Page 94 of A Kingdom of Magic and Rain

“This room is nothing short of magical. Thank you for showing it to me.” When I turned around from the window, he had moved closer to me.

“It’s my pleasure.” If he was disappointed by my lack of answers, he didn’t show it. “I must leave now, but you’re welcome to stay. Before I go, I have something of yours.”

He pulled my wedding ring out of his pocket. My heart dropped as an icy splash of regret washed over my face. I lifted my gaze to his in an attempt to glean what he was feeling. Deep shadows of hurt crawled behind his eyes.

“I can’t fathom the reason why Finnian would have your ring,” he said. “But I would like to return it to you if you want it.”

I swallowed the sharp shards of shame in my throat. “Yes, please. I do want it.”

A subtle ripple of awareness swept through me when his fingers brushed mine. He gently lifted my left hand and slid the ring back in place, a faint exhale of relief leaving both of us at the same moment.

“I hope that you will never want to part with it again.” He swiped his thumb over my knuckles before letting go of my hand.

“I won’t.” The promise was easy to make because I didn’t want to be separated from the ring, feeling more at peace with it around my finger.

“I have to go. Enjoy your day and think about my offer to show you the kingdom.”

He walked out then, leaving me alone in the room of my dreams. The room I knew he had created just for me.

I spent most of my day splitting my time between the art room and the library. Lady May did collect me for training, interrupting my solitary bliss, but after she had released me, I was quick to return to my new sanctuary.

Another interruption occurred in the afternoon when my brother’s voice drifted from the entrance to the art room. “Em? Thea said I might find you in here.”

“Bastian!” I abandoned the painting I was working on and ran to him as he walked in. Only a few days had passed since I had last seen him, but it felt like ages. Here in Aubrielle, I was in another world, cut off from everyone I held dear. Well, almost everyone… “What are you doing here?” I asked him after we had embraced.

“Miri brought me, so she and I could spend some time together. She wants to show me the area.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful! It’s good to see you.” I smiled at him.

“You, too! How have you been? Have you forgiven Adrian yet?” His tone was light-hearted and teasing.

I wished I had the same lightness about me, but I didn’t. “No. It’s only been a few days.”

“True, but you also had two weeks before then.”

“Still not nearly long enough to forgive him for his betrayal.”

“Maybe not, but you don’t want to miss out on what little time you have together.”

“Little time? We have our whole lives.”

“And your life span is a fraction of his. If I were you, I wouldn’t want to waste another second. That’s what I plan to do with Miri—spend as much time with her as humanly possible.”

My ears perked up. “What are you planning?”

Sebastian quickly looked around, even though it was only he and I in the room. “I’m going to propose,” he said low. When I squealed in excitement, he shushed me, barely stifling a laugh. “Be quiet. It’s a secret.”

“Have you talked to Father?”

“I have. He approves. His only stipulation is that I wait until my twentieth birthday to get married.”

“That’s only a few months from now,” I pointed out, my excitement growing. My little brother was getting married. I had no doubt that Miri would say ‘yes’. “When are you going to propose?”

“Soon, but first I need Lady May’s blessing. Do you know where I can find her?”

“I don’t, but when she and I meet for a training session tomorrow, I can ask her to glimmer to Claireborne Palace to find you.”

“That would be great, thank you.”