Page 140 of Gift from the Wing

“You okay, Willy?” she asks quietly, coming out of the room and shutting the door.

“I’m fine. I didn’t solidify my block well enough. That room…it’s powerful. I’m sorry you had to see some of that.”

“You don’t have to apologize. It’s okay. But those gowns…we’ve never worn those before,” she says with a mischievous pitch to her tone, and I shake my head, leading her down the hall to my room.

“They were just some silly gown ideas I ran by Aurora for the Spring Ball. I thought it would be fun for us to match.”

“I think they’re perfect,” she says softly, and I squeeze her hand. She’s trying to push the same enthusiastic tone she had earlier, but it’s diminished substantially.

The light enters back into her eyes slightly as we reach my bedroom, and she chuckles at the familiarity. Of course she has to confirm that the bathroom is the exact same and the closet is just as full.

“Do you want to eat on the balcony or in the breakfast room?”

“Your fancy new balcony, of course,” she says, pushing the French doors open wide.

She takes a huge inhale with her arms spread wide, soaking up the sun, and I plop myself down on the couch to message Chef and my guys the change of breakfast locations.

“Ugh, this is so nice. I’d drink my coffee outside every morning if I had a balconylike this.”

“Well, you do have an earth elemental Nexus member who’s more than capable of building you one. Not to mention, his best friend, and your best friend are both more than capable as well.”

“Are you crazy? I can’t just start changing aspects of the palace.”

Of her own wing?

She most certainly can. I’ve already asked Corentin and Aurora.

“I think everyone would be okay with it. It’s not like it’s a bad change. Everyone would enjoy it. Maybe we’ll talk the guys into building us a connecting balcony so we can meet out there together and have coffee.”

“Yes, I love that. Fuck yeah, you ask them.”

Will do.

Pushing myself up, I head back through my room to open the door for Chef and Mrs. Grace, then thank them profusely as they take our huge assortment out to the table on the balcony. My smile slips just a second when I catch Oakly staring off into space, lost in her thoughts that quickly, but when Mrs. Grace places a cup of coffee in front of her, she’s back to grinning and giving her thanks.

I’m stuck in the middle of the battle waging inside of me currently. I want to get her to talk about it, not let her bury it down like my guys have done for me, but at the same time, I don’t want to push her. She’s trying hard to put on a brave face and I’m so proud of her, but I don’t want her to suffer in silence when I’m all ears.

“Dig in,” I say cheerily.

I stay all smiles and giggles, listening to her talk about everything under the sun, except what she’s feeling. Her mouth is moving a mile a minute, trying to outrace the thoughts, but I don’t interrupt.

“Have you gone for your morning flight yet?”I ask Tanith.

“No. The infuriating vampire is working out with the boys. As though their little stretches are more important than me spreading my wings.”

I hold in my snort, but mentally, I’m dying. She’s so damn sassy when she doesn’t get her way.

“Care to take Oakly and me up?”I ask, then backtrack because that may have been rude.“Sorry to just flat out ask, Tanith. I didn’t even consider if you fly people other than Keeper without inviting them yourself.”

“No offense, young one. Other people, most certainly not. But you are family, as is she. I will come pick you both up.”

“Hey,” I say, reaching across the table to lay my hand on Oakly’s to stop her babbling. “Want to go on an adventure?”

Her eyes draw down and a devilish little smirk crosses her face. “What are you thinking?”

“Follow me,” I order instead of answering.

Walking to the railing around the balcony, I lift us up on a ball of my air and she squeals when our feet land on the edge. I can sense how close Tanith is to approaching, so I lace my fingers through Oakly’s.

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