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She couldn’t wait any longer.
“Come with me?” she breathed. “There is something I want to give you.”
“Oh?” He slowly dropped her hand as if reluctant to part with her. “Then I’ll grab Maisy—”
“No, just you.”
His throat bobbed up and down as he swallowed. Finally, he nodded. “Leave the children with Bastien?”
A nervous chuckle escaped her mouth. “I suppose we don’t have much choice, do we?”
“It’s either him or your father. And I certainly wouldn’t trust them with Ashryn.” The next breath from his mouth trembled. “I’ll be right back.”
She watched from the corner of her eye as he left Eva and Maisy with Bastien, but not without a smirk from her brother’s lips. Oh, she could wring her brother’s neck! But anxiety won as she ran the handle of her basket through her fingers again and again until Joel returned. Silently, they walked side by side away from the celebrations, deeper into the forest, and away from prying eyes.
In the place of glowing crystals, shimmering silver roses lit their way, each blossoming fully beneath the moonlight. Their sweet fragrance eased her nerves, but only slightly. Because Joel still didn’t speak. Silence followed in each footstep.
He rubbed his thumb over his knuckles, a habit that betrayed his own nerves.
Her grip tightened on the basket as she desperately searched for something to say. Courting was not in her immediate expertise. Such a long time had passed since she’d last indulged in courtship.
“Did I do something wrong?” Joel blurted suddenly. “I swear I’ll try to do better. And—”
“Joel, no!” She touched his elbow reassuringly. “You have done nothing wrong. I just have so much to say. I’m trying to figure out how to begin.”
One arm holding the basket and the other curling around her torso, she stared at the snowy path ahead rather than at him. “I apologize for being insensitive all those years ago. I wish I had known how you felt.”
He shrugged, hands in his pockets. Several strands of hair fell over his eyes as if to shield his youthful uncertainty. “I wasn’t much to look at back then. Can’t exactly compete with a prince either.”
She stopped suddenly and turned to face him. The sorrow in his eyes struck an arrow through her heart. She squeezed his hand. “Calle is a good man. But I’m glad it is you standing here with me. You have been the best father and husband. Better than I could have hoped for. And…and…” Her cheeks heated as she glanced at her feet but then bravely peeked up at him. “You are quite nice to look at. You always have been. But more so now.”
Without another word, she wrapped her free arm around his waist and rested her head against his chest. When he brought his arms around her and pulled her more securely against him, the warmth of safety burned bright within her. The last time she’d felt truly safe had been so long ago. Many, many years ago.
His heart beat fast against her ear, hers beating in tandem. A beautiful, synchronized melody of loss, heartbreak, and love.
A pleasant shudder ran through her as he stroked her hair and murmured against the top of her head. “Hair like shimmering gold. Eyes that rival the brightest summer skies. A heart made of the strongest, most resilient glass. I could write a thousand odes to you, Nyana. You are beautiful.”
Squeezing her eyes shut, she focused on keeping her eyes dry when all she wanted was to weep with gratitude. But her gift would prove a better reflection of her feelings than her tears.
“What did you want to give me?” he asked after a long, beautiful minute of his warm embrace. “If it wasn’t a good tongue thrashing.”
“Another kind of tongue thrashing doesn’t sound too bad.” Her eyes snapped wide open, and she inhaled sharply. The searing heat of embarrassment drowned her ears in fire. She pulled away from him, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Oh my. I can’t believe I said that out loud.”
Joel laughed, his eyes sparkling mischievously. “If you planned a tryst away from the children, I’m happy to oblige.”
“Stop it,” she laughed along with him, smacking him in the arm before taking his hand and pulling him farther down the path. “And yes, I did have something of the sort in mind.”
He opened his mouth as if to tease her again, but it remained open as he gawked at the scenery as they rounded the corner. A lake lay beneath the shimmering moonlight, the glassy surface rippling with waves of silver. A plethora of trees glowed with moonbeam roses, creating an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere.
She frowned and glanced at the snow surrounding them, then at her basket. “I didn’t think to bring a blanket. I thought of everything else but something to keep us dry.”
His mouth quirked to one side, then the other. Finally, he nodded toward a nearby tree with silver vines wrapped around the thick trunk. “You are half Forest Fae, and I’m quite adept at climbing trees. We will have a good view from up there.”
She stood with her hands on her hips, surveying the height of the lowest branch. “I think I prefer both of my feet on the ground. I’m not keen on heights.”
“Come on,” he chuckled, holding out a hand. “Where is your sense of adventure?”
After several moments of reluctance, she groaned. “You better not let me fall. I could do without another broken leg.”
