Page 132 of Wilds of Wonder
“We’re going to find this dust on us for the rest of our lives, aren’t we?” He faced his palm toward me, covered in black shimmers.
We’d just arrived back from our trek across Fyriad yesterday, and Maverick had wasted no time coming straight here to quit his job and collect his belongings.
Today we’d have to face so much. The entire court. We’d have to reveal Aron, rightful king of Fyriad, the frost queen’s deception. We’d have to reveal the truth about the Wilds.
Maverick would speak to the queen’s council later, made up of all her advisers. Hopefully they’d be receptive to what he had to say. I was going to reach out to Princess Poppy, whom I trusted more than any of the other leaders. I needed her on my side before Aron called yet another conclave to discuss everything that had happened. If the people accepted him as king, that was.
I stared at the dust on Maverick’s hand, then my gaze caught on that scarf, the one I’d used so long ago to bind his wound, peeking out of one of the crates.
“Maverick,” I said slowly.
“Ah.” He stepped back. “I know that look. The moment’s over, isn’t it?”
“Do you think it’s possible the dust is connected to the Seven Spirits? I know we’ve talked about it before. But I’m starting to think that each dust color might represent a different spirit?” I nodded toward his hand. “Black for Spirit Shadow. Blue for Spirit Frost.” I thought of The Book of Yaraho, the red dust that we’d blown off it. “Red for Spirit Fire.”
Maverick took another step back, and I straightened my skirt, still perched on the edge of his desk. “That would explain why the entire star court was covered in that black dust. Spirit Shadow ripped through it, left remnants of it. You think that dust was from him.”
“Every time I’ve found an artifact connected to the spirits, there’s been that peculiar shimmery dust on it.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize it before.” I thought back to when I’d first really taken notice of it. In the crypt. “It was coating the walls and the floor of that crypt Spirit Shadow had been freed from.” I wrinkled my nose. “But, Mav, there was something else.”
“What?” he asked.
“I could’ve sworn there was another color of dust mixed in with the black in that crypt where Spirit Shadow escaped from. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but now...”
“Okay...” he said, then crossed his arms. “Do you think another spirit got set free along with Spirit Shadow? That there were two spirits trapped in one tomb?”
I bit the inside of my cheek, mulling over the theory. “I think that’s a possibility. But which spirit? And why wouldn’t they have shown themselves by now?”
Maverick swore.
I hopped off the desk. “I’ll have to tell Aron about this, and we’ll have to do more digging. I could be wrong about all of it.”
He raised his eyebrows. “An extended honeymoon, maybe?’
“We never had our first honeymoon.” I rolled my eyes.
“Oh, I seem to remember our first honeymoon vividly, Mrs. Von Lucas. It involved a lightning bolt and a disturbed older man.”
“Well, this one will be a little different. More romantic.” Itrailed a finger down his chest. “Camping under the stars. Visiting all seven courts and collecting any evidence we can to support our theory. Making love every single night. And some mornings. And some afternoons.”
“When do we leave?” His eyes flashed with heated desire.
I laughed as he drew me from the desk and into him. “As soon as possible. I’m sure Aron will agree that, as his historical advisor, this is of the utmost importance for me to focus on.”
“Oh I’m sure he will.” Maverick pressed his lips to mine, a deep kiss that made my toes curl. “Maybe just leave out the making love part.”
I swatted his arm, but he only held me tighter. The future was uncertain. It was scary. But with this man by my side, it was also full of hope. And that was all I needed for now.
Epilogue
EMORY
“Maverick, where are you taking me?”
A blindfold was fastened around my eyes, blocking any view I might have of the space we stood in. I sniffed the air. Must and mold and a hint of snow.
“Are you ready?” he whispered into my ear.
“Yes,” I said, exasperated.
