“What?” I shout back as he pulls me into a hug.
“I’m glad to see you back. And alive. You know, all that stuff, but guess what?Guesswhat?”
My head practically spins with the massive change in tone as Alaric steps back and watches my friend who… cannot read a room to save his life. But I guess pushing him down onto the rocks below seems like an overreaction to interrupting our private moment.
“What?” I ask him dryly.
His eyes sparkle as he leans in closer. “Your wedding dress is finished! I saw it. I don’t know anything about dresses, but it wowed even me. You’re going to be so excited! Come on! Come on! They said it’s time for you to try it on.”
I glance at Alaric.
He grins, drawing his shoulders back, all prim and proper once more. “Go ahead. We can finish this… discussion later.”
A shiver rolls down my spine.Yeah, we definitely have something to finish.
Alaric leans down and grabs one of the pretty white flowers growing in between the rocks. He slides it gently into my hair, his eyes never leaving mine. “I can’t wait to see you in your wedding dress.”
“Hopefully, I won’t disappoint.”
Arthur grabs my hand and starts dragging me back toward the academy entrance, chattering away about all the wedding preparations that have been taking place since I left, but my gaze is glued to Alaric. He surprised me today. In a really great way.
I have a feeling this whole marriage will be full of surprises.
12
Gareth
I’d checkedmy outfit twelve times. Twelve damn times. I don’t remember ever before being so concerned with what I was wearing, but then, I’ve never been in competition with other men for a woman’s heart. Not just any woman’s, but my soon-to-be-bride’s.
Stopping at her room, I take a deep breath, knowing full well that Sevrin will be there. Like a dog, marking his fucking territory. He’ll sleep wrapped around her, while the rest of us just have to lay on our cold beds without a beautiful woman to hold. Still, I’d told Harper I’d give the Hollowborn a chance, so I’ll keep my word and give the motherfucker a chance.
Who says I can’t be flexible?
Knocking on the door, I wait a painfully long time, but no one answers. So, I open the door, only to find that Harper and the Hollowborn are already gone. Of course they’re already gone. I close the door and hurry down the hall, making a beeline for my father’s private dining room.
I hadn’t been surprised when my father invited all of us to dine with him tonight. He was, after all, trying to do everything in his power to make this treaty work. I just… I guess I hadn’t fully prepared myself yet to share space with the Hollowborn. He felt like a problem for another day, except my father had made that day today.
Someone nearly runs into me from another hallway. I step back, hand on the hilt on my sword, and see Lucien dressed in dark grey and a signature green shirt. He says they make his eyes “pop,” and he’s not wrong. His muscles are tight, and his eyes are far away until they land on me. Then he smiles. Which is strange. My brothers and I have smiled more at each other since Harper came than our entire lives.
“Running late?” he asks.
“I didn’t think I was. Until I didn’t find Harper in her room.”
His grin widens. “Well, I try to be a little fashionably late. You want all eyes on you when you enter a room, afterall.”
I roll my eyes. “You sound like a woman.”
“What? Men can’t be proud to look good?”
“No,” I answer as I continue through the academy grounds.
Lucien matches my stride. “So, Alaric said you and Harper finally banged?”
I cast an irritated glance his way. “Can nothing be private with you two?”
“Not when Alaric and I are sporting hard-ons while waves of pleasure are washing over our bodies, and we know exactly where those feelings are coming from.”
“Waves of pleasure, huh?” I mutter.
