Leo didn’t seem entirely convinced, but he nodded. “We should go back to the palace.”
She agreed, and they left after petting Daffodil one more time.
Do all couples argue this much before they get married?
44
Safe
Evelyn dreamed that she was trapped in the underground bar during the explosion and someone had blocked the exit. Haydn lurked in one corner and stared at her, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around them. Evelyn choked on the smoke and couldn’t hear herself think over the screams of the injured. Her magic wasn’t working, so she couldn’t do anything about the flames. One by one, bottles of alcohol on the wall burst open from the heat. Glass shattered and the fire spread. Evelyn followed the sound of Damien screaming. He was kneeling on the floor beside Angelina. Her whole body was engulfed in flames and she convulsed like she was having a seizure. Damien’s hands caught on fire while he tried to hold her steady.
“Wake up, Princess.”
Evelyn cried out as she jerked awake. She sat up in bed, half expecting it to be on fire.
Damien rushed toward her. “It was a nightmare.” He brushed her hair back and cupped her face. “You’re safe. I promise.” His skin was warm but not covered in flames.
She put her hands over his. “You’re okay!”
“Of course I am,” he said gently.
“But you weren’t! There was so much fire!”
Understanding crossed over his face. “You were in the bar.”
She nodded, unable to say more. Damien leaned his forehead against hers.
“It’s over, Evelyn,” he soothed. “There’s no fire. We’re safe.”
She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing to match his.
Damien is okay. I didn’t lose him.
After a minute or so, she fell back onto her pillow.
“I’m sorry, Princess,” Damien said, “but I need you to get up now.”
“It’s still dark,” she whined. “What time is it?”
“Almost dawn. You have an early appointment with Gabrielle.”
Evelyn pulled the blanket all the way over her head.
“Don’t be a brat,” Damien warned. “I’ve spent two centuries with younger sisters. You won’t win this fight.”
She heard footsteps, then the sound of running water.
If he dumps me in a cold bath, I will absolutely set him on fire, nightmares be damned.
The plush duvet started moving and she assumed Damien was ripping it off the bed. But the duvet wrapped tightly around her, trapping her inside a warm cocoon. She was lifted by magic and set upright on the floor with only her head and feet visible.
Evelyn glared. “This is your plan? Rolling me in bedding?”
“You have a choice,” Damien said patiently. “I will release you if you agree to take a bath and get dressed. Or you can stay in the blanket and your guards will carry you downstairs.”
“Have you forgotten Gabrielle wants to kill me? You’re going to deposit me behind enemy lines without any way to defend myself?”
“She understands that you are not to be harmed.”
