She shrugs her tiny shoulders drowning in her red puffed-sleeve dress. “It’s a holiday. I’m allowed.” Victoria’s eyes skirt to me, and she steps back from Em with a deep curtsy.
“You may rise, Victoria,” I say, and her eyes twinkle as she wrings her hands in front of her, staring up at her queen. “And I brought you something.”
A gasp escapes her small mouth. “What is it?”
“A snowflake.”
Her eyes narrow. “Snowflakes melt.”
“Not this one,” I say, reaching into my pocket for the ornament and handing her the velvet pouch.
She gently pulls the crystal snowflake from it, holding it up by its string. It glimmers in the candlelight, and Victoria’s responding smile fires into my heart. I never had the opportunity to have children before I was turned.
“I want to hang it by my bed.All year,” she says, entranced by the reflecting light.
“You should.”
“I’m going to do it right now,” she says and begins to scurry off before bolting back and colliding with my leg, hugging tightly. “Thank you.”
I chuckle and rub her back. “You’re welcome, honey.”
She races away, and I wink at Em. “Told you she’d like it.”
“You were right,” he laughs and parks himself and his sly grin at a table. Charlotte joins him as cards are dealt. Ben hands them pints, and they get to work while Second and I settle into a quiet corner together, surveying the bar in silence for a while.
“You’re of few words,” Second tells me.
Our eyes connect.
“Just taking it all in.”
He nods, expression somber. “I’m glad we carved out time for this stop.”
“Me too.”
Groans and cheers spout from Emmanuel and Charlotte’s table, and Second and I smile at one another.
I trace my finger along the edge of the table, staring over at my people again as they enjoy the moment. “You and I will either get our shot at the king or we’re going to need to come back for the entire legion and start a war.”
Second crosses his arms over his chest, his chair groaning as he leans back. “I really hope it’s not the latter.”
I huff. “The anticipation is eating me alive.”
“You’re not alone in that.”
Ben saunters over to us, Victoria right behind her father, and she crawls into my lap. I wrap an arm around her, snuggling her close and shoving down the sorrow that I will never hold my own child.
“Word is Lilygate should be on our guard. Apparently, there’s an uprising across the channel,” Ben says.
Second stiffens. “Yeah. We’ve sent reinforcements. Nothing will touch our borders, though.”
The bar owner shifts on his feet. “But just in case, is protocol still the same?”
I look up at Ben. “Yes. Do not alter course. Shelter in Ruthlessness.”
He bows his head. “Thank you, my queen.”
“We need to leave soon,” Second says.
