The girls worked in silence for a moment. Shiloh fixed some tea in little ceramic cups in the shape of yellow tulip blossoms and Adalia measured ingredients into her bowl.
“Shall I put some music on?” Shiloh asked as she placed Adalia’s tea down in front of the recipe book.
Adalia nodded vigorously. “Yes, please do. Something that reminds you of sunshine and picking apples in orchards.”
Shilo erupted in laughter as she walked towards the record player that sat upon the wooden cabinet in the lounge room. She searched through a smaller box containing different cylinders until she found the one she was looking for. After she swapped them over, she turned on the player, and the most delightful sound suddenly filled the room.
The dark-skinned beauty swayed her hips to the tune as she headed back into the kitchen to help Adalia, her angelic voice filling the air. Glancing up from her mixing bowl, Adalia smiled at her friend. Not only was Shiloh a brilliant warrior, she was a brilliant singer. Her voice was like a nightingale, and she often sang for the King when he hosted parties or small private dinners.
Joy poured through the windows of Adalia’s home and into the streets as both girls laughed and sang while they baked.
The song ended and a new one started, its melody reminding Adalia of the sound that lived in her mind all day. Lilac wings tucked in tight at the thought of Matthias singing, his voice raw and mixed with a touch of aching heart. Adalia’s body instantly filled with warmth.
Why was she so drawn to him?
Never in her lifetime had she met a man that made her wings twitch at the mere thought of him. Adalia took in a silent breath and hoped Shiloh hadn’t noticed the way they were behaving.
Adalia placed the last brown sugar peach cake into the oven and sighed. “Well, Nikolas is going to be very pleased when he gets home.”
Shiloh grinned and made another tea for Adalia and herself. “Come, we deserve to sit down outside in your courtyard and relax,” she added as she headed out the back door from the kitchen.
The courtyard was fully paved with light brown bricks. A large weeping cherry tree in the far right corner grew tall and grand, its branches full of white blossoms hung low, softly swaying in the breeze.
Adalia followed her friend outside and they both curled up on the large day bed. They sipped their teas and chatted as bees went about their business in the red geraniums lining the wooden fence that wrapped its way around the premises.
Adalia squinted as she looked towards the sun. “I went back through the Veil into Oscuro a few weeks ago.”
Internally, she winced. She was going to keep it a secret, but keeping the interaction with the Prince of Darkness from her best friend was worse than torture itself. Adalia wasn’t certain herself how to navigate the overwhelming thoughts and emotions swirling within her soul, but as she sat with Shiloh, all the angst came pouring out the need to talk about it greater than the need to hide it away.
Shiloh’s eyes flew open, and she nearly choked on her tea as Adalia’s words sunk in. “You did what?”
“I was very careful.” Adalia glanced down at the steaming cup of liquid before her.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“It was fine, I was cautious and look, I’m here, aren’t I?” Adalia looked at her sheepishly.
Shiloh shifted on the daybed, placing her cup down on a small wooden table that cradled a pot of daffodils. “What possessed you to go back into a kingdom that nearly took your life, Ada? Does Nikolas know about this?”
“I haven’t told him, no. But the king knows.”
Adalia turned, so she was facing Shiloh. “I was on patrol, and I heard music coming through the Veil. There was something about the song that drew me in. It was like I was hypnotised. I couldn’t pull away from it.”
“So, you just walked right on into the enemy’s camp and hoped that you would live?” Shiloh looked at her in anguish.
“I know, I know, it was foolish of me, but I had to find out who was creating such beautiful music.” Adalia offered Shiloh a small smile.
“And? Did you find the source?” The question fell from Shiloh’s lips with intent.
Adalia lay back against the daybed, her lilac wings spreading across the fabric surface. “I did.”
“Well? Are you going to tell me, or do I have to pry it out of you?”
Adalia rolled her eyes. “It was the Prince . . . Matthias.”
Shiloh’s eyes became as wide as saucers, and she sat in silence.
“And once I realised it was him, I knew I would be ok. He is the one who let me go, so I figured I would be safe.” Adalia added.
