I’d dreamed of Nolan’s last breath and a beating heart in my belly.
By the time I’ve spent what must have been hours wrestling with my nightmares, Charlie shaking me awake rather aggressively is welcome. “Hey, you’ve slept long enough. All day, actually. You need to get up.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask, sensing the urgency in her voice.
She waves my concern away. “Nothing’s wrong. But if you don’t eat dinner, you’ll get grumpy, and I’m not having that.”
I nod, shoving her off of me playfully, though she’s correct; I am on edge.
“Where’s Michael?” I ask, looking around the room.
“Maddox is watching him,” says Charlie, somewhat elusively.
“I take it you asked him to watch him and he jumped at the chance to do anything for you?” I say, brow raised.
Charlie flits her hand again. “Technically, watching Michael is for you.”
I can’t argue with that, so I go to change out of my nightgown, but Charlie’s already set out a lovely blush gown for me. I hold it up, noticing the way it alternates between golden and pink depending on the light.
“This is nice,” I say, cautiously.
Charlie bounces up and down on her feet, grabbing her own satin evening gown from her overflowing wardrobe. “That’s because tonight, we’re celebrating,” she says.
“Celebrating what?”
Charlie looks at me like I’m an idiot. “You, of course. You’re back. I know you don’t think about things like this, but the crew really did miss you. Besides, now that the Nomad’s gone, we don’t have to do his dirty work anymore. Oh, and not to mention, you saved the captain from eternal slavery to the Sister.”
“Well, it wouldn’t have been eternal,” I say, dimly.
Charlie glares at me. “Just stop being so morbid and put the dress on. We’ll worry about finding a cure for the captain tomorrow. Tonight, we’re just going to focus on being happy.”
Happy. I stare at the gorgeous gown in my arms, and wonder if such dreams are possible. Maybe they are, especially if I only have to be happy for one night.
“Alright, fine,” I say with resignation to Charlie, but it’s with a grin bubbling up from the excitement within me.
She flashes me one of her gorgeous smiles, and it’s not one of winning, but of pure and genuine excitement for me. I shouldn’t let it, but the fact that Charlie thinks I’m worthy of having a night of fun makes me believe perhaps it could be a little bit true.
Charlie helps me into the dress, then sets to work on my cosmetics and hair. It takes her little to no time, and she assures me it’s because I’m beautiful enough as it is that it’s not necessary.
When she’s done, she hands me a mirror, and I can’t help but let out the tiniest of gasps. I look not only beautiful, butinnocent. Happy. The light from the pale blush and golden gown glimmers, highlighting the Mating Mark on my cheek and jaw. I stroke it, thinking of how many times I had to hide it. How often my parents made me feel as though it was something to be ashamed of, something that would keep me from ever being wanted.
Nolan’s portion of the Mark might not exist anymore, but in my mind, my portion still belongs to him. Marks me as his.
In the mirror, I glimpse myself smiling, and it’s a prettier sight than I remembered. Perhaps because this time, it’s real.
Charlie has my hair down, which is a change for me. Typically, I wear it pinned back, out of the way. Wifely, as my mother would say.
But the gentle waves that frame my face tell the story of a young woman with a life ahead of her, not behind her.
“You’re stunning,” says Charlie, and from the hand mirror I glimpse a single tear run down her cheek.
Before I can respond, there’s a knock on the door, but Charlie doesn’t rush to get it. When I offer her a questioning look, she says, “Whoever it is can wait until we’re ready.”
I laugh, but as we are already ready, I head to the door. I whip it open, halfway in the middle of a laugh, when my breath catches.
Because in the doorway is Nolan Astor.
And the man is kneeling.
