“Or you could just stand there in the doorway,” I teased.
I stepped aside and ushered the King inside. My heart sang for my husband as Emmerick entered.
Chapter 51
Emmerick
The gaudy hue of all the golden fixtures and chandeliers in the hall contrasted harshly with the black marble tile. I’d need to do something about it...
This needed to be home.
I couldn’t hide out at Lamoreaux forever, despite its appeal. Even if Elsedora enjoyed me in her space, I was uncertain how to act around her.
Every moment left me wanting more nights falling asleep by her side, more quiet conversations by the fire, justmore.
Coming on too strong would only scare her off, but it grew harder not to admit my dreams to her.
I’d woken long before the sun to find Elsedora’s arm strung across me. It had taken all of my restraint not to pull her to me and kiss her awake. A man could get used to such a sight in the morning; her auburn hair had been in disarray, and her sleep-filled expression was so at peace. But when dawn broke, only a note lay in her place.
How long would it take her to quit running? Would she ever?
The Helos ballroom buzzed with activity.
White linens threw themselves across tabletops, charmed to set up on their own. Red roses stuck out from the centerpieces that were placed atop each table.
A domed glass ceiling spanned above us, encased with lines of iron that nearly matched the darkening gray skies. The burgundy stained glass was beautiful, but the metal frame made me feel imprisoned here. Flakes of snow collected on the panes, threatening to obscure the clouds.
A row of Lynx stood watch at each entry point, as though waiting for my orders.
The same feline creatures had once attacked me and Asterie in the woods. Now they responded to my commands like trained house cats.
“Uh, run along. Protect the perimeter. Benice,” I said, with a wave of my hand. Though ghastly to look at, they made loyal guards. I’d get used to them; there was no alternative.
The Lynx chattered, whiskers on their rodent-like noses wiggling as they filed out of the room.
I let out a deep sigh and rocked from foot to foot. Maybe I had time for a run. The snow taunting me through the stained glass above told meno.
“Ah—glad you found your ‘kingly finery’ as Aunt El called it when she picked it out,” Lark piped up from behind me. I spun to greet her.
“She picked this?” I asked, attempting to curb my surprise.
The Princess smirked. “Seems she had a vision for how you might look in it. Rather smartly groomed. She chose well.”
I hummed in agreement and scratched at my collar. The black jacket fit perfectly, but the threaded gold seams itched.Of course the seams were gold.
The same thread embroidered the North Corridor’s sun crest across my back. El had chosen a lighter pair of gray dress breeches and brown shoes, which softened the sharpness of the look.
“Thank you for being kind to Dritan,” she said. Her curls were pinned up off her nape, but she still wore a casual tunic and loose breeches.
My brow furrowed. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
She shrugged. “I think he’s always assumed you might be skeptical or unwilling to accept him. He went so long not knowing you… but he would like to.”
We would fix this with small talk over dinner until we could find deeper ground to dig up all our buried memories and share them.
I would know my son. If he’d let me.
“Well… that’s a shared sentiment,” I said. “I look forward to changing that.”
