ChapterTwenty-Five
Six months later…
“Grandma, when did you get here?” I lean against the side of the couch, watching my grandmother knit a gigantic misshapen blanket from fuzzy white yarn.
“Oh, a few minutes ago. Your mom invited me to dinner before the Yule celebration.”
“Oh, is that tonight?” I knew it was coming up, but Seven and I have been so busy I didn’t realize what day it is. After my conversation with Godmother, River was freed and returned to his life running River’s Tavern. He’s still seeing Eva and Patrick, and although there’s no bargain between them anymore, they’ve successfully kept their tryst a secret. Seven and I are the only ones who know.
Although Seven was freed from Godmother’s hold over him, we still had to deal with the fallout from going public about our relationship at the Gilded Gala and the announcement that Arden was our daughter. At first the commentary was insulting. TheDaily Hatterran headlines likePernicious Pixie Hooks Dragonfly’s Most Desirable BachelorandWill Seven Delaney Come to His Senses about Flighty Affair?But as time went on and we continued to appear in public—affectionately in each other’s company—people became curious about our relationship.
We agreed to an exclusive interview with Fairly Goodweather for theDaily Hatterthat was recorded for their YouTube channel. Over the course of three grueling hours, we answered every question Fairly sent our way. Seven admitted he fell in love with me in grade one when I softened the blow of his mother’s neglect. I admitted that I was wrong to leave the way I did, that Devashire would always be my home, and that in a way, the luckiest day of my life was being captured by FIRE because it brought us back together. The interview was heart-wrenching, and Penelope told me everyone in River’s Tavern cried during the live showing.
After that, things changed for us. Oh, there were still leprechauns who looked down their noses at me, but we had no trouble getting a table for dinner at even the snootiest restaurants in Elderflame. The humans loved our story so much there was even a middle-aged romance author from the Midwest willing to buy the rights to it. We liked her, so we signed it over for free. My parents sell copies in their shop, the Silver Ember, where they also do a booming business in Sophia and Seven action figures.
Our popularity also spilled over into our business venture. Spots in my poker classes fill the moment we open them now. The demand is so great that we’ve added two other poker teachers, another pixie and a satyr. Talks have resumed on allowing fae to take poker lessons and perhaps try a tournament in the future.
As for Arden, she started premed at Elderflame University and dreams of becoming a pediatrician. Graceling tells me she’s at the top of her class. That’s why I’m here tonight and not staying at Seven’s. She’s on her way home for winter break.
“It is tonight,” Grandma says. “And it will be Arden’s first Yule ball. You don’t want to miss that.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it… if she wants to go that is. After everything that happened with Edmund, she might prefer to stay as far away as possible. It took her weeks to get over that evening. She hasn’t dated anyone else since. I think it still holds bad memories for her.”
Grandma’s blue eyes twinkle. “Arden is a strong young woman. Smart as they come. I think you’ll be surprised how thoroughly she’s recovered when she’s home again.”
“I hope so.”
My phone buzzes, and I pull it from the hidden pocket of my plum-colored princess dress. It’s Seven’s favorite color on me, and he plans to meet us tonight. My heart leaps when I see the call is from Arden, and I bring the phone to my ear.
“Mom?” Her voice sounds shaky, like she’s upset.
“What’s going on?”
“I need help. You know how to drive a sleigh, right?” My phone vibrates again, and I see that she’d sent me a picture of a sleigh in line for the Yule parade.
“Gods, Arden. What’s going on?”Fuck, Edmund would have had to rent a sleigh to get the red ribbon he tied on Arden’s wrist. Did no one think to cancel it after he died?
“Can you meet me at the edge of the Winter Wood?” Her voice cracks again, and my heart breaks.
“I’ll be there as fast as I can fly.” I end the call and head for the door.
When I arrive at the Winter Wood, panting and almost crazy with worry, I find Arden waiting for me, dressed in the cobalt princess dress I bought her for graduation. She’s standing beside one of the red sleighs in the lineup, but she doesn’t look upset at all. On the contrary, she’s beaming at me.
“Arden, what is going on?” I ask, more than a little annoyed.
“Get in the sleigh, Mom.” Arden laughs and points at a thick fur blanket in the back.
“Why? Honey, I’ll drive if we can’t get out of this. You can be in the back.”
She takes me by the shoulders and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “I love you, Mom. Just enjoy tonight, okay?”
Seven steps out from the shadows, dressed in a deliciously tailored dark suit. “What Arden means is, tonight I’m going to drive.”
I can’t get my mouth to close as he approaches with a red ribbon in his hand and ties it around my wrist. “Seven?”
“It’s long past time we had the night we should have had all those years ago.” He kisses me gently, then helps me into the back before lifting himself into the driver’s seat.
Arden waves. “I’ll meet you in the square.” She takes off for the center of the park.
