Page 148 of Of Curses and Courtship

He nearly wore it in a bun, but his white locks are loose around his shoulders at my request—just how I like it. It makes it easy to pull his face to mine and kiss him hard, letting the room witness our love.

“That’s why I married you, you know,” I say.

Spark passes by us. He swishes his tail and gives us a look of disgust, as he often does when we are affectionate.

“Spark,” Emyr exclaims. “It’s our wedding day. Can we not have one day without your judgment?”

“Ignore him.” I giggle. “You’re right. Today is forus.”

It’s for both of us, but in so many ways, it’s for me. This is the day his kingdom fully accepts me. It’s the day I become royal. It’s the day I am part of something greater, the Sun Palace, which is now bright, with bursts of light cascading through every window in rainbows and yellow beams.

What a beautiful day to be alive.

A voice like bells comes from over our shoulder. “May I have a moment?”

I turn, and my eyebrows creep higher. “Isa…? I wasn’t expecting you. I tried sending you an invitation, but I couldn’t find an address.”

“That is all right, dear one.” Isa chuckles. “I will always find a way to come, whether or not I am invited.”

“We both have much to thank you for,” Emyr says. “If it weren’t for you… well, I would rather not think about what would have transpired.”

He would have married Minetta, who is now happily betrothed to someone else. The curse would not have been broken, and I would have died. Perhaps we should not put such grim things into words on our wedding day. Isa likely does not mean to ruin the mood in such a way.

“There is a reason I have been of such great assistance.” Isa ducks her head. “I am not as selfless as I pretend to be, and it’s time you know why. Perhaps you have already deciphered why that is.”

“Um…” I clasp my hands together, nervously twiddling my fingers. “Then it wasn’t from the kindness of your heart? Please, don’t tell me we owe you a debt. I can’t take any bad news today.”

“No, no. There is no debt.” The older fae steps closer. “Your father truly never told you about me?”

For reasons I don’t understand, my eyes fill with tears. “Forgive me, but he didn’t. Is it possible to speak more plainly?”

Isa’s chest puffs out and deflates. “I am your godmother. Your mother and I were dearest friends.”

Words fail me—my heart races. Tears fill my vision, not from joy or sorrow, but confusion.

Emyr usually has something to say, and I trust him to break the silence.

“Hergodmother?” he yelps. “Since when?”

“Since she was born.” Isa chuckles. “Perhaps this is not theright day to tell you, and I apologize for the interruption. I will leave you to your merriment.”

“No!” I grab her hand. “Forgive me. It will take some time for me to accept this news, but?—”

“Is it such a surprise?” Hurt reflects in her eyes. “I cannot believe your father told you nothing about me. He and I were once friends, you know.”

“He rarely spoke of my mother. She was a sore subject to him, and he may have wrongly assumed she would be to me as well.”

She frowns. “It is a good thing I found you after all, then. I have plenty of stories to tell.”

My eyes light up. “Do you truly?”

“Yes, but they are stories for another day.” She looks around and sighs happily. “I have always loved this palace. I think I will stay for a bit longer, if you do not mind.”

“Of course,” Emyr says. “We don’t. You may stay for as long as you’d like.”

Thank the gods for him. He may be able to form a coherent thought, but I can’t. I have far too many questions, and even though she doesn’t wish to address them today, I need to know.

“How did you find me?” I ask. “Why didn’t you find me sooner?”