Nash’s mouth brushes my ear. “I’ll distract you.”
I shiver. “I’m all for distractions, but I must insist on visiting the bathroom.”
Hart and Malachi leap off their horses and lift me off mine. “Where can I go?” I ask the sprites. I don’t want to pee in their pretty flower beds. They form a line and usher me toward a thick bush. I glance over my shoulder at Nash, who is a step behind me. “I can’t go with you watching.”
“Tough.”
I park my hands on my hips and raise my chin. “I exercise my right to use the bathroom in peace.”
He folds his arms and jerks his head at the bush. “If I can’t see your head, I’m coming in after you.”
“Pushy freaking knight.” I duck inside, swatting at the branches before crouching and relieving myself. Why is it only a dribble? I thought it would be a waterfall of epic proportions with how much my bladder was protesting.
Blissfully empty and in more of a sprite-negotiating mood, I stride into the clearing with my knights and broom in tow. I point to my crown of flowers. “I cannot marry, for not all my heart is present. I hope you understand.”
They chatter in high tones, which makes me wince.
One drifts closer. “Every wedding needs a dance,” the sprite insists. “Or the forest will be offended.”
“Can the forest be… un-offended?” I ask.
She considers this. “One dance. Then you may go.”
Nash leans closer. “We should just leave.”
A thorny vine slithers across the path behind us, sealing it shut with a soft, decisive rustle.
Hart sighs. “Or we dance.”
Malachi turns to me. “Pick one.”
I grin. “Oh, we’re dancing.”
The sprites drag me into the center of a glowing circle while they clap and sing. Nash spins me once, looking like he’d rather fight an army than attend a fairy wedding. Malachi steps in next, nimble and graceful. Hart follows, steady and warm.
The sprites squeal in delight.
“This is the most romantic chaos we’ve had in years,” one whispers.
“Write that down,” another replies. “We’ll tell the mushrooms.”
“Please don’t tell the mushrooms,” Hart mutters.
The dance ends with a flourish, and the sprites clap, satisfied. The flowery crown crumbles into harmless petals around my feet.
“Thank you, bride-not-bride,” the lead sprite says. “The forest is pleased.” The vines withdraw, reopening the path. Before we leave, she floats close and whispers, “The dragon you seek is hungry.”
“Hungry, how?” I ask, glad I sent the capons with Gwyneth. I’m not sure we can come back from Theo devouring my pets.
But the sprites are already dissolving into drifting sparks, leaving my question dangling in the air like the Cheshire Cat’s smile.
Chapter Ten
Daphne
“How long until we stop for snacks?” I wonder.
Nash huffs against my neck. I glance over my shoulder, reveling in the way his body fits against mine while riding this horse. It’s my favorite part of the journey, and I will take any and all opportunities to rub against my knights, like a cat scenting her mate.
