Wanda shook her head. “Absolutely not. It goes against everything they believe in. And even if he was willing, she’s not. Or so she says.”
“Hey!” Nina interrupted them, a napkin tucked into the neck of her hoodie, a bottled beer in her hand. “Quit talkin’ about me like just because my hearing isn’t supersonic, I don’t know you’re damn well doing it. I’m fine. Now let’s go celebrate this shit and quit whining. Isn’t that what we’re here for, framily?”
Toni threw her arms around Nina’s neck. “That is what we’re here for, and if you’re happy, vamp, er…human, I’m happy. I love you no matter what.”
She planted a wet kiss on Nina’s cheek, making Marty and Wanda laugh when she batted Toni away and stomped off with a grin to the table to attack more chicken wings.
“Nina’s right. We’re here to celebrate being together again, and that’s all that matters right now. Have I mentioned how happy I am for you two lovebirds? Because I’m thrilled,” Marty said with a wide grin before heading over to help her daughter Hollis catch a fairy as they buzzed throughout the room.
“Lady Wanda,” Iver said, wrapping his arm around Toni’s waist. “Any word on Cormac?”
Toni sighed a happy sigh as she leaned into him. Iver had been very supportive in their efforts to locate Cormac. In fact, he was supportive about everything she did. He didn’t care when she ate something too spicy and hiccupped fire, burning his hair—or when she made his nose grow when she asked him if he’d been the one to leave his towel on the floor in the bathing chamber.
He didn’t even mind when she jumped into the ocean and swam with Muriel. She’d retained the powers of the shoes once they were removed, and she’d set about helping King Dick secure them so no one ever got their hands on them again.
Iver also encouraged her to learn how to use a sword, giving her tips when he wasn’t learning the business of running Shamalot from his father, who he’d become quite close to since he’d returned home.
Iver had made his peace with King Dick for making the deal with Jon with the help of Queen Jane, who smoothed the way. And Toni and Queen Jane had rather hit it off, spending their afternoons together while she taught Toni the fine art of being a princess and someday queen.
Jane was funny and bright and far more than a woman who wore fancy dresses and had lavish teas. She was warm and loving and most of all, she loved Iver as much as Toni realized she did.
Wanda reached out and squeezed his arm. “I think we have a location, if Roz’s vision is right. We’re on it as soon as we leave here.”
Toni’s stomach jumped into high gear. “You will let me know if I can help, won’t you?”
“Nope. I will not. You heard what Roz said, right? You’re in danger. You stay here at Castle Beckett for as long as necessary and we do the heavy lifting. Now, let’s focus on this awesome celebration. Did I tell you two kids how happy I am for you both?” Wanda asked, her smile beaming.
“Did I tell you how happy I am that Archibald brought coffee grounds to last me a lifetime?”
Wanda chuckled, giving her a hug. “You look beautiful and happy and healthy, and that’s all I can ask for. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I heard the words roast and beef. They call my name.” She blew them a kiss followed by a wink and wandered off to the far end of the table, where her husband smiled at her as she took her place beside him.
Iver wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, nuzzling her ear and making her shiver. “I declare this particular ball a success. Well done, Lady Toni.”
As Toni watched the people who’d become so dear to her eat, laugh and pass food, as she watched all the new faces she’d met today interact with each other while the children played, the girls in their princess costumes and tiaras, the boys with their plastic swords, fencing.
As fairies buzzed about and Ellesandra read to the children, and Resplendant and Jon Doe smooched in a dark corner, and Dannan and Darnell told old war stories, she burrowed in closer to his chest.
“It’s been an amazing day. Thank you for this. You’re a good prince. Have I told you that today?”
He turned her in his arms. “Nay. I think the last I heard such praise was this past eve, during the bedsport.”
Ah. The bedsport. It went against all royal Shamalotian rules, but it wasn’t as though they hadn’t broken a half dozen of those already. What was one more?
And it was amazing. Fulfilling. Everything she’d always dreamed it could be, and as Iver became more skilled, as he tempted her with what he joked were his smooth new moves, she fell deeper in love with each passing second.