Page 39 of Dragon King’s Duty Bride

Her heart stuttered as she turned toward the source.

Orion stood a little ways off, near the treeline. He looked older, of course. His hair was longer and tied loosely at the nape of his neck, but he held the flute the same way with his eyes half-closed and his body swaying slightly with the melody. He hadn’t seen her yet and played with his entire heart.

He wandered closer, lost in the music, and jumped when his eyes cracked open and he saw her standing there. He lowered the instrument and blinked a few times to make sure she was real.

“Sia?” His voice carried surprise and something warmer.

She felt heat rush to her face. “You’re still here.”

A crooked smile tugged at his mouth. “Where else would I go?” He pulled her into a deep hug. “Welcome back, my friend.”

They spoke awkwardly at first. He told her he’d stayed in the area and taught music at the elementary school and played at small local events.

“And you still come back here?” Sia waved her hand around.

“This place is special. It always has been.”

“Magic in the meadow,” she laughed as she remembered the name she had dubbed their place.

“You were the magic, Sia. I just came to the meadow.”

They both sat for a moment in silence. Finally, he nudged her with his knee. “So tell me what the famous Sia has been up to. Any art gallery shows yet?”

She told him, carefully, that she was married and had children. And that she had stopped painting.

He nodded, though something flickered in his gaze. “I heard about Dian, but I missed you at the funeral, and I know you married the king.” He poked gently at her shoulder. “That makes you my queen.”

She laughed even as her face heated up again. “And don’t you forget it.”

“I had such a crush on you,” he admitted, almost sheepishly. “Back then. I loved playing for you.”

The words hung between them, not heavy but honest.

“I never knew that.” Sia only felt a gentle ache for the girl she had been. When she was younger, such a confession might have sent her heart racing, but she knew that she had never seen Orion in that light.

“You were always kind,” she said. “I’m glad you’re still playing.”

Orion caught her hint to let it go. He hopped up and spun around. “So, tell me why you quit your dreams.”

She didn’t really have an answer that said anything other than duty. Luckily, he didn’t push.

When she returned to her parents, they had the girls out in the barn teaching them about the animals. She took the opportunity to visit the garage. A small workroom was off to the side, built for her by her father so that her art supplies didn’t clutter up the house.

Sure enough, they were all still where she had left them. She picked up a brush and twirled it around, her fingers remembering the feel and texture of the dried paint on the handle. The carry case she had used to transport her materials to the meadow sat right in its spot, and the desire to paint reared up stronger than she had anticipated.

After that, she returned to the clearing almost daily. It gave the girls quality time with their grandparents, and it gave her peace that she hoped carried over when they returned to the castle.

Sometimes Orion would be there. Sometimes not. When he was, he played and she listened. They spoke of ordinary things like stories of his students or local gossip.

She did not encourage him or give him any expectations. She didn’t step closer to him than necessary and always maintained personal space. But she lingered, mostly for the friendship that she had so sorely missed since Dian’s death.

At home, her parents watched her carefully. They adored the girls. Her mother braided their hair each morning and her father built them all sorts of furniture and houses for their dolls. The house rang with laughter.

Her parents caught her out in the yard one evening as the girls slept and the stars sparkled overhead. The stars overhead glittered like diamonds, but she knew that they weren’t coming out to discuss the beauty of the night.

“It’s good to have you here,” her father said gently. “But be careful, Sia. You can’t drift backwards into old habits.”

Her mother nodded. “You must remember that this is your old life. It’s no longer your home. Spending all your time with Orion is not proper.”