Gabriella gripped the counter and stared at her reflection in the mirror hanging over the now-empty wash basin.
Dear gods. It had begun.
She was going mad, like her father.
Chapter 6
It took a full quarter of an hour of meditating on the jeweled charms of her mother’s bracelet before Gabriella was satisfied that she’d shored up the controls binding her most dangerous magic. She spent a few more minutes ensuring that her customary serene mask was firmly back in place, then exited the garderobe and made her way out to the private garden on the side of the palace where Khamsin, Wynter, Spring, and Autumn were already seated. Back in Gildenheim, Valik, Wynter’s second-in-command, and Krysti, Khamsin’s young ward, always joined the family for breakfast, but the two had not come to Konumarr. Valik had remained behind to oversee the rebuilding of Wintercraig’s armies after last winter’s battle with the Ice King, and Krysti had stayed with him to serve as Valik’s page and to begin his training as a knight.
“Ah, there you are, darling,” Spring said as Summer took her seat. “I was just explaining that that we were late this morning due to our engagement in... um... foreign relations.” She smiled and poured a cup of jasmine tea from the pot on the table and passed it to Gabriella.
“The Calbernans were awake, were they?” Khamsin lifted her own cup to her lips and regarded Spring and Summer over the rim.
“Surprisingly enough,” Spring said. “And looking none the worse for the lack of sleep or copious amounts of drink they imbibed last night. I understand their leader, Sealord Dilys, has a great fondness for Summerlean fire brandy.” She flicked a smirking glance Summer’s way. Gabriella quickly lifted her cup, pretending to hide a smile.
Wynter regarded his sisters-in-law with narrowed eyes. “Hmm,” he said.
“So”—Khamsin jumped in—“what do you think of the Calbernans now that you’ve spent a little time with them?”
“Well, I don’t know about Spring and Summer, but so far, I’m not disappointed,” Autumn said and launched into a series of amusing anecdotes about her adventures at last night’s welcome reception.
Gabriella let the conversation flow around her as she considered her predicament. Now that she knew she was going mad, she needed to formulate a plan. She couldn’t stay here and put her family in danger. Her magic, unbound, was far too dangerous. And as protective as her sisters were—and Wynter was showing signs of outdoing all three of them!—she couldn’t very well admit the truth to any of them. They would insist on keeping her close, trying to find a way to fix whatever was wrong. She couldn’t allow that.
Thankfully, Dilys Merimydion’s declared lack of interest provided the perfect excuse to make herself scarce. She’d just wait a few days until his preference for Spring and Autumn became too marked to be missed, then a few big, damp-eyed blinks, a little quaver in her voice, a tiny push of Persuasion, and her new brother-in-law would probably jump at the chance to help Gabriella put a little distance between herself and the latest suitor to reject her. As to where she’d go, well, she’d been wanting to travel north to the Skoerr Mountains to see the sun that never set. Once there, she’d Persuade one of the guards Wynter sent along to take her someplace else—someplace remote where her family would never find her and where there was no one around for her to harm.
“Helloooo. Gabriella?”
Summer blinked. Autumn was waving a hand before Summer’s face. “Oh, sorry.” Gabriella blushed. “I was lost in thought.”
“Clearly.” Autumn’s auburn brows rose and her mouth quirked in a teasing grin. “Those Calbernans certainly do wreak havoc on a woman’s concentration.”
Summer smiled serenely, refusing to rise to the bait. “Do they? I hadn’t noticed.”
“Ha! Liar!”
“I confess,” Khamsin said, “if I weren’t a married woman, I’d seriously consider a Calbernan suit. Dilys Merimydion and his men are quite easy on the eye.”
Her husband Wynter stiffened beside her, his brows drawing together. “I’m sitting right here, wife,” he growled.
She smiled and patted his hand. “I know, husband, and you are all that I could ever want or need.” As he started to settle, she added, “But I can still enjoy a nice view.”
He scowled, then abruptly switched to a smile. “Ah, so you are saying I should find a view to enjoy, as well?”
Now it was Storm’s turn to scowl. “I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Wynter laughed, a deep, hearty sound and with startling speed, scooped Storm out of her chair and into his arms. She squealed as he stood.
“Wynter! Are you mad? Put me down this instant!”
“I think not. Clearly, I’ve not seen to you well enough, if you feel the need to admire the view of other men.” He bowed to the Seasons, holding his squirming wife with ease. “Ladies. Enjoy your breakfast.”
The three of them watched in amusement as Wynter Atrialan, the fearsome Winter King, carted off their sister.
“Did you ever think, even once, that we’d ever see a sight like that?” Autumn said as Wynter paused to gaze down at his wife in open adoration, kiss her thoroughly, then disappear into the building.
“Never,” Spring replied.
“I never dreamt he could even be likable,” Autumn confessed. “Let alone lovable. But it’s obvious she loves him.”
