“I-I’m not sure,” Wrenley says. “I’ve never seen him before, but I’ve heard stories. He probably figured out you were my mate and wanted to unnerve you.”
I run a hand through my hair. “You’re right. He acts that way with Rosalina, too.”
“Because she’s Keldarion’s mate, and he loves him.”
“Everyone knows that tale, I guess,” I say. “That’s why I assumed Caspian hung around Rosalina at first, just to bother Kel. But he’s been pretty persistent at saving her life. I’m worried it’s something more.”
Wrenley’s breath hitches. “Is Caspian inlovewith her?”
I know Rosalina spent some time with Wrenley at Castletree, but the level of worry for her from my mate surprises me. But that’s how Rosie is, enchanting anyone who spends time with her.
“Don’t worry, her mates won’t let anything happen to her, no matter how obsessed Caspian is.”
“Yes, all her lovely mates and you?” Wrenley stands and smacks the green apple off the bedside table. “She’s still here for you to protect. Everyone will always choose her.”
A million emotions war in her voice, and I don’t know what to say to quell a single one. “Rosalina is part of the plan to take back Summer.” I stand and open the door. “Maybe I should go.”
“What about me, Dayton?” She storms over and places a hand over my seashell necklace. “What aboutmypart of the plan? I can help you break your curse.”
“I know, Wren, I just—”
“Just what? I’m tired of waiting.” She clutches her fingers in my shirt, pushes herself up on her toes, and covers my mouth with hers.
Bile rises in the back of my throat, but I force myself not to pull away. Mate. She’s my mate. She is kind and beautiful and can break my curse.
So, I kiss her back, putting a hand on her waist, the other cupping the back of her neck. I open my mouth slightly to inhale her scent, black cherries and bitter apple. Her fingernails claw into my chest, and I don’t know how much longer I have to keep my lips to hers before Ifeelsomething. I’ve kissed thousands of fae. Why can’t I force myself through this one?
Distant footsteps sound, then a voice. A voice I know. I move to pull away, but Wrenley clutches me even tighter.
“Wrenley, I found these ginger sweets. Thought they might help—”
I break away, gasping. Rosalina stands in the open doorway, hair loose, a pile of candies in her palm.
Wrenley drops back down to the flats of her feet, cheeks flushed, hair mussed.
Plop, plop, plop.The sweets fall from Rosalina’s fingers one by one.
“S-sorry,” Rosalina stammers. “I, uh, I didn’t mean to interrupt—”
“It’s all right.” Wrenley reaches forward and grabs the last ginger candy from Rosalina’s palm. “I’m sure this will help.”
Rosalina glances to me, depths of emotions swirling in her gaze. Hurt, betrayal, sadness.
But what right does she have to feel any of that? She’s been with her mate all night and all morning. Her mate who loves her. Not to mention what she let Cas do to her yesterday. She gets to keep Farron for the rest of her life, and he gets to keep her. They get to go live their perfect little lives together, being Princess and Prince of the fucking Vale.
What right does she have to any sort of sadness?
So, I answer the look with a grin and throw an arm around my mate. “Thanks, Rosalina, she’s feeling better already.”
Then I kick the door shut in her face.
CHAPTER 42
Farron
Everything about the Below makes my hair stand on end, and Caspian’s creepy sister’s room is no different. Though, there is something fascinating about breaking into the Nightingale’s private chambers. Besides the table filled with potions and half-finished concoctions, every other nook and cranny is filled with trinkets. Most are from the surface realms, though there are some oddities from the human world too.
She displays even the simplest objects as if they’re priceless treasures. I pick up a fork engraved with a human sigil, which she had placed on a mirrored tray.
