Daphne must’ve complimented Gianna; Stellan beams at his daughter as if sheisthe sun, and he’s a planet caught in her orbit. Gi’s been living with him in Aurora for the last fivemonths, and they’ve been piecing together their family tree. He’s the mayor there now, although his mission to create an enclave ultimately failed. I can’t say Stellan and I will ever be best friends, but if Gi is happy, so am I.
I spot Wilder twirling Sama on the dance floor. Despite our distant relation, she insists I call her my cousin. Sama and Ravi, having grown up on the run, never had much family, so I agreed to the familiarity. When Alden offered them the choice between staying in Corona or returning to Lua as official residents, they chose to stay, and I invited them to move into Rowan Palace with me.
I smile as Sama giggles, watching Wilder continue to spin her. Though my feet ache, I long to join them.
“I think my sister is in love with your boyfriend,” Ravi notes.
I laugh. Sama is in love with love. Just the other day, I saw her wistfully waving at the postman. “There’s much to love,” I reply.
Ravi takes a sip of his drink. “This is a beautiful soiree. Thank you for inviting me.”
I shrug as Sama throws her head back, laughing at something Wilder said. I hand Ravi my drink. “Hold this for me,” I say as he accepts my flute of sparkling wine.
“What am I supposed to do?” he asks as I walk off.
I smile as I call back, “Tell people you are grateful for them being here.”
“But . . .”
I rush off without a second glance. I’ve been sharing some of my royal duties with Ravi. He’s enjoyed accompanying me on public outings and has even agreed to embark on a royal tour in my place next year to see the country. He doesn’t want to share the throne, citing the disastrous example of Ivah and Aradia, and I believe him. I’m trying out this new thing called trust. It’s hard for me, but I’m slowly getting the hang of it.
I am proud of you, Aradia’s ghost whispers. My smile widens.
As I enter the dance floor, Pallas and Isolde wave at me before they continue counting steps. Isolde—no longer part of my guard but still a friend—is a lethal Blade but a terrible dancer. However, Soter doesn’t seem to care. He watches her from the edge of the dance floor, hands balled at his sides as if fighting with himself about whether to ask to cut in or not.
I have no such affliction.
“Mind if I take over?” I ask my cousin. Sama glances at Wilder before stepping aside.
Wilder’s hand finds mine, his other settling possessively on my waist. A flush creeps across my cheeks as he gently pulls me closer, the space between us dissolving until our chests meet. It’s far too intimate a distance, and I could not care less.
We are young and in love. Nothing else matters.
“Don’t you have important people to talk to you?” he whispers.
Goose bumps prickle my skin from my shoulders to my wrists. “Iamtalking to someone important. I am talking toyou.” Wilder’s smile deepens, a spark igniting in his eyes. An ache settles in my palms, a desperate urge to cup his face and lose myself in a kiss. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?” he asks as I lead him off the dance floor.
“I want some privacy, so I am giving you the grand tour.”
“I like the sound of that.”
Wilder and I leave the recreational room, the unspoken tension thick enough to taste, and step into the grand foyer.
“This is the check-in area for future patients and guests,” I manage, biting my lip to keep the tremor from my voice as Wilder nods, feigning interest in our detailed surroundings.
He leans casually against the sleek, white check-in counter, but his gaze is anything but casual. “Where will residents sleep?” he asks, the question laced with double meaning, his voice low and husky as if confiding a secret. A slow, knowing smile spreads across my face. We both know he’s not really asking about the sleeping arrangements.
“Upstairs. The apartments are quite spacious. Want to see?” I ask, the invitation hanging heavy between us, thick with the promise of something more than just a tour.
He shrugs, but the mischievous glint in his eyes betrays him. “I have some time to kill.”
We stumble up the stairs leading to the future living quarters, our bodies brushing against one another, igniting sharp intakes of breath. I pause, drawing his attention to the artwork displayed on the walls. My mother handpicked each to make the hospital feel more like a home.
“My mother had this one shipped from a gallery in Glaucus,” I say.
Wilder nods as if interested, but he continues to touch me, his fingers trailing along my bare arms, leaving chills in their wake. He presses a light kiss to my shoulder. We pause before another lovely landscape piece of the Aurora Desert.
