Farron pulls away, and we both look up to see Dayton smirking down at us. I slide myself off Farron, knowing he probably wants to see Dayton too.
But all Farron does is tilt his head. “Hi, Day.”
“Hey, Fare,” Dayton replies.
“Wrenley,” Farron says.
“Farron,” Wrenley says.
I look between them, the tension taut, but a high-pitched scream breaks the silence. “ROSALINA!!”
Astrid bounds down the steps, quickly followed by Marigold and Eldy. My own incoherent babbles spill out, and I stumble over the thorn-covered steps to fall into a giant group hug.
“You made it back okay!” I sob. “I’m so glad!”
The last time I’d seen them, I’d changed the three of them into birds so they could escape the Spring Realm.
“Are you kidding? That was fun.” Astrid winks. “Though, I still prefer hopping!”
“I’m grateful for our little winged adventure,” Eldy says, throwing an arm over Marigold. “I’ve still been able to change into a bird, so I’ve been turning every night at the same time Marigold does. It helps me to understand my beloved’s affliction a little more.”
I wipe my tears with the heel of my palm. “How have you all been?”
“Without any of the princes at Castletree, we’ve been keeping ourselves busy,” Marigold says.
“Lots of places have crumbled and need repairing,” Astrid says.
“Lots?”
“It’s not so bad, dearie.” Marigold pats my head.
But from the worried look that passes between them, I can tell it’s not good. Moreso, now that I’ve gotten a moment tobreathe, I can feel Castletree’s wounds as if they were my own. It’s worse than when I returned from Orca Cove and found all of Castletree covered in ice. There’s an almost sweet smell tinging the air, like rot.
“The important thing is that you’re home,” Marigold says. “And now, so are two of the High Princes.”
My chest tightens. Keldarion and Ezryn aren’t here. I make my way down the stairs to stand in a semi-circle where Dayton is filling Farron in about my escape with Delphia and Nori.
Farron pulls me against him, kissing my ear and whispering, “Marigold’s right. Nothing else matters. We’re together now even if it’s not the way you envisioned. I’m sorry about Day, Rosie.”
Ice floods my veins and I step away from him, every nerve suddenly on edge. “What about Dayton?”
Farron’s eyes flash with something feral, and he whirls to Dayton. “You didn’t tell her?”
Dayton opens his mouth then closes it.
“Tell me what?” I snarl.
There’s a fracturing in Dayton’s face as he looks at me. “Rosalina …”
Rosalina. Rosalina? Henevercalls me Rosalina.
“Tell me what?” I choke out.
It’s Wrenley who crosses to Dayton and puts her hand on his chest. “That Dayton and I are mates.”
CHAPTER 16
Farron
