Mina slips from her perch on the couch and heads towards the fireplace. “Don’t even think about jumping the bonfire with your wings out tomorrow.”
My laughter rings through the quiet library.
31
MIDSOMMAR
Drums beat slowly at first before gradually building.
I hop and twirl around the large bonfire erected on the black sand of the bay. Mathilda is holding my right hand while Mina is grasping my left. We laugh at my lack of rhythm, and the happiness of this moment is seared into my mind.
I am blissfully happy.
My lilac gown flows out around me with my movements, and the salty breeze of the bay soothes the heat away from the close flames.
Like Mina suggested, my wings are vanished away.
The drums come to a stop, and we walk back to the table where Tane, Evander, and Lachlan are sitting. The men have been drinking most of the afternoon already and give us lazy grins when we approach. Tane pulls Mathilda onto his lap when she gets within reach, and I swear her eyes become as bright as the flames of the bonfire.
Lachlan grasps my hand and pulls me into the chair next to him. His familiar scent envelops me, and thoughts of my own future with him begin swirling in my mind.
“I got ye a slice of cake.” He grins at me, scooting a slice of the spongy, fruit-filled cake my way. “I even remembered to put lots of whipped cream on it,” he adds, scooping a dollop of the whipped cream onto his finger before plunking it lightly onto my nose.
My mouth drops open in surprise.
Mina and Evander share a quiet laugh at my expense. But Mathilda and Tane are too wrapped up in their own conversation to even realize what happened.
“Very funny. You know I can remove you from your position for such atrocious behavior, correct?”
Lachlan grins fiendishly at me. “But then you’d miss me too much.”
He’s not wrong.
With the whipped cream still on my nose and the wine I consumed simmering in my veins, I get an even better idea. I rub my nose on his neck, smearing all the sugary goodness onto his skin. Lachlan freezes, and his nostrils flare before a low groan sounds at the back of his throat.
I quietly whisper in his ear, “I’m saving it for later.”
I hop up and dash out of his reach.
I walk past the large table full of food and to the smaller table that is filled with goblets of wine and pluck one from the table. There are smaller tables set up throughout the bay for people to gather and eat. Women pass out flower crowns, and the men gulp down their mead.
It’s a true celebration of the power of light over darkness.
The longest day of the year.
My chest feels light, and my breathing is easy. Men jump over the bonfire for good luck, and the maypole gleams brightly in the light of the flames.
A small child with light-blonde pigtails toddles up to me with a flower crown in her hands.
“My queen,” she whispers shyly, holding the crown up to me.
A moment of a very similar instance weeks ago flashes in my mind, but no feelings of dread haunt me this time.
I smile broadly at the little girl and kneel in front of her. She places the crown upon my brow and runs away, darting back into the crowd.
I stand and realize the celebration has gone quiet, no drums beat, no people speak, and all heads are turned, looking at me.
Lachlan chuckles wickedly behind me, and I whirl around to find him smiling down at me. “Ye just accepted the maiden crown, Key.”
