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I looped my arm through Nicole’s. “At least we’re still training. And we have each other.”
Nicole cocked her eyebrow as I spoke. “I’d run faster than you and leave you as bait, so I know I’m safe.”
I shoved her as she giggled and the fear subsided slightly from the tension in the room.
I looked back toward the window. “I’m sure the guards are moving around the castle because they’re gathering as we speak to take care of it. And ensure our safety if it’s needed.”
“Mmmm,” Nicole replied. She was quiet, not appearing like she would say much more. I couldn’t tell if it was from lack of faith in the Unseelie or from worry over what was to come.
“Want a drink?” Nicole asked suddenly, shifting away from the window completely. “I snuck some wine from the kitchen this afternoon while everyone was setting up for dinner.” Her grin widened as she yanked a bottle from under her chair cushion.
“How can I refuse when you went to so much trouble!”
Nicole took the first swig, her bolder self and sneaky grin returning after gulping a few sips.
Shockingly, I had only tried alcohol after arriving here, alongside Ms. Bad Influence here. She was taken aback when I choked on a far too large gulp my first time. I thought back to the teasing conversation as we attempted to train our little message carrier.
I’d promised Nicole it was not for lack of trying, painting the picture of plenty of beer cans, wine bottles, and more that could be found in the park of wayward souls I’d frequented back home while avoiding being near Darryl. But as I spoke of Joe and how he had taken me under his wing, as far as offering advice and a listening ear, I realized that there were quite a few homeless in the park that kept me from a few very bad choices. As if they had protected me as one of their own.
And while it was no place for an eighteen-year-old girl to be, I realized that perhaps that protective nature I felt so strongly for my life here was learned from those who’d offered me the same without me knowing it till it was too late.
Nicole’s grumbling had been quiet, but as she grew louder, I turned to face her. She tossed a nicer-looking gown on her bed and threw her hand out, silently demanding the bottle I’d been hoarding.
“I have to straighten out some of the nicer dresses in here. Did you hear?” She tilted her head back, quickly chugging the remainder of the contents.
So much for that lasting a while this evening.
“Hear what?”
“Rumor is some dignitary is coming to the castle next week and everything has been more uppity lately.”
I frowned. Noah hadn’t mentioned anything, and I’d been so focused on training, time with him, and sneaking around the library, I’d barely noticed much else. “Uppity? And what dignitary?”
“Things are being polished multiple times, cleaning has increased. The food orders have doubled. And we are being instructed to wear our nicer clothes.” She let out a burp without any apologies and continued looking through her wardrobe, flinging another dress onto the bed.
“You still didn’t answer for who,” I said.
Nicole shrugged. “I don’t know. Nobody seems to. It’s all very hush-hush, darling.” She shook her hips and dropped the bottle back to the chair before turning around dramatically and sighing.
“If you’re trying to act like a dignified fae, you lost the battle with the belch,” I teased.
“And why on earth would I need to act like the filthy rich snobs that prance through to pay respects to our dear queen?” She fanned herself with an imaginary fan, flipping her hair and spinning.
“Well, one might think you could learn some manners to impress Captain Coltrain.”
Nicole stopped spinning and eyed me like she could read my mind if she stared hard enough. I wasn’t backing down though. I knew I’d seen something between them. Maybe a few chugs of wine would have her spilling something.
Finally, she cleared her throat, moving toward the edge of her bed. “I don’t know why I’d need to impress the captain. My training moves are perfectly fine. Better than anyone else.”
I snorted. “On your best day you still have a fifty-fifty chance of losing to me, Nic.”
Her lip twitched as she rolled her eyes.
“I was simply bringing it up because I swear I saw you staring at each other at training. Like the rest of us were intruding on something more important.”
At that comment, a deep red blush crawled up Nicole’s neck and over her face. The flushed and now speechless Nicole simply cleared her throat and leaned on the window sill, taking in the distant blaze.
“All right, all right,” I said. “Keep your secrets then.” My dramatic sigh was hopefully humored enough to break any tension Nicole may have felt at my prying.
