We retraced our route. Like The Phantom Wild in Summer, this enclave welcomed each of us. Maybe it sensed kindreds. Nicu, Briar, and Flare would certainly put it that way.
Aire too.
Our clan had discovered historic signs of a diverse community here. Ages ago, the enclave accepted all people, as long as they respected their environment. Like Jeryn and Flare’s rainforest ruins, this proved nature wasn’t biased. It treated everyone with impartiality, regardless of whether they had conditions like Nicu, Jeryn, or Mama.
Spring showed indications of this as well, thanks to Eliot, Cadence, Posy, and Vale. As ambassadors to their former Season, they discovered evidence of the same historic diversity in the Wildflower Forest while visiting Nicu’s grandmother, Jinny.
As for Winter, maybe a similar place lay hidden somewhere. Thinking of that nation returned me to Lyrik. Asidefrom the pulsating lanterns, no other remnants of the alchemist remained. He’d packed all his brews, leaving his chamber empty.
After Nicu’s final moments with the rogue, he and his parents ensconced themselves in his cabin for a private reunion, along with the queen. Even so, Briar surveyed Nicu from across the divide, like Poet had been routinely doing. Although their son tried to contain it from them, they knew their child. Same as Avalea, the jester and princess sensed something was wrong, if not the particulars or parties involved. I wanted to help, to shed light on the issue, but it wasn’t my place or Aire’s.
Likewise, it wasn’t on Poet or Briar’s agenda to ask. They made it no secret to Nicu, how they were always there to listen. But the lad needed to make his own decisions about what to confide or hold back. Until he felt ready, the pair simply waited for their son to approach them.
“He never meant to put you through all that worry,” I insisted. “Nicu adores you both more than anything.”
While Nicu swept alongside Cadence, unequivocal devotion claimed Briar’s profile. “Poet and I still think of him as our little fae boy. We have a history of protecting him and will never stop. But he’s fully grown and responsible for his choices. That’s his right. It’s what we’ve been fighting for.” She swallowed. “For him to lead his own free life.”
Amusement brightened her features. “And it’s no wonder, he inherited rebellion from us.”
We laughed in spite of ourselves. When the mirth ebbed, Briar returned her attention to me. “What you did to keep your mother safe. The risk you took. I would have done the same for anyone I love. Poet would as well.” Her eyebrows arched. “And Aire.”
My pulse thudded. “He always has.”
With my crimes forgiven and the premonition at rest, nothing stood in our way. Yet despite that passionate hour inthe chapel shrine, when Aire knighted and fucked me until I shouted, we hadn’t broached the subject of where things went from here.
Briar assessed my features. Sensing my apprehension, the princess urged, “I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. And I daresay the same in your case. Sometimes, there’s no solid plan in the beginning. Sometimes, you have to leap first. Love isn’t about guarantees; it’s about trust.”
A grateful smile wreathed across my lips. We savored this moment, with our hands clasping.
“Youuu-whooo!” a woman sang in a naughty tenor.
Three figures skipped into view. Posy, Vale, and Cadence came bearing apples. The latter must have parted ways with Nicu, because he now sat with Avalea on the bench, the queen murmuring privately with him.
Cadence munched on her fruit and spoke around a mouthful. “Snack break. Time for gossip. What are we talking about?”
“That’s code for tell us every filthy spy-smut detail about this mission,” Posy chirped. “Now that we’re no longer hating on you for the betrayal, questions abound.”
Vale wiped her palms in anticipatory glee. “Compared to wielding his swords, does Aire have as much endurance with other parts of his anatomy?”
Cadence went for a blunter angle. “Is his cock just as long as—”
“Do not ask that,” Briar commanded them with a scowl, then to me, “And do not answer.”
Like an enabler, I smirked. Shyness wasn’t my forte, but I would spare Briar the headache and oblige these ladies later. At least, to an extent. Aire was private about us, and I felt the same.
But then, the First Knight wouldn’t expect any different with these Spring females, given their habit of grilling membersof this clan about their sexual exploits. They did the same to Jeryn and Flare after those two survived their shipwreck, to say nothing of the tidbits they eventually got out of Briar about Poet’s immortal bedroom skills.
Nonetheless, Posy and Vale pouted with mirth.
Cadence sulked, “Booooo.”
Their reactions wrangled a chuckle from Briar. “As to the real matter, I was about to impress something important upon Aspen.”
“Ohh,” Posy gasped. “Our princess is making her Scheming Face.”
“We like that one,” Vale agreed. “Tell us it involves breaking more laws.”
“And balls,” Cadence petitioned. “Preferably Summer’s.”
