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The three of them—Nicolette, Vienne, and Anniston—were waiting at the exit that led into the garden when I hurried outside to meet them.
Chapter 29
Urban
“Good morning, Urban!” Nicolette greeted, bounding up so she could hook her arm through mine and turn us toward Vienne and Anniston. “Happy Donnelly Day! Do you know the history of our realm? I’d be happy to share it with you.”
I gazed across her dark curls of hair to meet Vienne’s gaze. My one true love didn’t seem too ashamed to look me in the eye today. In fact, she offered me a small, polite, pleased smile and nodded hello. Relieved that she didn’t seem to be experiencing any regret, I looked down at Nicolette as the princess stayed between us to lead the way outside.
“Brentley told me the kingdom’s history, I believe.”
“Oh.” Nicolette’s shoulders fell slightly as if disappointed she couldn’t tell me all about the two men who’d been banished from Lowden and eventually discovered the village of Mandalay.
“But I’ve never heard of Donnelly Day,” I told her.
And just like that, she brightened once more. “You haven’t? Oh, but it’s the best day of the entire year. We celebrate from dawn until midnight. You already missed the village breakfast, but there will be a parade down in Mandalay at noon, and everyone gives each other presents, and Caulder opens the castle and invites everyone to join us, eating a grand dinner tonight that expands through all the halls on the ground floor. It’s simply spectacular. There’ll be music, and dancing, and plays, all kinds of entertainment. Then we’ll finish the evening by watching an explosion of colored sparkles light up the sky.”
I lifted my eyebrows, impressed. “That does sound like a busy day.”
“Busy in the best way possible. Oh!” She turned away from me to address Vienne. “I wanted to show Anniston the goldfish in the brook over there. Do you mind?”
Vienne meaningfully lifted her gaze my way before returning her grateful smile to Nicolette. “Not at all, Princess. Here, take an extra blanket in case she gets chilled.”
Nicolette tossed the blanket over her shoulder and scooped Anniston from Vienne’s arms before sending me a wide smile and then bouncing away with the baby.
I watched her go, feeling as if none of this was very subtle, but I certainly appreciated getting a moment alone with Vienne.
We looked toward each other at the same moment.
When I lifted my eyebrows questioningly, she flushed. “I hope you don’t mind that I asked Nicolette to help us…talk.”
I shook my head. “Not at all. What did you wish to discuss?”
“Last night,” she said slowly. “That wasn’t a dream, was it?”
I held my breath, bracing for her anger. Then I shook my head. “No. It wasn’t.”
She blinked, then tipped her face curiously to the side. “Why did you come to my room?”
I drew out a long, regretful breath. “Because you were in distress. I’m sorry, I couldn’t seem to stop myself. I woke up to your…your frustration, and I was half asleep. I didn’t know if the bearer of dark magic had gotten to you or what. Though, now that I think about it logically, you probably would’ve been feeling fear instead of aggravation, but I was still half asleep and reacted on instinct. I’m sorry, I—”
“I’m not mad at you,” she said, cutting me off and sending me an amused smile. “Not at all. I didn’t mean to make you think I was. I just… I actually wanted to thank you. For helping me with Anniston. So… Thank you.”
She seemed so formal and stiff, I arched a single eyebrow, even as I said, “It was my pleasure.”
She peeked a glance at me, flushed, and quickly turned toward the nearby bubbling brook where Nicolette had knelt down to point into the waters, even though Anniston was still far too young to focus on anything someone was pointing out to her.
“You’ve been trying to stop the dreams from your end, haven’t you?”
I nodded. “I have.”
She turned back to me, sorrow in her eyes. “Well, thank you for that. I know you only did it for my benefit, and I appreciate such consideration.”
My lips tipped up in a curious smile. “You’re welcome. Though I’m sensing a ‘but’ coming for some reason.”
A bemused smile lit her expression. “But…” she said. “I fear it’s made things worse. I think…I think trying to stop them caused a certain tension—possibly even a longing—to form, which pressurized until…until we had a…a…”
“Sex explosion,” I offered with an ornery grin.
