No.
That wasn’t the whole reason. The truth was, she couldn’t stop thinking about the fae princes, how each of them got under her skin in their own way.
Damn it.Aven wanted to slap herself all the way through Nora’s story.
Why hadn’t she tried harder to reach her men?
Her attention had fractured. The day around them appeared normal, with fat white clouds floating in the sky above, stark against the vibrant blue. On such a beautiful day, she hadn’t expected anything out of the ordinary, and yet it found her regardless.
Nora paid her no attention and didn’t seem to care when Aven remained silent. Not until the sun sank lower in the sky and she ushered them inside for dinner.
Finally.
“The Crown Prince will want you showered and dressed for dinner,” Nora remarked cheerfully. “Do you want to pick out your dress this time or have me do it?”
Aven might have made some snort of snide remark if it hadn’t been for the message waiting to be read. “Thank you, I’ll find something. There are so many beautiful pieces for me to choose from.”
Was that too obvious?
Nora gleamed at her answer until she realized Aven hadn’t moved from the bathroom doorway. Then her sharp eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong, Miss? You’re being too accommodating.”
Damn it.
“Me? No.” Aven pressed a palm to her chest and felt her heart race beneath her skin. “Maybe I’ve just gotten used to wearing dresses. I might even like them now. I’m excited to get clean and wear something pretty.”
Nora snorted. “I’ll believe it when the sky turns green overhead and that haughty Thousand-Year King takes a queen,” she replied, clicking her tongue. “Now hurry to bathe and I’ll fix your hair.”
“Sure.” It was a useless answer, but it gave her the space to bathe in private.
She had to work on being squirrely. It drew too much attention even from Nora, who might very well run back to Cillian and say that something was amiss with the human princess.
Aven hastily closed the door behind her and let out a breath. Savoring every moment she spent alone as she slipped her handinto her pocket. She only had a small amount of time before she had to actually get in the bath. Flipping on the faucet, she let the sound of running water hide her scramble as she brought the leaf in front of her and unfolded the edges.
The moment she did, the magic keeping it in its form released. The boat leaf turned into a sheath of paper with her name on top.
Princess Aven,
We will never stop looking. We will find a way to overthrow the occupation and rescue you. Have faith and keep looking for us. We are on the way. Never give up!
—M.S.
Major Stone. Her battalion had risked much to send this secret message to her. Hope crinkled her nose, and she read the message a second time, a third, and a fourth, memorizing the words and keeping them in her heart.
Unwilling to risk having anyone else find it, she lit one of the candles on her vanity with a long match and burned the note in the crackling flame. Watching until every lovingly written word disappeared.
“Is something burning in there?” Nora called out. “I smell smoke.”
Aven gulped, blanched. “Candle, sorry. I’m trying to relax.”
“I understand.”
They not only got their message to her, but they were looking for a way to rescue her. The more she thought about it, the further her stomach dropped until she became nothing but an empty yawning chasm.
Her mencouldn’tcome to the palace.
There weren’t enough of them to stand up against the princes and their soldiers. Yes, with a full squad, they might be able to storm the gates, but they’d been crushed during the last skirmish.
Now?