Cerian nods. “I’m sorry for worrying you. We fell asleep stargazing and only just woke.”
Queen Nestraya’s gaze softens as she studies them. She already looks stronger. “Stargazing is a good reason to be late. Especially with the one who holds your heart.” She smiles up at her husband, and Arisanna melts a little at the devotion that passes between them.
“What in the world are you wearing?” Mother asks, ruining the moment.
Arisanna glances at Cerian. She knew Mother would notice. Not that Cerian seems eager to jump to her defense.
“It was cold on the observation deck. Cerian gave me something warmer to wear than what my maid provided.”
Though it seemed impossible, Tharios’s smirk grows larger as he looks at Cerian, but Cerian seems happy to ignore his brother.
“Right. Well. Let’s get you into something else so you don’t keep the elves waiting even longer than they’ve waited already.” Mother ushers Arisanna toward Cerian’s chamber, but King Lorial catches Arisanna’s ear first.
“Take your time, young one. Darlei will be waiting for us whenever we arrive.”
Cerian’s parents offer her warm smiles, and Arisanna smiles in return just as Rominy and Elowyn hurry around the corner, both out of breath.
“Sorry we’re late,” Rominy huffs. “Elowyn couldn’t figure out—” He suddenly blushes and stops speaking.
“It was quite the adventure,” Elowyn finishes for him. She looks gorgeous in one of Arisanna’s gowns. The light blue brings out the silver in the elf princess’s hair. As Elowyn eyes Cerian and Arisanna, a smile grows on her face. “It seems we aren’t the only ones running late.”
“Stars above, Sanna.” Rominy’s brows draw together as he looks Arisanna over. “What are you wearing?”
What Are You Wearing?
Episode 18
Earlierthatmorning...
Elowyn wakes with the sun, a grin slipping across her lips as she stretches beneath the luxurious linens on the scrumptiously soft bed.
This is her bed now. Her home. A niggle of sadness filters into her mood at the thought of everything—and everyone—she’s leaving behind.
Her family, mostly. But she’s known all her life this day would come. This is what she was born for—to stand by the side of the future King of Nunia and ensure long-lasting peace between their kingdoms.
She stays here with Rominy so the people she loves won’t have to fight and perhaps die because of differences they could work to understand rather than fear.
And apparently, Rominy would face a dragon for her, so how bad could it be? She bites her lip at the memory of their conversation last night in his room.
On his bed.
What was she thinking, barging in uninvited like that?
Of course, she had just watched him die. Anyone would be thinking less clearly if a dragon killed their binding partner on their binding night.
Elowyn can scarcely contain her laughter at the absurdity of it all.
With a sigh, she pushes back the covers. She should probably get up so she can see her family before they depart—not that they’d leave without saying goodbye.
She eyes the water closet longingly, but there’s no time for a shower if she’s reading the contraption on her bedside table correctly. She’s used to the water clocks they have at home, but this device seems to be powered by winding the gears with a little turnkey on the back. She’ll have to ask Rominy how it works later.
First, clothes, though. She doesn’t even attempt to hold back her smile as she throws open the door to their closet.
To her surprise, Rominy stands there with a shirt in his hand, and she tries not to gawk at his bare chest. Not that she wasn’t running her hands all over him last night looking for wounded flesh.
Whistling wind, she should have knocked before she flung open the door.
“Elowyn.” Rominy quickly slips the shirt over his head. His heart is pounding again.
