Chapter Thirty-Eight
After I fell asleep next to him, I’d had no more nightmares to terrorize me. We awoke the next morning curled into each other, neither of us acknowledging the previous night as we got out of bed.
“We can be adults about this,” I told him. “We have one bed, and it’s big enough that we can both use it.”
“Whatever you say, Lilypad,” he’d said, a gleam in his eyes that once again made me think he was toying with me—and enjoying it. I rushed into the bathing chambers to get dressed and away from Penn.
Shortly after, we met Gabrielle and Leoni outside the castle and walked the stone streets of Apolis together. The sun shined bright overhead, not a cloud in the sky, and the ocean stretched out as far as the eye could see.
“I don’t know how much of this you remember,” Gabrielle said, gesturing to Apolis.
The water court was much smaller than Elwen, everyone living in the seaside town surrounding the castle, the glittering river circling the entire court, whereas the earth court was made of many villages and small towns. I always liked the quaintnessof Apolis. Everyone knew each other, and it had felt like one big family—similar to Mosswood Forest, now that I thought about it.
I looked around the stone street at the little white stores, all of them with the same terra cotta roofs and windows that gave view to bakeries, a seafood market, a butcher, a blacksmith, multiple restaurants.
I remembered running these streets with Gabrielle when we were younger, trying to lose her guards as we crisscrossed through the narrow alleyways and ducked under clotheslines. We’d run all the way to the cliffs, then dive down into the water to swim. We also got a stern talking-to by both my father and Gabrielle’s parents about the dangers of doing such things.
But we were wild, young, and free. We didn’t know mortality back then, how precious life was, how easily it could be taken away.
“I remember everything,” I said and peered at her. “Does that little bakery still exist, the one with those filo-dough pies? A man ran it with his wife. He was so kind, always sneaking us extras when our parents weren’t looking.”
I expected Gabrielle to laugh, but her face darkened. “He died, unfortunately, and his wife couldn’t run the bakery without him.”
I exchanged a look with Penn, and he nodded. He’d noticed it, too—that strange tone to Gabrielle’s voice.
“We have other bakeries,” Leoni said quickly. “None can rival that of Master Theo, but they’re still very good.”
“Of course,” I responded, careful to keep my tone light. “Are we going to dine with your mother and father tonight?”
“They’re indisposed right now, I’m afraid,” Gabrielle said. “Both came down with some kind of sickness, and I don’t want either of you to be exposed.”
“That’s thoughtful of you,” I said. “Still, I’d like to see them at some point.”
Gabrielle stared out at the horizon, her eyes distant, like her mind was somewhere else. “Perhaps they’ll feel better before it’s your time to leave.”
A hard edge lined her words, and I didn’t want to push, to ruin what had been a pleasant morning so far.
We continued to walk down the stone streets, passing people by. Women and young children. I had to keep my gaze straight ahead and make an effort not to keep glancing at Penn in that damn outfit Gabrielle had left for him.
Just like I’d predicted, he looked far too good in the toga. It slashed down across his chest, revealing one shoulder thick with muscle, then dropped down just above his calves, strong and cut, covered by thick blonde hair. I wanted to unpin that toga and let it drop to the ground, see what else it might reveal.
Which was exactly why I wasn’t looking at him. All he needed was to catch me staring again. His head would probably explode from how big it was at this point. Hopefully he thought I was playing games as much as he was. At least I had an excuse now. We had to act betrothed.
“My father loved it here, you know,” I said, trying to break whatever tension had developed after I’d mentioned Gabrielle’s parents. “He always talked about the eel your father served at feasts. He loved it.”
My voice wavered, and I squeezed my eyes closed for just a moment. Penn’s hand closed around mine, warm and comforting, as he played the perfect fiancé. He never forgot his role.
“The town feels so empty today,” I commented. “I’ve seen a few people, but I remember it being so lively and active when I was last here.”
Gabrielle shot us a smile that looked more like a grimace. “Yes, well, that same sickness that’s affected my parents seems to have spread to others here as well. That happens when youlive in such a small town. Illness tends to spread quickly and hit us all at the same time.”
“I’m glad it hasn’t affected you,” I said.
“Me too.” A guard came rushing up and whispered something in Gabrielle’s ear. “If you’ll excuse me, I must get back to the castle. Official business. Leoni will stay with you.”
Leoni frowned like that was the last thing she wanted to do.
“We can walk around on our own.” I gestured to the street. “It’s really no problem.”
