I don’t want to say it loud, but I have a feeling itwillbe like a funeral. I’m not looking forward to it.
Exactly one hour later, an escort comes to take us to Lord Indigo’s trial. Cheryl and I are in the children’s room when they come for us.
I’m sitting in a chair, watching Ollie brush Luna’s fur with unwavering focus. The shadow wolf seems happy with the attention, putting me completely at ease. I get it now why Cheryl agreed to let the children be taken to their own quarters. Astrong sense of protectiveness radiates from the giant wolf. Luna wouldn’t let anyone harm Ollie and Rio.
I glance at Cheryl sitting in a rocking chair, captivated by the sounds the baby in her arms is making. My heart beats faster at the sight, spreading joy through my chest. She looks so happy, it’s easy to pretend our future isn’t uncertain. I never want her to feel anything besides joy and peace, and I’ll kill anyone who tries to hurt her.
“Who’s the most adorable baby in the word?” she asks Rio. “You are.” She tickles the baby’s tummy, and he raises his tiny arms in delight, making cute sounds.
I can’t stop staring, and I bet I have the goofiest expression on my face.
She turns to me and blushes. “What?”
“Nothing.” I smile.
Now that I’ve allowed myself to be true to my feelings, they have taken over. I can’t believe I survived this long without acknowledging that Cheryl is everything I’ve ever wanted or needed.
One of our escorts clears his throat.
“I guess that’s our cue to go,” Cheryl says.
She puts Rio in his crib while I try to get Ollie’s attention to say goodbye. The child is still entertained by Luna when I crouch next to her. “Hey, Ollie, I have to go now, but I’ll be back in a bit, okay?”
“Okay,” she replies without looking at me.
“It seems you’ve lost your place as her favorite,” Cheryl muses.
I stand up and pull her closer to me. “As long as I’m stillyourfavorite, then I’m fine.”
She kisses me softly on the lips. “You’ll always be my favorite.”
Another throat-clearing—louder this time—makes me sigh and step back. “We’re ready. Let’s go.”
Forty-One
CHERYL
ELLNESARI, PRESENT DAY
The castle is huge, so this time, we don’t walk the entire way. Our escorts lead us through twists and turns to a wide hallway where a floating carriage waits for us. It easily fits four people with two bench seats facing each other. The translucent outer material looks like stardust trapped in glass, and the seats are covered in a deep blue velvet.
“Where are we going in that?” Ronan asks.
“The Lunarium is on the other side of the palace. It’s a twenty-minute walk,” one of our escorts replies.
“I’m surprised you’re not making us suffer through walking the wind,” I say.
“Walking the wind isn’t allowed inside the palace. Only the royal family can use it.”
“No one ever breaks the rules?” I arch a brow.
The sheer horror sketched on both escorts’ faces is comical. “Never,” they reply in unison.
To hide my amusement, I jump into the carriage first, ignoring help from the escorts. Ronan follows and sits next to me, making sure our bodies touch. He rests one hand on my lap,and even though he isn’t touching my skin, electric sparks rush through me. I turn my face and find him already staring at me with a grin. Butterflies awaken in my stomach, making me giddy like a teenager. God, I love him so much. I can hardly believe he’s mine. My heart seems to transform into a hummingbird, batting its wings at supersonic speed inside my chest.
Our escorts join us in the carriage, and then we’re on the move, going at least thirty miles an hour. This feels like an amusement park ride for kids, but it’s pleasant nonetheless. The wind blows against my face, which works wonders to offset how hot Ronan is making me.
Too bad the trip doesn’t last long. A couple of minutes later, the carriage slows to a stop, and then we’re standing at the entrance to the Lunarium, which is an atrium the size of a baseball field with a domed ceiling made of glass held in a silver metal frame. Stone tiles in the deepest blue with silver and gold veins cover the entire floor. It’s so shiny, I can see my reflection on it.
