Page 37

NARIA

“H ave I told you already how ravishing you look in your gown tonight,” Lukas’s hands slipped around my waist before dropping low enough to make me gasp, “ wife ?”

Warmth pooled in my belly along with a little too much wine. One more glass of champagne and he’d have to carry me around the dance floor. Not that I’d mind that. And judging by the way he couldn’t keep his hands from stroking the soft white tulle of my skirt, my bare shoulders, the curve of my flower-decorated corset in that sensitive area just below my bust…

A smile pulled at my blushing cheeks. Well, it seemed he wouldn’t mind either.

“Behave yourself, husband ,” I teased, loving the way the word sounded on my tongue. Gently, I slid his roaming hands back up to my waist. “The wedding isn’t over yet and we still have guests to speak to.”

Lukas groaned before lifting me into a spin. Around us, music swirled between the tall columns decorated with roses. Servants carried trays of sparkling wine amongst the hundreds of other finely dressed guests that Raena and Cora had somehow pulled from nowhere. It was as if half the realm had travelled to see us marry.

“Such a beautiful ceremony,” a dancing couple greeted us once the song had finished.

“Thank you. I’ll never be able to thank Queen Cora and my wonderful head bridesmaid enough,” I told them, just as I’d told every other couple who’d made the same starry-eyed comment.

I wasn’t lying. It really had been a beautiful ceremony. After Raena and Cora had declared that a few hours was simply not enough time to plan ‘the wedding of the century’, we’d – or rather they’d – agreed on a date for one week’s time, with the venue being the lush, grassy grounds of Raena’s family estate.

But of course it’d been worth the wait.

Dainty bunches of wisteria swung from our wedding arch while lavender and other healing herbs decorated the aisle. King Ronan had officiated, and Raphael had been put in charge of the rings – two perfect gold bands woven with a silver ribbon.

Apparently, other Corlixins had come to watch the ceremony, too. Even the village mother had been there, seated right near the front with Marius and Terrence, burning through tissues like she’d sprung a leak.

But I couldn’t see any of this. Didn’t even notice she was there until our tearful reunion at the wedding banquet. Because during the ceremony, once the ornate doors to the garden swung open and the smooth sound of violins filled my ears, I could only focus on that one perfect figure standing tall at the end of the aisle. With happy tears in his steel-grey eyes.

“Are you tired, my darling?” Lukas’s smooth voice lured me from my thoughts.

My darling . I could get used to him calling me that. The sun was dipping below the horizon as he guided us off the dance floor, his arm tucked around my waist.

“Nearly,” I murmured, reaching to stroke the dark brown waves of his hair as we stopped beside a buffet table. Despite hours of dancing and feasting, he still looked just as flawless as he had during the ceremony. A dark grey overcoat, finished with gold braiding decorated his chest while matching breeches and dark boots covered his legs. He may normally look regal – but today? Today he looked spectacular. We both did. All day we’d been showered in compliments, like the white petals of confetti that’d fallen from the sky.

“I can’t wait to get this off you.” He leaned closer, stroking the delicate sleeves of my wedding gown. The dress hugged my figure, with tiny embroidered flowers on the bodice that flowed down into a long, trailing skirt.

“Shh.” I giggled, shooting a glance at the guests bustling around the garden. “People will hear you.” His fingers trailed up my corset, and when I gasped, a satisfied growl rumbled in his chest.

“You think I care?” Pushing me towards the table, his arms boxed me in as his lips brushed my ear. “You’re my wife now, Naria. And I want them all to know just how much you mean to me.”

Heat blossomed in my chest. Our bodies were breaths apart, but still, I wanted more. “I…” Swallowing, I chewed my lower lip. “About tonight… You know I’ve never—”

“I know, forest princess.” Drawing back slightly, he tucked a stray hair behind my ear. “But you don’t need to be afraid of what will come later. I’ll be gentle.” He leaned in again, kissing my neck as I bathed in the soft citrus notes in his hair. “So, so gentle. For you.”

Something fluttered in my chest. Strong and powerful. Screaming at me to throw my arms around him and ignore the party carrying on around us until the setting sun bowed down to night.

With a smile, I gave in to the feeling and locked my arms around his shoulders. His breath caught. I was moments away from meeting his lips with mine when a quiet voice piped up from behind him.

“Umm… Princess Naria?”

I stiffened, dropping my arms. Reluctantly, Lukas pulled away and moved to my side, revealing a rather nervous-looking Princess Callie.

Dipping my head, I greeted her with a polite smile. “Callie. How are you enjoying the wedding?”

“It’s lovely,” she stammered. “And I apologise if I was interrupting anything, I just needed to see you, and umm.” She paused, cheeks burning. “Actually, I should probably just come back later.”

I placed a hand on her arm before she could scurry off into the now-dwindling crowds. “What did you need to see me about?”

She glanced around, before finally squaring her shoulders and taking a breath. “I wanted to apologise on behalf of my mother… and myself.”

My lips parted.

“I may have been present for some of her conversations with that dark-haired faery.” A shudder passed over me at the mere mention of him until Lukas wrapped his arm around my waist. “And I knew it was wrong, everything they were scheming about you and poor little Raphael, but I was just so afraid of what she would do if I told anyone.”

“You knew your mother was involved with Raphael’s sickness?” Anger bit at Lukas’s tone.

Callie flinched. “I didn’t at first, but after the day Mother and I met Naria and Lord Arenn in the courtyard, she started including me in her meetings and… Oh, I’ve just always been such a coward.”

Conflict battled inside me. She knew… For so many days she’d known and said nothing while Prince Raphael suffered with that awful faery curse. Part of me wanted to shout at her. Grab her by the shoulders and demand why in the underrealm she didn’t just tell one of us. But the other part, the part that recognised the way she always had her fingers buried in her skirts, the way her eyes darted around like a little rabbit before speaking, felt like maybe, of all people here, I should probably understand.

Sighing, I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Does Cora know about your mother working with Arenn?”

She straightened. “Yes. I spoke to her last night.”

“What did she say?” Lukas asked, his surprise matching my own. We had wanted to approach Cora and expose Marigold’s involvement with her son’s illness ourselves, but with tensions between our kingdoms already running so high, it didn’t seem wise to potentially start a war when Prince Raphael was already fully healed. Besides, there’d be other opportunities to punish Queen Marigold. Like swapping her indigestion medicine with crushed up poisonous leaves of the—

“Cora was furious at first.” Callie winced, pulling me out of my murderous thoughts. “But then she calmed down and said that she forgave me. Although she couldn’t say the same for my mother. After we spoke she made us walk over to Mother’s bedchamber together to confront her.”

Lukas’s hand gripped mine as I blurted, “You confronted her?”

Callie nodded. “It was awful.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “But Mother confessed after an hour or so of arguing, and Cora had her thrown into the dungeon. Father hasn’t done anything to try and get her out yet, and I doubt he will anytime soon. Though I fear what will happen to our people with my father running the kingdom.” She tugged on her sleeves nervously. “It’s no secret that my mother has always pulled the strings.”

“You should take the throne from him,” I said before I’d even realised I’d spoken.

“I could never! I’d be a terrible queen. I—”

“Anyone would be better than your mother and her oblivious husband,” I grumbled.

Lukas chewed his lip in thought. But instead of disagreeing like I presumed he would, he spoke in a serious tone. “There are treaties in place to protect rulers from each other. Since your mother attempted to kill Cora’s son, the other kingdoms would be permitted to elect a new head of state for Hallshire.”

A smile touched my features as horror dawned across Callie’s.

“We could put you forward,” I suggested.

“Goodness, no!”

“Then who else? Your father?” Wrapping my fingers around her shaking hands, my voice softened. “Listen to me. I, of all people here, understand how scary it can be to take a crown you do not wish for. And if there is another life you’ve dreamed of having, then please, don’t let us or your mother’s cruel actions take that away from you.” I felt Lukas’s heavy gaze on me as I continued. “Ultimately, the decision is yours, Callie, but at least promise us you’ll think about it. For the sake of your people.”

Callie blinked, and for a moment looked far older than her age. But then she swallowed, and nodded her head very slowly. “I’ll consider it.”

“Write to us with your decision,” Lukas told her. “You’ll have Drothmore’s support either way.”

“And Corlixir’s.” I smiled warmly.

“Thank you.” She tugged on her sleeves one last time before dropping her hands to her sides. “I also wanted to say congratulations on your wedding.” A smile crossed her face. “It really has been such a beautiful day, and I wish you both all the best for the future.”

Taking my new husband’s hand, I thanked her before adding, “You too, Callie.”

After watching her disappear into the now much smaller crowd of guests, I glanced at Lukas as a servant lit a row of candles behind us.

“May I ask my dear wife for one more dance?” he asked, dropping his voice low enough to make my belly flip.

I smiled as if he’d just offered me the world wrapped up in those honeyed words. “Of course, my darling .”