Dayton
The steady, calm waves draw me from sleep. The sun’s warmth caresses my face, and beside me, I hear soft breath and the tinkle of shells.
Slowly, I blink my eyes open and see Farron lying on his stomach, hands busy with seashells and twine.
“Looks like I fell asleep.” I groan, stretching my arms high above my head.
Farron sets down what he’s working on and leans over me until we’re nose to nose. “Did I wear the mighty warrior out?”
He flashes a mischievous grin, and I can think of so many ways to knock it off his face. I settle with grabbing the nape of his neck and pushing his lips against mine, kissing him deeply. “What can I say?” I murmur against his mouth. “It takes a lot of work to satisfy an Autumn Prince.”
Farron gives a deep sigh that has my whole body craving his. I grab his shoulders and roll us until he’s below me on the sand.
Four weeks have passed since his family arrived in the Summer Realm, and the time has changed him. Red gleams in his auburn hair, and his skin has the faintest hint of color. Heblinks up at me, and I can’t help but notice the flash of sadness in his eyes.
I know what it’s about. I roll off him and sit up. We’d spent the day on Captain Katharine’s Isle, this time taking my small skiff instead of swimming. I haven’t seen a kelpie this time, though, so maybe Farron really did lead it home.
It’s sunset now. How long have I slept? The waves roll, cresting with sparkling light, and the sand beneath my fingers shines like pink diamonds.
I run my hand through it and see Farron must have traced patterns with a stick while I slept. “Roses, Fare?”
“Hmm?” He sits up and looks over at me.
I gesture to the myriad of swirling roses drawn in the sand. “Is this your way of hinting you want me to get you flowers?”
He flushes as pink as the setting sun. “They’re my favorite flower. I’ve always thought they were the most beautiful.”
“Roses grow inside of Castletree,” I tell him. “I’ll get you one next time we go.”
“I’ve seen them,” he says, then his voice wavers. “Will you be there for the Rainbow Eclipse Festival?”
He’s nervous because after his visit last summer, I didn’t see him at all.I grab his chin and make him look up at me. “I told you I’d get you a rose, didn’t I?”
He shakes his head before launching at me and crashing our mouths together. The kiss is heady and desperate, and he murmurs, “I wish I didn’t leave tomorrow.”
“I wish you didn’t either.”
And damn if I don’t mean it. If last summer with him had been incredible, this summer has been mind-blowing. And not just the sex—which was fucking euphoric. I’ve never felt as connected with someone as I am with him. We’d spent our days exploring the Summer Realm, mostly the small islands, markets, and vineyards. I’d even taken Fare up the hills while I trainedwith Justus. Turns out Justus isn’t a crotchety old bastard to everyone. In fact, to Fare, he’s as pleasant as an old grandfather. Or maybe Farron has the magic to melt anyone with his sweet smile and soft words.
It still didn’t stop Justus from putting me through the wringer with his training, only I had two people judging me instead of one. And the goats, of course.
Even the boring noble shit we have to do doesn’t seem so bad when Farron’s around. Both my brothers adore him, even if Decimus likes to rough him up a little in typical older brother fashion. Mother is smitten. Farron spent an entire day with her in the library as they looked up possible names for my expected new sister. And my fathers kept giving me strange looks whenever they caught us together, like they know something I don’t.
And maybe they do.
I thought I’d never hear the end of it from Damocles, that he’d be chasing me through the halls with a marriage contract. But instead, he’s been unexpectedly nice to me. He’s barely mentioned anything about it at all.
“Come with me,” Farron breathes against my neck.
“What?” I pull back.
His lip trembles, but something glimmers in his eyes. “Come home to the Autumn Realm with me.”
When I don’t respond, he blinks rapidly, then looks down. “Y-you could say you’re visiting on…on a diplomacy trip.”
My words are achingly slow. “Are you suggesting I live in the Autumn Realm for a while?”
Energy ripples through him, and he runs his fingers through my hair. “I could show you the Shimmering Shroomery, where the mushrooms grow as tall as trees. There’s also Blackwine Forest. The Shrine of Nymphia is so beautiful at sunset. And ifyou consider your library to be big, then wait until you see mine. We have the largest library in all the realms?—”
