Sunlight shines through the open window in my bedroom and warms my face. My first night in our rebel hideout felt like the first night of restorative sleep I’ve received since coming to Idirhalla. Birds chirp merrily outside, and my mom’s smiling face gazes down at me from above the mantle. It feels like at any moment she could sweep through the door and tell me breakfast is ready.
Every square inch of this place sings of my mother. My body feels whole, my mind feels quiet, contented even, and I’m excited about today’s challenge. I slowly ease myself up, propping against a pillow, when Mina barges in.
“I’m here!” she squeals, hurtling across the room. Her wings vanish a split second before she throws herself on my bed. I giggle as she flops herself on her side. “It was a race, and I beat Evander,” she snickers.
“Did he even stand a chance?” I ask, admiring the flush of her cheeks.
“Not even a little bit,” she smirks.
There’s a knock on the open door, and Mathilda peeks her head in. “I thought I heard you two in here.”
I pat the empty side of the bed, smiling up at her. “There’s room for you, too.”
Mathilda waltzes across the room, already dressed for the day in her leathers, but her wings are nowhere in sight as she snuggles down onto the bed with us. “Any trouble on the way here?” she asks Mina.
“None at all, but the rumor is that Lena has fled the capital after attacking Odessa’s mate in a fit of jealousy.” She rolls her eyes.
I gawk at them both. “Are you serious?”
They laugh loudly, but Mathilda speaks up, “I don’t understand why you’re surprised. Of course, they would spin something in their favor.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I know, but still,” I look between both of them, “gross.” Mina throws her head back and laughs, quickly followed by me and Mathilda.
There’s another knock on my door, and we all share a look. “Come in!” I call.
Lachlan pushes his way through the door, a tray full of food balanced in one hand. He pauses as he takes all of us in, sprawled across my bed.
“Uh, ladies,” he nods, “Key, I brought ye breakfast. Actions and all that,” he smirks.
The sight of him, all muscular lines clad in leather with breakfast in hand, has me fighting the urge to jump up and wrap my arms around him.
Mathilda looks at me and my budding smile before glaring at Lachlan. “Just leave it on the table.”
He purses his lips, annoyance flashes across his face, but he does as she instructs. He halts at the threshold before leaving. “Agatha wants to meet with ye in the throne room, so I’ll be right outside when you’re ready.”
“Thank you,” I call to him, but the door is already shut.
Mathilda frowns at the smile still on my face. “You can’t beserious,” she huffs.
Mina glances between us. “What’s going on? What did I miss?”
Mathilda stares me down, prompting me to fill Mina in like I did for her last night. I twirl a lock of hair around my finger, avoiding her eyes.
She groans with annoyance. “Lena here has had a crush on Lachlan her entire life. Her whole life, during which she didn’t know about the existence of this place, but Lachlan did.” She gives me a look again before glancing back at Mina. “Then he basically tricks her into coming here, and essentially betrays her.” I open my mouth to interject, but she cuts me off. “Yeah, yeah, he brought you here for the betterment of the realm and to protect you, but still, he knew, and he didn’t tell you.”
I stare down at my fingers, gently pulling at the threads of the burgundy duvet, and to my surprise, Mina pipes up. “So he didn’t handle it as he should have, but did he apologize?”
“Yes.”
“And did he mean it?”
“And then some,” I grumble, glaring at Mathilda.
“Then forgive him.”
My eyes flick to hers, but her eyes bounce between mine and Mathilda’s.
She sits up, clearing her throat. “Once is a mistake, twice is a choice, and three times, well, that’s just who they are at that point.”
