As we wander through the streets, we stumble upon an inn, creatively named The Three Sisters. I roll my eyes at the name, but since it’s close by and cozy enough, Nolan and I enter. Inside, a fire glows in the hearth, with a few patrons gathering around it. Some are playing lutes, and one or two visitors have broken into song, though each demonstrates varying levels of talent.
“This isn’t what I expected,” I say to Nolan as we wait in line to purchase a room.
“What do you mean?” he asks.
“Well, for a town that’s dedicated to one of the Fates, I expected something more?—”
“Dreary? Sinister? Dark? Gloomy?” Nolan interrupts, a knowing grin on his face.
I nod. “Exactly. Prison-like.”
“The legends of the Youngest Sister are kind to her, aren’t they?” he asks with a shrug.
“Supposedly, she’s the one who cares most about mortals,” I answer. “At least, she doesn’t like meddling in our affairs and doesn’t like when her Sisters do, either.”
“Seems like she feels a sort of responsibility for them,” Nolan muses.
“I can’t say I disagree with her assessment. It would’ve been nice to have been left alone,” I say under my breath.
Nolan looks pensive, his gaze landing lightly on the Mating Mark on my cheek. “I don’t know if I entirely agree with that.”
Before he can explain, we’re summoned to the innkeeper’s desk. As we’re about to check in and purchase a room, I hear a strange but familiar voice call out.
“Winds?”
CHAPTER 18
Iwhirl around, certain I’m hearing things. The music in the inn stops abruptly. One of the men playing the lyre—badly, I might add—has jumped to his feet. He shouts my name again, as if he can hardly believe it.
It takes me a moment to register who he is. He’s young, handsome, and bearded, with wavy dark hair and bright eyes. There’s something missing about his face. It takes me a moment to realize it’s the absence of shadows underneath his eyes.
“Victor?” I ask. The shock isn’t merely due to his presence, but his appearance. I’ve never seen him, well, happy. Like an idiot, the next thing out of my mouth is, “You sing?”
“I can’t believe it’s you,” he says, rushing across the room and throwing his arms around me.
I laugh, surprised. Nolan stiffens beside me, and I remember he doesn’t know who this handsome stranger is, that Victor might as well be my younger sibling.
I pull back and glance at Nolan. “This is Victor,” I explain, a little awkwardly.
Turning back to Victor, I can’t help but notice how something dark has overcome his expression as he stares at Nolan.
“This is my husband,” I say to Victor, carefully. I note, for the first time, the familiar darkness in my friend’s gaze.
“Yes, Captain Astor. I remember,” he says.
Nolan frowns at him, then his eyes widen with recognition. “It’s been some time,” he says. “You’ve changed.”
“Not as much as you have,” says Victor, at which point I remember that Victor would have only been a few years younger than Nolan at the orphanage, and that the increased difference in age is due to the time Victor spent in Neverland.
“Should I be congratulating you?” Victor asks me, his hands still on my shoulders, protectively.
I glance back at him. His expression softens when he meets my eyes. I’m not sure what about my appearance convinces him, but his shoulders sag in relief. In fact, his body language changes entirely, and he relaxes, easing into both of our presences.
“I’ve never seen you like this,” he says quietly, almost to himself. Before I can ask what he means, he pats Nolan on the shoulder like they’re old friends. Nolan almost winces with surprise.
“Well,” Victor says with a grin, “I’m assuming you’ll want to see the others.”
Charlie and Maddoxjoin us as we leave the inn. Maddox lingers somewhat behind, while Charlie skips ahead with a triumphant air. She and I exchange a glance that communicates we’ll have much to discuss later.
