a tight embrace, kissing my neck then tenderly on the lips.
“Are you alright?” he asked when he brought my eyes up to meet his.
I could only nod, exhausted as I placed my head against his shoulder. My body felt raw, unlike any feeling I had
experienced before as we sat peacefully in the water.
Chapter 38
NICHOLAS
After we dried ourselves off, I wrapped Ornella in a warm bathrobe. I carried her into the bedroom and set her gently on
the bed. Her legs were shaky and weak from our first moment together.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she tried desperately to keep her eyes open. We still needed to finish the rites with
the candle ritual, but I understood how tired she already was. A lot of rigorous activity did that to you. I thought it best to let
her rest for a while, we had a few hours until sunrise—plenty of time left.
I pushed open the balcony doors with a glass of wine in my hand. I wrapped my bathrobe around my body tightly thinking I
was going to be hit with cold air, but none arrived. The air was warm, like a summer evening and I guess I had my sister to
thank for that.
There were a few gardeners watering the moon flowers, preparing for tomorrow's festivities. Leaning against the railing, I
couldn’t believe Ornella willingly gave herself to me. I surely would never forget that.
Sipping my drink, I turned slightly back towards the room, as the sheer curtains blew lightly in the wind. Seeing her
sleeping peacefully made me wonder what tomorrow would bring.
She would become my wife.
And unbeknownst to her, I hoped to have her crowned a few weeks afterwards. I hoped every detail went as planned. I may
not be romantic at heart, but I knew Ornella. I knew what she would like.
I just hoped my intel from this evening's meeting was wrong and Ornella’s family hadn’t arrived at our borders, trying to
break through our barrier spells to get in and take her from me.
I’d still not found out how her two friends made it through. Someone in Ornella’s family was hiding something. Either that,
or they had someone who possessed great magic. I wasn’t going to allow them to come here and destroy the life she was just
starting.
Hearing the clatter from out in the gardens, I wondered how deeply Ornella would sleep through the noise as the gardeners
brought through more chairs. I would normally shout at them for making such noise late at night. But for tonight, I wouldn’t.
I wasn’t sure how long I stood outside watching the world around me settle deep into the night, the gardeners leave and
head to their warm beds. When soft arms wrapped around my waist, I placed my hands on top of hers.
