Elle finally broke it when she laughed. “After this display, Severin, you cannot wonder anymore if they truly are a good match!”
Severin ruthlessly ripped a piece of parchment from one of his personal journals. “We have to get word to Queen Linnea and send a party north to Verglas to look for the mirror immediately.”
“And secretly,” Lucien added. “Unless we want the Chosen to know we’ve caught on.”
“We should send word to Angelique as well,” Colonel Friedrich added. “Snow Queen or not, she’s our strongest mage contact.”
“Gemma and I just received a letter from her earlier today,” Stil said. “She asked for Gemma and me to come to Kozlovka. We can explain everything to her when we arrive.”
“She only requested that I come with Hvit to look at some captive hellhounds,” Gemma said. “You weren’t mentioned.”
“She didn’t address me because she knew I would come with you.” Stil smiled and leaned into her.
While the others talked, Lucien stood and tugged on Ariane’s hands, leading her to the back of the study and out onto a balcony. The cooler night air was a welcome change from the rather packed—and stuffy—study.
“Thank you, Ariane.” Lucien smiled down at her as he held her hands.
That was about the last thing I expected him to say. “For what?”
“You have helped us all tonight just by being present and asking questions.”
Ariane shrugged uncomfortably. “I did not have any brilliant observations.”
“But you did,” Lucien said. “You were the only one who remembered the mirror.”
“Yes, well, that was more a matter of focus,” Ariane admitted. “It was one of the first things you mentioned, so I focused on it.”
Lucien smiled slyly as he raised one of her hands and pressed her fingers to his lips. “I did not know you so highly prized focus.”
“One cannot clean an entire palace if they don’t remain focused on the main task,” Ariane said. Her cheeks heated when Lucien stepped closer.
“I see. Were you pleased, then, that I remained focused in my research?”
“Y-yes,” Ariane stammered as Lucien chuckled in her ear.
“Excellent.” He slowly lowered his face closer to hers until his breath brushed her lips. “And now that I have done as you requested—”
“Lucien, your observations are needed,” Severin intoned from the glass door that opened onto the balcony.
Lucien grumbled and raised his head so he could peer at Severin over Ariane’s head. “Now?”
“We are writing up the drafts with your findings. We must have them prepared as swiftly as possible so we can have a solid explanation crafted in time for the Ringsted wedding.”
Lucien inhaled one great whistling breath and glared.
Severin was unbothered. “It will take time to craft a proper explanation. It is in our best interest to begin now.”
“This is vengeance for all the times I purposely interrupted your moments with Elle, isn’t it?” Lucien asked.
“I would never be so petty,” Severin said in a deadpan tone.
Lucien sighed and set his forehead against Ariane’s. “Perhaps tomorrow we could talk?”
Ariane fastidiously tugged at his shirt to make it straight so she could hide the smile that threatened to twitch across her lips. “Tomorrow,” she agreed. I will never let him know that I am just as eager to discuss our future.
“Lucien.”
“I’m coming!” Lucien snarled. He reluctantly pulled away from Ariane, then rolled his eyes. “I will repeat my points for your ruddy draft, but I will not burn my night away searching for the perfect words that will ensure no one gets their feelings hurt,” he grumbled as he followed his brother back into the study.
Ariane laughed, though she had to lean up against the balcony for support.
In a much shorter span than Ariane had thought possible, Lucien had identified their enemy. What does this mean—for both us and the continent?
Ariane lingered by the harpsichord, studying the painting on the underside of the instrument’s open top. She yawned tiredly as she glanced at the other instruments arranged around what she fondly called the music salon.
For the first time ever, she sought out the salon more to soothe herself than because she was searching for something to clean.
Ariane and everyone present in Severin’s study—as well as other mages who had been called for—had stayed up into the early hours of the morning. (Ariane because she had taken it upon herself to fetch refreshments, lest the group work themselves into exhaustion.)
She had retired when Marcelle found her carting yet another tray of tea to the study, scolded her, and sent her to bed with the promise of seeing to the group’s welfare herself.
She was more than a little fatigued thanks to her late night, and as a result found herself rather useless. She breathed out heavily through her nose and considered collapsing on the settee for a brief nap.
I don’t even know what I’m doing here.
She heard the salon door click shut, and started to turn around until Lucien’s strong arms snaked around her.
“How did you find me?” Ariane asked as he embraced her.
“Elle mentioned this salon seemed to interest you.” he said. “You could learn an instrument if you like. Really, from now on you could do anything you like—well, within reason. And as long as it does not deprive me of your presence overly much.” He rested his head against hers and exhaled. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. Severin was a regular beast last night to make me work like that.”
Ariane smiled. “I do not think it is ridiculous to put the welfare of the continent before our…discussion.”
Lucien sniffed. “That sounds like something he would say.”
Ariane closed her eyes and relaxed in Lucien’s arms. “Hearing that, am I to assume he does not know you are here?”
“I had to wait until he passed out,” Lucien grunted. “I’d accuse him of turning into an old man, but I rather think Elle spiked his drink to keep him from working himself into an early grave.”
Ariane couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled from her throat. “She would do that?”
“She does it!”
Ariane laughed again—annoyed with herself when it sounded perilously close to a giggle. Stop. I am not some dewy-eyed maiden! She sternly told herself.
Lucien abruptly pulled back so he could move to stand in front of her. He took her hands in his as he met her gaze, his blue eyes dark and serious. “Ariane, nothing is going to interrupt us. So, may we finally talk?”
Ariane tried to speak but found she couldn’t, so she nodded.
His brow cleared, and he smiled until his expression again turned serious. “I have done as you asked. I—and Severin—believe I have identified our enemy.” His forehead wrinkled, and he brushed some of Ariane’s hair from her face. “I have already sent word to my father to tell him of my findings: I have chosen you. I cannot—and will not— return to the way things were. It means you will be by my side…right?”