I nod, my heart breaking for my poor Autumn Prince. I can only imagine the guilt he’ll feel in the morning for hurting Dayton, the fae I’m pretty sure he’s in love with.
“So,” Dayton eyes me with his teal gaze, “I shouldn’t have doubted your ability to find our mates. At least one of them. Did it feel as sparkly and magical as you described to me?”
“Yes,” I reply. “Like a fire bursting from my chest. When I was next to Kel, I felt his dreams as if they were my own. But it was all happening so fast, I didn’t really put it together until I was back in Orca Cove.”
Dayton shakes his head. “I can’t believe it. He must have known you were his mate, and he sent you away. No wonder Ez is fuming.”
“Ez is mad?”
“Ezryn’s parents were mates. If anyone understands how strong that connection is, it’s him.”
I wasn’t sure what I expected when I reunited with Kel. But the way he held me like he never wanted to let me go… For a moment, I thought maybe he realized he was wrong to send me away. I should have known better. I chew my bottom lip and try to focus on the positive. “But this is good, isn’t it? It’s proof that there are mates out there. There’s hope for you to break your curse.”
Dayton doesn’t even seem to register my words. There’s a bitter edge to his voice as he spits, “I’d never have done what he did. Sending you back there. Back to him.”
I look to the closed pale green curtain.
“I don’t get it,” Dayton says, following my gaze to where Lucas sleeps. “Why bring him here? He’s a dick. He doesn’t deserve your help.”
I’d told Dayton about Lucas when we’d traveled together to the Summer Realm. How he’d asked me to marry him. At that point, a part of me still thought I’d return to Lucas. The idea sends a wave of nausea through me now.
“Why did I save him…” I whisper, still rubbing my wrist. “Because I could.”
Dayton narrows his eyes at me, and I continue, “Because he might not deserve my kindness, but if we can help someone, shouldn’t we?”
The golden wolf shakes his head, and murmurs not unkindly, “You’re too good for this world, Rosie.”
“I know now,” I say, staring at the pale green curtain, “after Lucas heals and we send him back, I never want to see him again. Ever.”
“Agreed. But hey, I warned you not to marry a man who wouldn’t even go down on you.”
It flashes in my mind: my legs flung over Dayton’s shoulders, his tongue brushing against me. But I shake my head and flick him in the snout. “Okay, fine, you told me so.”
He nuzzles closer to me, and I wrap my arms around his neck. Some of the rotten seaweed in his fur comes loose. Carefully, I pry it free, leaving behind only the glittering seashells.
Dayton squints at me. “How did you do that?”
“It just felt loose.” I smirk. “If you’re a good boy, I’ll give you a brush next.”
“I did not think you calling me a good boy would be such a turn on.”
“Can you not flirt with me while you’re like this? It’s weird.”
But the wolf playfully knocks his entire giant head into my stomach. “I don’t think I could stop flirting with you if I tried.”
A gasp sounds at the doorway, then a voice smooth as honey says: “Well, butter my biscuits! Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”
“You’re back! You’re really back!” a higher voice squeaks.
In the doorway stands a brown raccoon and a small white hare.
A sob stutters up my throat. “Marigold! Astrid!”
I fall to my knees in front of the animals. Astrid and Marigold leap into my arms, and I hug them with everything I have. “I’m so happy to see you.”
Finally, after an eternity, I let them go and sniff back the last of my happy tears.
“We heard the princes brought you home,” Astrid says, her red eyes glistening. “Thank you so much for finding her, Prince Dayton.”
“A little trip to the human world was nothing,” the golden wolf says. “I’d descend all the way to the Below to get Rosie.”
My heart jumps at the words, said so casually and yet like he’d said them with his whole heart.
“I’ll let you girls catch up.” He brushes past but stops and gives me one last look. There’s something in his turquoise eyes, a promise. I know what it means. He’s not going to let me go again.
I smile at him and then turn back to my friends. They’re both giving me a knowing look.
“Well, he’s certainly happy to have you back.” Marigold somehow waggles her brows, even in raccoon form.
I put my hands behind my neck, letting out a breath and tugging on my hair. “That’s just Dayton being Dayton.”
Astrid wiggles her nose. “We haven’t seen him like this in months.”
“Really? You’ll have to tell me everything.”
“Of course, dearie,” Marigold says. “But let’s get you back to your room. The master ordered your dinner brought there.”
My room! I’ve missed my room so much. But then I scowl at the rest of her words. It seems the master still wants to micromanage my entire life despite me being the worst thing that’s ever happened to him. I shake my head. I don’t want that icy prick to ruin my reunion with Astrid and Marigold.
I follow them down the familiar halls of the Spring Wing, tempted to take off my shoes to feel the moss under my feet. Maybe I would if the dark thorns didn’t curve up so often.
My fingers trail along the wall, touching the soft bark of Castletree. When I stroke the thorns, they shiver beneath my fingers.
When Kel was drowning, I swore I’d controlled the briars to save him. But then he’d told me Caspian was the only one who could do that.
But there was a feeling inside of me like the briars had moved at my command.
“We’re here!” Marigold chimes, throwing her paws against the door.
I nearly squeak with excitement as I take in my room, with the cherry blossom tree growing out of the wall, my wardrobe filled with beautiful dresses, and the four-poster bed—guarded by the stuffed winged lion Dayton bought for me in the Summer Realm. I rush to my window overlooking the Enchanted Vale: the briar patch as far as I can see, the mountains, the forests. I’m home, I’m home, I’m home!
Though I can’t help but notice even a bit of Winter’s frost has crept into my room, a few of the cherry blossoms crystallized.
Astrid hops on the bed, and Marigold pushes over a little stool so she can reach the wheeled cart I hadn’t noticed before. She lifts off a lid, and the delicious scent hits me immediately.
Food in the human world is nothing compared to this, especially considering Papa and I have been living off of toast and frozen dinners. I sit on the edge of my bed and dig in.
“This is just the best darned day ever,” Marigold says. “Not only are you back, but on our way to the healing chamber, we passed the most delicious tall drink of water walking with Prince Ezryn. Very distinguished looking.”
I nearly drop my fork. “No! Marigold, that’s my father.”
She gives me a wink. “All I’m saying is I know where you get your looks from, girlie.”
I can only laugh and dive back into my dinner. I savor each bite of the juicy portobello mushrooms, paired with a creamy avocado sauce and a side of crispy kale chips. As I eat, Marigold and Astrid fill me in on the last few months.
My heart aches for the princes and residents of Castletree. Dayton drank every day, Farron barely spoke, Ezryn lived out in the Briar, and Kel confined himself to the Winter Wing, his frost slowly creeping out with each passing day.
I wonder what the roses in High Tower look like now. They’d been so wilted when I last saw them. How much longer do my princes have?
“It’s been terrible for us without you,” Astrid says. “When you were here planning the ball, you gave the staff purpose. Hope. Even just seeing you in the halls made us all smile, but since you’ve been gone…”
“Everything’s taken a turn for the worse,” Marigold says, carefully taking my empty dinner plate in her little paws and putting it beneath the cart. Then she slides a small dessert bowl under my nose.
“I didn’t want to leave,” I say, digging into a rich chocolate mousse. “Wow, this is terrific. It was all Keldarion’s—”