Page 142 of Winds of Ruin
Her lips turned down ever so slightly. “You seem-t smitten with-ah pretty florist. You two make quite-ah pair.” Her syllables sloshed together.
I huffed out an exasperated sigh. El had overindulged. And it seemed she still didn’t understand that only one woman’s company appealed to me—hers.
“Please stop that,” I begged.
A dim smile, that didn’t seem at all sincere, creased her features. She shrugged. “Why? You—” She pressed a finger into my chest. “You deserve the whole dream, Emmerick.”
I could smell the fruit of the wine on her breath. I caught her hand and held it to my rapidly beating heart.
Something had happened between the moment I walked away and now; where had that sultry, self-confident temptress gone? I ground my teeth, staring down at her. How could she not believe herself worthy of all the happiness she so easily imagined for me? I’d have none of it without her.
“Elsedora. I don’t care how hard it will be,” I whispered back. “We are going to talk about what this is. I’ll get you some tea and wait until you’ve sobered up. Buttonightthis gets resolved.”
The torment would end.
I needed an answer—did she want me the way I wanted her? We could figure out the rest, but I couldn’t bear the thought of not ending up beside her in the morning.
“Hmm... I don’t know if tonight is a good night for me, pet,” she answered and tripped forward on the hem of her dress. I caught her before she plummeted to the onyx marble floor.
Holding on to her forearms, I searched her gaze—clouded, caged, and unyielding. I righted her and cursed beneath my breath. “Else, I can’t stand this anymore.”
Every one of my affections and hopes danced on the tip of my tongue.
But the strings quieted, drawing attention to the stage. Lark and Dritan stepped onto it, hand in hand. A familiar sword stuck out from a holster at my son’s side. Its ruby pommel caught the flickering flames from the sconces.
It’d once bore the name of Lark’s mother. Fitting it should end up with her daughter’s husband.
The blade I’d left in my chambers had a new name. I glanced over at the Wind-wielding enchantress beside me.
Lark cleared her throat, and some of the nobles quieted. Dritan’s gaze met mine; the whites of his eyes showed, and his lanky form was stiff with nerves. I nodded in encouragement.
Awkward pauses and uncertainty had filled our last conversation. I longed to tell him how differently I wished things had been. It would never forgive my not being there his whole life.
Though had I been, would he be beside the Princess wearing a golden wedding band? Maybe this was our chance for a new, better start. For all of us.
My son’s attention returned to Lark; every muscle in his body slackened as he took her in. She stood, a monument of composure, and dinged a fork against her wine flute until the party silenced.
Elsedora glanced out over the crowded room with a sense of detachment.
“Thank you all for the warm welcome that you have extended to the returning King Emmerick Mattock,” Lark said. “In this time of renewed peace between the Corridors and the Sahlms, our greatest advantage against the evils that threaten our realms is unity. I have an announcement which reaffirms that the bonds between the Central and North Corridor have never been stronger.”
She resembled her mother so much it was uncanny—her unwavering voice, the uptilt of her chin, the subtle shake of her hands as they clasped together in front of her.
Yet she loved my son enough to stand in front of everyone here and declare it. That level of romanticism hadn’t come from either of her parents.
I spared another glance at Elsedora, who smiled up at them.
Lark’s breath caught before her next words. Her mother had drawn closer to the stage, and the Princess’ eyes widened.
Dritan’s fist clenched at his side; he looked as though he might be ill. Suddenly, it felt cowardly to make them do this alone.
I couldn’t.
With a deep sigh, I squeezed El’s arm and whispered, “Please. Don’t run off. I am taking you home tonight.” Then I reluctantly left her side.
After ascending the steps, I stood beside Lark and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“We’ll weather whatever comes next together,” I said to them both.
