation and plotting our demise.” Nikolas’s brow rose.
Adalia rolled her eyes and fetched some ingredients from the cold room to prepare for breakfast, her wings making a soft swishing sound as she moved. “The only person here who is plotting your demise is me. Now please leave me alone and go do your job.”
Nikolas rolled his eyes. “You didn’t answer my question, and to add to that, how long is he going to stay?”
Lilac feathers brushed against the kitchen counter. Shrugging her shoulders, Adalia whisked the egg, seasoning, and a dash of milk into a bowl. “I don’t know. I suppose so. Maybe I’ll show him around Lucius like the king suggested. Or leave him here and attend to my to do list? As for him staying. . . he’s a grown man, I’m sure he can decide for himself.”
Nikolas glanced over to the black mound sleeping on their couch and picked up the box and knife.
“So, are you going to stare at him all day plotting his demise, or help me with breakfast?” Adalia asked.
“You know I’d love to stay and help, but I’ve got lives to protect.” Nikolas grinned as she gave him a playful slap on his arm. “I’ll see you later. You know where to find me if you run into any . . . trouble.”
Adalia rolled her eyes as he walked out the back door and shot into the sky. Glancing over at the prince, who was still asleep, she wondered if she should wake him or let him be. Deciding on the latter, she busied herself in the kitchen. Hopefully, the aroma of bacon and eggs cooking on the stove would bring him to consciousness.
She’d just finished buttering some toast when she heard him stir. Bones stretched beside him and sat up before trotting outside to the courtyard. Matthias rolled over to his side and faced the kitchen, his big black wings tucked around him.
“Morning sunshine,” Adalia gently called.
Matthias sat up and ran his hands through his hair and over his face. “That was the best sleep I’ve had in a really long time.”
“Is your big fancy bed in your big fancy castle not satisfactory enough, Prince?” Adalia crooned.
Stretching his arms and wings out beside him, Matthias yawned and sleepily shook his head. “You have to feel safe to rest well.”
Perhaps she shouldn’t tease him. He didn’t seem to relish the castle life, and the luxuries that accompanied it. He kept surprising her—as a matter of fact; she knew little about him at all.
Adalia offered him a smile as she placed a steaming bowl of scrambled eggs down on the table, followed by a plate of freshly fried bacon. Then she returned to the kitchen to gather the fruit salad she’d prepared alongside the stack of warm buttered toast.
Hopefully, he was hungry.
“You really didn’t have to go through all this trouble, you know. I’d be fine with some bread and cheese.” Matthias had risen from the couch and moved to stand beside the table.
“It’s really no trouble at all. I do this every morning.” Adalia smiled.
Wings shifted and scraped over the backs of chairs as they both sat at the table. Adalia offered Matthias fresh coffee. He paused, studying the cup with pinched brows before hesitantly taking it.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“Again, it’s no trouble.”
He nodded once, still studying the food on the table with an odd look on his face.
Clearing her throat, Adalia reached for a strawberry. “Was the lounge okay?”
The prince sipped his coffee and nodded. “It was perfectly fine, thank you.”
“I suppose you haven’t had a lot of time to decide what you are going to do about your father? Do you have some sort of plan?” Adalia asked.
Admittedly, she didn’t really want to know his answer. She knew the moment she offered him sanctuary in her home, if he said yes, she wouldn’t want him to leave. The thought of him having a plan, one that took him too quickly from her home, made the knot in her stomach tighten.
How could she let him go when his eyes silently begged her to hold him close?
Matthias shrugged lightly, poking at his eggs. “What can I do? I either return home and face him. Buy a boat and sail away from here and never look back or I ask your king if I could dwell in The Grey, if that’s even possible.”
Adalia had never heard of a Thorn or a Lightner for that matter, living in The Grey, so she was unsure of that option, but the idea of sailing away on a boat sounded appealing.
“Do you like any of those options?”
“The idea of buying a boat sounds fun, but I would need to learn how to use it first,” Matthias grinned.
“I could teach you.”
“Oh, you could? Do you own a boat?”
Adalia nodded. “I do, it’s only a small rowboat, but I’m sure it could take you places like . . . to the end of the bay and back.” Stifling a giggle, Adalia placed her hand over her mouth.
The prince groaned, but his mouth twitched into a smile. “I think I would need a much larger boat, little dove.”
“Especially with those wings of yours,” Adalia teased.
Matthias grinned, and Adalia felt the heat rise into her cheeks under his captivating gaze. “What has wing size got to do with it?”
Adalia rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her mouth. “I guess if the boat was too small, they might act like a sail.”
The prince laughed and, in one swift movement, opened his wings as wide as they could go. Filling a large part of the room. The black feathers shimmered under the morning sun that streamed through the window. “I guess if the wind caught them, I’d get to my destination real quick.”
Adalia giggled and rose from the table, clearing plates as she did so. “Do you know what else you’re gonna get real quick? A scolding if you don’t put them away, wings in homes equal broken valuable items.”
Grinning, Matthias pulled his wings in. “Yes, ma’am.”
Bones wandered inside and Adalia fetched him the uncooked bacon rind in a dish and placed it on the floor.
“Thank you.” Matthias spoke gently.
“For what?” she asked quietly.
“For treating Bones and I with such kindness,” the prince responded.
Popping another strawberry into her mouth, Adalia nodded. “You’re welcome. Now would you like to come with me into town today while I run my errands or would you prefer to just hang out here? I’m easy either way.” Adalia smiled at him and grabbed more plates.
Matthias rose to help. “If you don’t think people will care to see me around, I will come with you . . . If that’s okay?”
“Like I said, I’m easy either way. I’m certain no one will pay you any mind,” Adalia said as she placed the last of the dishes into the sink. “I’ll wash these later. Let me change and then we can leave.”
She eyed Matthias across the kitchen counter. He lifted his brow and smiled as he looked her up and down. Adalia felt her cheeks flush for the umpteenth time this morning. She was only wearing her thin, white, cotton nightgown. Folding her arms across her chest, she retreated to her bedroom as quickly as she could without looking like she was running.
Adalia swore she heard Matthias quietly laugh.
Reaching into her closet, Adalia picked out a long floral skirt and a white blouse. After changing, she ran a brush through her chestnut waves and braided it, leaving some loose strands gently framing her face. She retrieved some brown leather boots from the bottom of her closet, placed them on, and smoothed her skirts, viewing herself in the floor-length mirror.
It wasn’t often she wore something a little on the feminine side. It was usually her Lightner leathers, comfy pants, a shirt, or her nightgown.
Yet something about the devastatingly handsome man in her lounge room made her want to dress up a little.
Adalia rubbed a small amount of a pale pink rouge on her lips, gathered her canvas bag, and headed back into the living room where she found a neatly put together Matthias leaning against the kitchen table.
“Sorry if I took too long. Are you ready?” Adalia asked as she tried her best not to stare. He must have used the bathroom to change while he waited for her, because he was now wearing black, loose-fitting, tailored pants, a black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to just past his elbows. A black belt with a gold buckle held his trousers in place, and on his feet were leather boots.
“Ready when you are.” Matthias threw her a boyish grin.
Adalia walked to the front door and turned. Matthias was telling Bones to wait in the house and that he would return soon. “He behaves so well for you.”
Matthias looked up at her. “He does, because he trusts me.”
The prince ruffled the wolf’s fur and moved towards Adalia. She held her breath as he stepped outside. The height and the width of his body towered over her, and she was reminded of their moment in the woods when he grabbed her by the throat and kissed her.
It had been a while since Adalia had been kissed. There’d been a handful of times in her younger years inside The Grey, but none were as meaningful as the one she shared with Matthias, even if it was unexpected and shocking.
Adalia wondered if he would bring it up in conversation or if he was waiting for her to do so, not that it needed discussion. It was just a debt paid.
Her wings twitched as she remembered the way his warm lips felt against hers, forceful and gentle at the same time. It was certainly the most toe-curling-inside-melting-can’t-breath kiss she’d ever experienced, and she would be lying if she said she didn’t want it to happen again.
“Are we walking today?” His question broke her trance.
“Oh, um yes. It’s such a nice day, I thought we could walk. The town centre isn’t too far away. Is that alright?” Adalia replied as she turned and locked the door behind them.
“Of course, I’m your prisoner here, so I’ll do as you bid.” The big black wings that protruded out of his muscular black glinted in the sunlight, and Adalia thought she saw some feathers throw a shade of blue.
“You aren’t a prisoner here. You may leave any time you wish,” she answered as they walked along.
“Do you want me to?” Matthias’s brow rose.
Adalia adjusted the strap on her shoulder and folded her arms. “I want you to do what you want to do.”
Waiting for his teasing reply, Adalia was surprised when none came. Glancing at him, she realised he was grinning, but looking down at his feet. Adalia allowed herself to smile for a moment, too.
The smell of citrus floated through the air, and Adalia took a deep breath in. “Lemon myrtle is one of my favourite scents,” she said as she reached for a leaf and crushed it, holding it to her nose.
Turning, she reached out her hand and Matthias gently lifted it to his face, taking in a deep breath. The feel of his fingertips against her skin sent tingles down her arm. “Wow, that’s really powerful. I can see why you like it.”
“Do you have a favourite scent?” she asked as they strolled along.
The prince pondered for a moment, and Adalia took the opportunity to look at his face. Since arriving in Lucius, his whole demeanour had softened, like he didn’t have to watch his back every five minutes. His eyes were bright, and he stood taller. Walking with him felt natural too, like she’d been doing it all her life.
“I guess I would say I like sweet smells, like berries or warm caramel,” he answered.
“Oh yes, I like that as well. The perfumed oil I like to wear is blueberries and vanilla.”
“I knew there was a reason I enjoyed being around you,” Matthias teased.
Adalia gently shoved her shoulder into his arm. “So it’s not the food?”
“Well, there’s that too. Why do you love cooking so much?”
“My mother taught me at a young age. It was her love language—cooking for others. When she became sick, she couldn’t do it anymore, and it broke her heart. Since being here in Lucius with her again, it’s just something we like to do,” Adalia answered.
“There’s definitely no complaint here. The food in Oscuro is odd, it looks good on the outside, but when you eat it you question if what you’re really eating is food,” Matthias murmured.
Adalia softly shuddered. “Yeah . . . I know.”
Matthias glanced at her sideways. “Oh, I’m sorry. Of course, you already knew that.”
“It’s okay.” Adalia shrugged.
“Does your mother live close by?” Matthias asked, changing the subject.
Nodding, Adalia smiled at the prince’s question. “Both my parents do.”
When Adalia had entered the Kingdom, she’d chosen to be near her parents. They lived in a small Mediterranean district called Floriana Meadows. It was filled with cobbled streets, stone houses, red geraniums in terracotta pots, shared meals, and laughter.
Adalia’s mother had passed from The Grey when Adalia was only fourteen years old – it had broken her heart. Adalia knew she would see her mother again, but her absence was felt for many years later.
The healing of having her parents at the table, sharing a meal with her that first time they’d come together in Lucius, was something she’d never forgotten.
The prince strolled beside her, hands in pockets. “Do you see them often?”
“Nik and I try to visit them weekly. Making up for lost time . . . you know?”
The prince tucked his wings closer. Perhaps it was insensitive of her to bring up her parents. One only needed to look at the King of Oscuro to feel sorry for anyone who’d been fathered by him.
“What about your mother? Where is she?”
“I don’t have a mother.” Matthias spoke quietly.
Adalia was about to press further when bushes rustled to their left and a large brown bear meandered out, slowly crossing their path. Matthias halted and placed an arm in front of Adalia as a form of protection. Adalia smiled at his gesture and gently pushed it down with her hand.
“While I appreciate your sudden need to protect me . . . all creatures here in Lucius are harmless. They will never attack you,” she grinned. “And—don’t forget, I’m a major in the King’s Army,” she reminded him. Her heart beat quickly at her touch on his arm and the way he genuinely looked worried for their safety.
Matthias let out his breath and noticed the smile tugging at her lips. “You find my chivalry humorous?”
“I think it’s sweet, but I promise he won’t harm us,” Adalia answered as she caught his grey-blue eyes with hers.
Matthias held her there for a moment before glancing down at the hand still gripped around his forearm.
Adalia quickly pulled it away and placed it in her skirt pocket.
“Do you ever get used to it?” Matthias asked.
Adalia winked. “Stay long enough and you’ll find out.”
They reached the town centre, which was bustling with life already, and even though the sun had only just awoken, Lightners already perused through store fronts, drinking coffee from fancy cups in cafes lining the cobbled streets.
Adalia pointed to a store called Rosie’s. “That’s my favourite place to sit and have tea or coffee. They make the most delicious apple cream pies and coconut coated chocolate sponge cakes.”
The prince rubbed his stomach, drawing attention to his inked hand and knuckles. Adalia’s wings twitched.
“Sounds divine,” he groaned.
“Do you not have places like this in Oscuro?” Adalia asked as they walked along.
The prince lightly shrugged his shoulders. “We do. I just don’t fancy them.”
“Why not?”
“Mainly because there are too many people around and I don’t like meaningless crowds.”
“Are there crowds that you don’t mind, then?”
Matthias’s wings pulled in tight in response to her question. “I dabble in the arts of street fighting. Those crowds I can handle.”
“Is that why your face was so bruised the first time I found you in the woods?” she quietly asked.
Matthias cleared his throat. “No.”
“Do you want to tell me why?” she pushed further.
“Not really. It’s in the past now,” he replied distantly.
He was clearly uncomfortable, so she dropped the subject. Maybe one day he’d be ready to share more intimate details about his life and she was happy to wait until then.
“If you ever want to talk about it, though, I’m good at listening.”
Smiling softly at her, the prince nodded.
Adalia motioned towards a laneway a little way down the street. “I just need to pick up some items from the local forgers.”
Matthias nodded, and the pair walked in silence the rest of the way. At the shop, Matthias held the door open for Adalia and it made her internally grin. For someone who dwelt on the darker side of life, he certainly knew how to be a gentleman. They stepped through the door, a jangling bell announcing their arrival.
A burly man appeared from the room out the back with a smile plastered on his face. “Adalia! How are you, friend?”
“Hello James.” Adalia beamed at him.
Inhaling the smell of molten metal, Adalia sighed. The sound of clanging reaching her ears from the back of the shop. It was a comfort to her. Coming to The Blazing Anvil was a highlight of Adalia’s week. The storefront was small, but held many selections of fine metal sheeting, ready to be melted into many creations. All the work was done out the back.
Trailing her fingers over the cool metals on the shelves brought joy to her soul. For the last few years, she’d be learning the skill of blade making. The hobby wasn’t something she shouted from the rooftops—not because she was ashamed of it. It was just something she liked to do for herself. James had welcomed her eagerness and many nights Adalia would visit, honing her skill.
“Needing more of that brass sheet stock you purchased last week? Or can I interest you in some copper that I just finished smelting yesterday?” James asked as he moved towards a pile of the shiny metal.
“I need some brass, nickel, and I’ll take some damascus steel sheets too. I will think about the copper, thank you, James.” Adalia smiled at the man, who moved from behind the counter to gather her items.
Matthias was running his fingers over the copper sheets, eyes bright.
“On second thought, I’ll take a small sheet of the copper too, James,” she added.
James nodded and placed a sheet on the growing pile.
Movement caught her eye, and as the metal clanged again, she realised Mathias’s entire body flinched at the sound. “Are you okay?” she questioned. His wings were tucked tight towards his body.
Matthias nodded. “I’m fine.”
The prince took a lap of the store and returned to her side. “What do you do with all of this metal?” he asked.
“I make things with it,” Adalia replied.
Matthias looked at her warily. “What kind of things?”
“Secret things.” Adalia’s brow rose as she teased him.
Satisfied with her answer, Matthias took another lap around the shop.
James finished collecting her list of items. “All set to go, my friend.”
Smiling at James, Adalia paid for her items. “If you could add it to my stack out the back, I’ll return later this week. I had an idea for something new, if you feel up to it?”
Grinning, James lifted the sheets from the countertop. “If you need my help, I’m there. But you managed just fine without me last time!”
She laughed and thanked him. “Have you finished looking?” She called to the dark prince. Matthias turned to face her and sauntered back. Adalia swallowed as he neared.
“I didn’t think I was allowed to,” he answered with a smirk.
Adalia’s face warmed as she pushed the door to the shop open. There were the taunting remarks she’d been missing.
After James, they visited the local grocers and the animal feed store so Matthias could purchase some food for Bones.
Adalia’s home came into view, and she was eager to put her bags down, even though Matthias held some for her. She’d bought more than she thought she needed.
Turning the key in the lock, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, Matthias behind her. She placed her bag down on the table and turned back towards the door as Matthias was closing it. There, on the floor, was a small white envelope. As she picked it up, she was surprised to see the seal of the king on the back. Adalia hurriedly opened it to reveal an ornately designed invitation.
The king cordially invites Adalia and Matthias to dine with him today at 12:00pm in the palace gardens.
A royal invite to dine with the king was cause for celebration. His generosity towards his subjects was well known, and Adalia smiled at the white and gold paper in her hand. And one never went to dine with the king in rags, so the occasion called for finery.
“Would you like to join me for lunch at the palace? It says here the king has invited us.” Adalia offered the invite to Matthias.
He took it gently from her hands and read it to himself.
“Why do I feel like this is a trap?” he questioned.
“Because you think the entire world is out to get you?” Adalia replied as she shrugged her shoulders.
“Can you blame me?”
Adalia took the invitation from his hand and placed it on the table. “Look, if the king had ill intentions towards you, I promise you that you’d know by now. It’s just lunch, Matthias.”
The prince eyed her warily. “I’ll join you, but if I smell trouble, things will not end nicely.”
“There will be no need for that, I assure you,” Adalia answered as she packed her groceries away in the kitchen. “I’ll need to change, as we will need to be there in an hour’s time, so please, make yourself at home. Tea and coffee are here and there is food in the cold room if you’re hungry.”
Matthias nodded his thanks, and Adalia headed to her bedroom. Before she closed the door behind her, she turned to face the prince. “You didn’t seem okay at the forge? Was something bothering you?”
Matthias looked over at her and leant against the kitchen table. “It was really nothing. I just don’t like the sound of clanging metal. Reminds me of a place I’d rather not think about.”
“Oh I see, I’m sorry. We don’t have to go there again.”
“Please don’t apologise. It’s really nothing,” he replied.
Feeling warm under his gaze, Adalia nodded and slipped into her room.
It had been a while since she’d dressed up for a special occasion, but she knew exactly what she was going to wear. There had been a dress in the window of the tailors a few months ago and when Adalia laid eyes on it, she knew it belonged to her.
Reaching for it, she took it from the closet and lay it on the bed. She ran her fingers over the pearly sheen of the white satin fabric and sighed—it was magical.
Remembering the time, she hurried to the bath. When she returned, the dress waited patiently on the bed. She placed it over her head and let the fabric slip over her figure.
Adalia reached around and pulled the zipper up as far as she could, but couldn’t quite make it to the top.
Sighing, she realised she would have to ask Matthias to do the last little piece, but that could wait.
Sitting at her dressing table, she applied some cosmetics to her face and did her hair. She decided on a slicked back high ponytail with a gold ribbon around the tie.
After she finished, she stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting the gown. The bodice hugged her figure, cinching at the waist. Draped fabric swept across the top of both of her arms and joined the bodice together, front and back, with a slimline skirt that fell to the floor. A split up the left side of the skirt helped her to walk comfortably and showed off her honey-coloured skin.
Feeling satisfied with her appearance, Adalia retrieved some strappy gold heels from her closet, put them on, and exited her room.
Matthias was on the lounge by the window strumming on his veslo when Adalia entered. The tune he was playing instantly stopped when he saw her, and Adalia felt the heat rise in her cheeks with the way his gaze roved over her figure.
“Would you mind zipping up the back of my dress? I couldn’t reach it,” she asked as she turned her back.
Her breathing became laboured as she heard him rise from his seated position and slowly walk towards her. Then she stopped breathing all together as his fingers brushed the bare skin of her back. He was careful not to touch her wings, knowing full well how sensitive they could be. If he had, there was no way she would have been able to keep herself from grabbing the front of his shirt and pushing him back down on the lounge so she could explore his face and lips with her own.
Instant bumps covered her body.
Adalia felt an absence when he moved away. “Thank you.”
The prince cleared his throat and nodded, stepping away from her. Needing space herself, Adalia made sure the house was securely locked before they left.
The outdoor dining area in the palace gardens was a sight to see. A dome of glass covered the area and inside was filled with lush flowers and plants. A long table big enough to fit hundreds ran through the centre, covered in a white cloth. White tapered candles nestled in gold candelabras graced the tabletop that stretched from one end to the other.
Three table settings had been placed at one end of the table, with a delightful selection of food within reach. Stacks of cheese with honey dripping off the sides sat beside bunches of green and red grapes. Roasted meats and charred vegetables flowed abundantly, and fresh greens picked straight from the palace gardens filled glass bowls that were the colour of sunshine.
When they had arrived, the attendants ushered them into the grand dining area where the king awaited their presence. Adalia eyed the prince as the king greeted him, feeling nervous at how Matthias might react, but he remained calm and polite. After they had taken their seats, Lightners who worked at the palace began bringing out plates laden with even more food.
She watched his eyes widen as the food was placed before them. He’d slicked his hair back with a touch of beeswax he must have found in her bathroom. His ivory skin made his grey-blue eyes pop beneath the darkened lashes. He always wore the same golden ring in his straight nose and though he hadn’t packed expecting to attend fancy lunches, he didn’t need to overdress to give off a regal air.
Her eyes travelled to his lips next, and Adalia shifted in her chair, her wings brushing against it. They were full and a lovely nude pink. She’d touched those lips with her own and her insides had melted just as much as they were right now.
Matthias must have felt her steady gaze, because he looked at her and pinched his brow. Adalia quickly looked down at her plate and made a show of eating.
The king grinned. “So Matthias, how are you enjoying your stay in Lucius? I do hope Adalia is treating you well.”
“Very well, your majesty. She has been more than accommodating. As for Lucius, it’s definitely not what I imagined it would be,” the prince replied.
Chucking, the king raised his cup to his lips. “It never is.”
Two hours passed by, and they both thanked the king for his generosity before leaving the palace. The flight home was quiet as they both pondered the afternoon.
Adalia was overwhelmed by the kindness the king had shown Matthias, asking about his life and his interests. She could tell that the prince that entered the castle with her was different from the one that emerged.
They arrived home shortly to find Nikolas lounging in the living room. He’d made a fire, and the house felt all warm and cosy.
“Where have you two been?” he asked casually.
“The king invited us for lunch,” Adalia answered as she walked to her room to change. “Matthias, make yourself at home and don’t mind my brother.”
Nikolas snorted with laughter and rose from the lounge. “What’s for dinner tonight?” he called to Adalia.
“I was just going to make a stir-fry,” came her muffled reply.
Adalia walked back into the room, shoe less and hair down, but still in her gown. “Nik, can you undo my zip, please?”
Nikolas walked behind her and Adalia watched Matthias from across the room, an amused look on his face like he knew who should be unzipping her gown and it certainly wasn’t her brother.
“There,” Nikolas said when he’d finished.
Matthias sauntered outside and Adalia headed back to her room to change.
An hour later, the three sat around the kitchen table eating the stir-fry Adalia had made. Wine was served and music wafted through the air from the record player.
“Good food, sis,” Nikolas spoke as he scoffed into his meal.
“Yes, it’s great. Thank you,” Matthias chimed in.
Adalia looked at them both before rising from the table, wine in hand. “I cooked, so now you have to do the dishes. Rules are rules.” She grinned and walked to the single seater armchair.
Nikolas rolled his eyes, but didn’t comment. He simply stood and started doing dishes. Matthias followed.
Looking at these two muscular men in her kitchen doing dishes made Adalia smile. A moment of humility and humbleness never hurt anyone, right? No one was ever too good for housework.
Half an hour later, they’d finished, and the kitchen was clean.
“We should all hangout tomorrow after our patrols,” Nikolas suggested as he stood near his bedroom door.
“Who is ‘we’?” Adalia questioned.
Nikolas nudged his chin towards Matthias. “You, me, Shiloh and him.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Adalia saw Matthias shift his stance. “Sure. What do you want to do?”
Nikolas shrugged his shoulders. “Something fun that also involves food?”
Adalia nodded. “Let’s just hang here and we can have dinner outside in the courtyard?”
The thought of her brother and best friend getting to know Matthias better made her heart swell. She made a mental note to thank Nikolas later for the suggestion. She could see that he was trying to make an effort, and it made Adalia proud.
“Sounds amazing. Let me know if you need me to grab anything. I’m off to bed now, though. Night.”
Nikolas entered his room and shut the door behind him. Matthias pushed off the wall he was leaning on and walked towards his makeshift bed. He gathered some clothes from his bag and turned to Adalia. “Do you mind if I bathe?”
“Not at all. I’m going to head to bed now, anyway. I’ve got some reading to catch up on.” Adalia offered him a smile as she rose from the chair.
“Did you cope okay at the palace today?” she asked softly.
Scuffing a foot lightly on the ground, Matthias pondered for a moment. “I guess so. It’s still an odd concept for me. Being here in Lucius. Sleeping on your lounge . . .”
Nodding, Adalia remained planted on the spot. “Well, I think you’re handling it all really great.”
Matthias nodded, and they both just stared at each other for a moment before he finally broke the silence. “Thank you.”
“Have you decided what you will do yet?”
The prince shook his head. “No, but I know I need to soon. I can’t stay here on your lounge forever.”
Smiling, Adalia raised her brow. “I mean . . . maybe not my lounge, but there are empty homes here in Lucius.”
“As tempting as that seems, I’m not sure I could hide here forever, Adalia,” the prince offered her a small smile, and it tugged on the strings of her heart.
“Think about it . . . goodnight beast.”
“Goodnight, little dove.”
Adalia returned his words with a small dip of her head before heading to her room. As she leant against the door, she let out her breath. Something was stirring inside of her that was foreign, and it made her nervous. He hadn’t dismissed the entire idea of staying here in Lucius. Is that what she wanted? Would he ever feel truly accepted if he did?
“So, how has it been with him at your house? Are you okay with leaving him there while you’re gone?” Shiloh asked as they rode along.
Adalia’s mind wandered back to that morning. Matthias had assured her he was more than fine staying home while she went out on patrol, and joked that he wouldn’t destroy it or steal anything.
“Don’t make a fool out of me by causing trouble in the streets of Lucius,” Adalia warned him with a grin.
“I promise you, General, that I will stay on this side of the veil and I won’t barge through the streets like a bull in a china shop,” he said.
Adalia scrunched her nose and smiled. “Hmm, I see you more as the silent sneaking type . . . like a panther or something.”
Matthias lifted a brow. “I’m not the one known for sneaking up on people.”
Blushing, Adalia had poked her tongue at him, which brought a chuckle from the prince. The glorious sound made Adalia’s wings to twitch in response.
“Hellooooo . . . Adalia?” Shiloh prompted.
“Oh sorry, yes it’s fine, he mostly keeps to himself—sitting outside with Bones or playing his veslo in the lounge room. He hasn’t sung, but he’s always writing in that little book of his,” Adalia answered swiftly.
The dark-skinned beauty smiled before lifting her face to the sun. “What are we all going to do this afternoon?”
Adalia shifted in her saddle. “I was thinking we could cook outside in the courtyard. The blossom tree and the string of lights look divine together.”
Shiloh grinned and nodded her head vigorously. “That sounds magical. Count me in! What can I bring?”
“You know that delicious berry wine you showed me? The one with blueberries and mulberries infused into it?” Adalia asked her friend.
Shiloh laughed and gave her a wink. “Say no more Ada. I will bring the berrylicous wine.”
After they’d finished their patrol shift, Shiloh left Adalia at the compound, promising to return later. Adalia headed to her office to fill in some paperwork before speaking with a few of the Lightner soldiers and returning home.
All was quiet as she landed at the front of her house. Surely Matthias wouldn’t have left without telling her? Pushing the door open, she stepped inside. A melodic tune was coming from the courtyard and her body relaxed.
“I’m home,” she called out.
Bones came bounding into the house and leapt onto Adalia, nearly knocking her over. “Hey boy, did you miss me?” She grinned as she ruffled his white fur.
Matthias stepped through the doorway, his wings nearly scraping the top of the door frame. He held his veslo in one hand and his brown leather book in the other.
“You ever going to tell me what you write in that book all the time?” Adalia asked with amusement.
“Are you ever going to tell me what you make with all of that metal?” came the reply.
She half smiled at him, and he held her gaze.
Clearing her throat. “Maybe.”
Matthias took a step towards her, and Adalia drew a breath in. If she moved, the trance would be broken.
If she stayed, she’d reach for him.
“Adalia, I’m sorry—”
Bones began barking at something outside, causing Matthias to pause. His gaze travelled from her face to the sound outside.
“See what he wants—we can talk later,” Adalia said softly.
He nodded and retreated to the courtyard.
Adalia wandered into her room. What could he have possibly wanted to say sorry for? Shaking her head, she entered the bathroom.
The warm bath felt delicious to Adalia’s bones as she soaked in the tub. Shiloh wasn’t arriving for another hour, so she had time to relax before the festivities. Her mind travelled to the dark prince on the other side of her door and the way he held her gaze so intently all the time. She could never quite figure out what he was thinking. Was he regretting everything? Or was he thinking about her lips on his? Heat pooled in her stomach at the memory, and Adalia sunk beneath the water to escape reality for a moment.
Three Lightners and one dark prince sat around the table beneath the string of lights that criss-crossed above their heads. They had charred meats and vegetables, ate buttered rolls that filled an entire basket, and the berry wine Shiloh brought was shared around the table.
“That was incredible. The only thing missing was a giant lobster and maybe some prawns to dip into some creamy lemon mayonnaise.” Nikolas stretched his upper body and leant further into his chair. “I live for these balmy evenings under the stars.”
“Seafood? Since when do we ever eat seafood? You know I don’t like it, nor do I cook with it,” Adalia said, laughing.
“I’m not saying you have to eat it; it just would have been nice. Calm down.” Nikolas winked at her. “Did you make dessert?”
“Do I ever forget dessert?” Adalia sent him a sly smile as she sipped the last of her wine.
“What is it?”
Adalia placed her empty glass down on the table. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
Shiloh giggled to her left. “It will be amazing, no doubt. Matthias, do you like seafood?”
Matthias sipped his wine before he spoke. “I actually don’t. I’ve never been a fan.”
Nikolas shrugged his shoulders. “To each their own, I guess.”
Adalia kept her eyes locked on the blue-eyed prince at the other end of the table. Beneath the cherry blossom shadows, she swore his eyes were sparkling with mischievousness.
Shiloh broke the silence. “How about a round of Dartborne?”
“What’s Dartborne?” the dark prince asked.
Shiloh turned to Matthias. “It’s a game of dagger throwing. You get three daggers each and if you get all three in the centre of the target within thirty seconds, you win a point. At the end of five rounds, whoever has the most points is crowned the winner.”
Matthias looked intrigued. “I only have two blades, though.”
“Adalia can loan you an extra. She has heaps.” Nikolas rose from the table and headed towards a small shed at the far end of the courtyard.
Adalia glared at her brother as he walked away.
“Is there a reason you have so many?” Matthias cocked his head.
“She makes them.” Nikolas answered as he returned from the shed with a wooden board on legs.
“Nik,” Adalia hissed.
One side of Matthias’s mouth lifted in an amused smile and Adalia looked away. “I make a few blades here and there. It’s nothing serious.”
“Stop being so modest, Ada. Your work is incredible. She’s made me one, and Nikolas has two of her designs that he carries on him all the time,” Shiloh piped in.
Adalia felt uncomfortable with all the attention suddenly on her, so she rose from the table and started clearing it. “You go on ahead and play. I’ll get dessert ready.”
Matthias rose from the table too and stacked some plates, heading inside after her. He found her in the kitchen, taking a plate of little round desserts from the cold room. “So, is that what you were doing at the Blazing Anvil the other day? Buying more metals?”
Placing the delicacies on the countertop, Adalia shrugged.
“Are you embarrassed that I know?” the prince prompted.
Could she trust him with parts of her? Would he laugh and make fun of a woman learning a man’s trade?
“No, I’m not embarrassed. It’s just not something I like to announce to the world.” She replied as she plated the desserts.
“Is there a reason you don’t?”
“I guess it’s not a very feminine hobby to have, and some people might find it odd.”
“You’re a soldier. A major.”
“In service of others, yes, but this . . . this is just for me.”
Shifting so he lent against the counter, Matthias folded his arms across his chest, his wings loose against his body. “Well, I think it’s amazing, really.”
Relief washed over her. It’s not that she needed his approval, but Adalia was pleased all the same that he wasn’t deterred by it.
“Thanks and now that you know, you better be careful,” she teased.
Matthias huffed lightly at her words as he leaned forward to see what she was doing. “What are these?”
“Blackberry cheesecake tarts with a white chocolate mirror glaze,” she answered as she placed a single fresh black berry on top of each tart.
“Are you trying to kill me?” Matthias taunted.
Adalia spun around. “No? Why would I do that?”
Matthias chuckled, a deep rumble coming from his chest. “These look so good that if I eat all of them, I might die.”
Adalia grinned as she popped a fresh blackberry into her mouth. “Maybe that’s a good thing.”
The prince pushed off the counter and strolled towards her. “Would you like that? Would you like for me to die, never to return, little dove?” He paused in front of her, towering over her petite frame, blue eyes locked on hers.
“I want you to do whatever you want to do,” Adalia answered him with shaky breath.
Matthias bit his bottom lip as he ran his gaze over her mouth. “You don’t want to know what I want to do.”
“Why don’t I want to know?” Adalia’s voice was a whisper now.
“Because it might frighten you.” He grinned at her wickedly, and Adalia swallowed down the mixture of fear and excitement that his words brought.
“I don’t scare easily…”
Matthias chuckled softly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Clearing her throat, Adalia finished plating up the tarts. “Are you holding up okay? You seemed quiet outside.”
“I’m fine, just taking it all in. In all my years, I’ve never experienced friendships like this, so this is all very new to me.”
“I presumed as someone of your stature you would have many acquaintances in your world. How old are you, anyway?”
“What, you want to know all my secrets right now? . . . what would we have to talk about if I told you them all at once?” Matthias teased.
“Fine, don’t tell me your age, old man, but if you’ve had enough or need to get away, maybe we could have a secret word.” Adalia suggested humorously.
The prince chuckled again. “I’m fine, but thanks for offering.”
“Are we going to play this game or not?” Nikolas called from the courtyard.
“Coming!” Adalia replied.
“I’ll get another blade for you,” she said as she moved out of the kitchen and headed to her room. She needed to distance herself for a moment. His scent and presence mixed together was creating an aura that pulled her in and the thought of him possibly leaving soon was a depressing reminder that all of this teasing and hungry eyes between them wasn’t a good idea. It would only end in heartbreak.
She returned shortly, with a dagger in hand. “This one tracks true.”
Matthias studied it for a moment. “This is a beautiful blade, Adalia. You made this?”
Adalia blushed at the mention of her name. “Well, James at the smelters helps me if I need it, but yes.”
“I’m impressed. Let’s hope it gives me the winning score.” Matthias winked at her and left the room.
“Beast!” she threw after him.
A deep chuckle was his only response.
Needing a few seconds to herself to regain her composure, Adalia gathered four small porcelain plates and some freshly whipped cream in a bowl and placed them on a tray alongside the tarts.
Outside, she found Nikolas and Matthias battling it out with a round of Dartborne. Matthias was winning and Nikolas wasn’t pleased. She grinned; it was about time Nikolas met his match. This interaction between her brother and the prince was friendly, and it gave Adalia hope that, just maybe, if he found friendships and love here in Lucius, the prince would stay. Matthias seemed more and more relaxed as the night went on and the four spent the rest of the evening eating tarts and throwing daggers under the stars.
And Adalia smiled the entire time.