Page 88 of The Abandoned Princess

I jerked back in time to be swept up into yet another hug. I threw an apologetic look at Xander, but he looked amused rather than offended, so I leaned into the embrace.

When the young woman pulled back, I beamed at her. “Giselle!”

She shook her head, one hand resting on her bulging belly. “You have no idea how worried I was when no one could find you! Are you really all right? If it wasn’t for the godmothers’ reassurances…”

“Yes, about those.” I peered around the nearly empty room. “Are any of them in attendance? Because I have a bone to pick with them.”

“I haven’t seen any yet,” she said sounding half amused and half concerned. “But there are some other people who will be just as glad to see you as I am.”

She waved at a huddle of people behind her, and two other young women stepped forward.

“Cassie!” I cried. “And Daria! I heard you went back across the ocean.”

“I did,” she said in her usual calm way, although something about her had changed.

I decided it was the air of confidence and contentment that hung about her. It suited her.

“The godmothers were very insistent we all come,” Cassie said with a smile. “I live across the Great Desert these days, but I can’t say I minded the excuse to visit Northhelm.” Her eyes traveled to Celeste, reminding me that Cassie had been even more fascinated by the idea of the spymaster than I had been.

“Cassie is a spymaster herself now,” Xander murmured in my ear, making my eyes widen.

“I hope you aren’t spilling all our secrets, Xander,” Cassie said with a look of amused reproof.

“I don’t have any secrets from Daisy.” He slid his arms around me from behind.

All three girls exclaimed in delight.

“I see we’re going to steal you across the desert,” Cassie said in a satisfied tone.

“I knew it all along,” a new arrival said. “There had to be a reason the godmothers kept giving their clues to you, Xander.”

I turned to see a familiar face, although I’d never met the dark-haired young woman before.

“Kali!” I cried, delighted.

She blinked, clearly taken aback. “You’re obviously Daisy, but how do you know me? Don’t try to tell me Xander carries portraits of all his family around with him because I won’t believe you.”

A laugh from behind her drew my eyes to another new face. This one made me suck in my breath. It was Xander. But it also wasn’t.

“Xav!” Xander released me to go to his brother.

I watched their enthusiastic greeting with amazement. They really did look alike, but there was an indefinable something that made me certain I would never mistake Xavier for Xander, or vice versa.

“But really,” Kali said, not to be deterred, “how do you know me?”

“Actually,” I said, “the godmothers didn’t entirely abandon me.” I explained about the dreams, and they all wanted to know which parts of their stories I’d seen.

“You even dreamed of me?” asked another young woman who had been lingering at the back of the group. She had large eyes and an elegant air, and I would have recognized her anywhere.

“Of course, Zaria! I loved your adventures. Is Rek here?”

She nodded, clearly bemused. “How unexpected. He’s over there congratulating the new king.”

She pointed to where a tall, handsome man was conducting a serious conversation with King William.

“Good to see Rek is as responsible as ever,” Xander said with a grin.

“He’s been attempting to reform me,” Xavier said with an exaggerated shudder, his eyes gleaming. “He seems to think I might be a weaker target alone.”

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