“No!” I gasp, crumbs flying from my stuffed mouth.
“Oh, yes. At this point, I’d come to Castletree under service to Keldarion, so I can tell you with certainty, Marigold was absolutely smitten. She left one evening to go on an extended leave in Spring, as they were to travel together through the realms. The plan was to meet Eldy here at Hammergarden.”
“Well, what happened?”
Astrid shakes her head sadly. “He never showed. She waited and waited and waited, but he was nowhere to be found.”
“Cold feet,” I murmur.
“I guess. But here’s the thing. Marigold returned to Castletree that night.” Astrid squeezes her eyes shut. “The same night the Enchantress came and cursed us all.”
My chest tightens, and my teacup clatters to the saucer. “If Eldy had showed, she wouldn’t have been at Castletree.”
“She never would have been cursed,” Astrid confirms.
I drift to the window, looking out at the courtyard of the keep, covered in cherry blossom petals. “All these years as a raccoon, she’s probably blamed him.”
“And perhaps he wonders why he never saw her again.” Astrid shrugs. “Whatever the case, their hearts are closed to one another.”
I lean my head against the cold stone. This curse hasn’t just destroyed the lives of the princes, but the staff, too. If Ezryn were to find his mate, he could free Marigold. Perhaps she could regain her happiness. The happiness she deserves.
My thoughts drift to Ezryn and his brother. Thinking of the way Kairyn spoke to him in the throne room sends a chill up my spine. Ezryn has returned to his home to find his father deathly ill, his resources stolen by goblins, and his brother making a play for the stewardship. All of this on top of needing to find his mate …
The tangled light I saw in his chest while we were in Autumn flashes in my mind. If only I could whisper into his heart and unravel those threads one by one.
I could do it, I think. I know I could.
But these thoughts are dangerous. My heart already feels like it shattered yesterday. Oh Rosalina, you’re so selfish.
“Are you okay, Rosie?” Astrid asks.
I run a hand along the soft skin of my left wrist. “Yeah, I’m okay. But I need to find Ezryn.”
22
Rosalina
I follow the winding path through the cavernous halls of Keep Hammergarden, counting doorways and turns until I’m standing before a set of beautifully carved oak doors. Last night, Ez gave Dayton and me instructions on where his chamber was located, but this place is a maze. It’s as if a castle, a forest, and a cave were combined.
Oh well. If this is the wrong room, what’s the worst that could happen?
That terrifying masked man could answer, I think. Kairyn, Ezryn’s brother. Everything about him sets me on edge. Before I lose my nerve, I rap my knuckles on the door.
“Who is it?”
A breath of relief floods out of me at the sound of Ezryn’s muffled voice. “Rosalina.”
There’s a beat of silence, then: “Come in.”
Slowly, I crack open the door and slip inside. The chamber is stunning, flooded with light from massive windows looking out to the city. Like most of the keep, the walls are made of the mountain’s natural stone, creating a sense of raw beauty.
My eyes are drawn to the huge bed, draped in gauzy fabrics. The pillows look heavenly soft, and it seems far too big for one person. For some reason, the perfectly made-up bed looks like an unkept promise, an invitation to muss the sheets and send the pillows flying.
I take a breath and search for Ezryn. The rush of water sounds adjacent to the bed, and mist sprays out from beyond a pane of frosted glass. My throat clenches. Behind the glass is a man’s silhouette, light and shadows teasing his shape.
Water streams from a hole in the wall, cascading down the rocky surface. It’s like an indoor waterfall, a shower that seems carved from nature itself. And Ezryn’s in there right now.
My mouth suddenly feels bone-dry. Though he’s only a blurry silhouette, I can make out the lean lines of his body, usually hidden behind his armor. His arms raise up, fingers running through his hair. I remember when I was able to tangle my own hands in his thick waves, both wanting to cherish the feel of him and being terrified of how temporary I knew it was.
I drift closer. He turns, his face nothing but obscured shadow. But I swear I can make out the line of his nose and the curve of his lips. My fingers remember everything, a phantom touch.
Unconsciously, I take another step. This single pane is the only thing between me and that mysterious smile I’ve seen in my mind’s eye. The only thing between me and his skin…
My eyes drift down. His back is to me now, and I chide myself as I wonder if he only turned—
“Just finishing up washing,” he says. “I’ll be out in a moment.”
“Oh! Uh, yeah. No hurry.” Heat rushes from my chest up to the tips of my pointed ears, and I stiffly walk back to the bed and sit on the edge.
A shuffle and the ting of metal sounds from beyond the glass, and then Ezryn steps out.
He’s wearing a helm I’ve never seen before; the same style, but a brilliant starlight silver.
And he has a towel wrapped around his waist.
And that’s it.
Every nerve in my body lights up. There’s a voice in my head screaming at me not to be a lecherous perv, but the lecherous perv part is too strong, and I fully drink him in from the bottom of his long legs to the crest of his helm.
He stands with one arm leaning against the pane of glass, well-defined chest, covered in dark hair on full display. Water drips down his tawny skin, begging to be licked. Muscles ripple over his arms and abdomen.
He tilts his helmet, and the glint of light on the visor almost makes it look like he’s narrowing his eyes. “So…”
“Huh?” I answer. Then I realize my mouth is half-hanging open, and my eyes are practically out of their sockets. And I was the one who showed up in his room. Words would be nice right about now.
It’s just that I’ve only ever caught glimpses of his skin: the line of wrist between his armor and his gloves, the beautiful curve of neck under his helmet. And each of these were like treasures to be squirreled away. But now…
Now he’s on display like a piece of art, and merely looking doesn’t feel like it could ever satisfy.
“You needed me?” he adds. I always thought it was his armor that made him seem so still, but even like this, he barely moves. The subtle nods of his helm are all I have to go on.
I look down, folding my hands in my lap. “I wanted to make sure you were okay. Everything happened so quickly yesterday.”
He sighs. “Everything may have happened quickly for us, but I think things have been brewing in the Spring Realm for a long time. In my heart, I knew I was needed here. I only hope I’m not too late.”