Page 2 of Wilds of Wonder
“It’s an adjustment.” Though my husband was from the sky court, as ambassador to the frost court, we spent half our time in his court, and half our time in mine. Every time I had to travel to Valoris, I counted the days until I could come home. I’d done the best I could with our dwelling there. Hanging bright paintings on the walls, throwing plush, colorful rugs across the floors. Installing chandeliers and sconces to make it brighter, more homey. My husband had grumbled about it all when I’d first come to live with him, prattling on about unnecessary expenses.
“Do you miss the frost court when you’re away?” she asked.
“We visit often enough,” I answered noncommittally. The last thing I needed was it getting back to my husband that I was complaining about the home, this life, he provided for me. Which he liked to constantly remind me of. Although he had no problem complaining about the snow and ice and cold of my home, and I just had to grit my teeth and nod along... or suffer his temper.
The door opened, and gasps sounded around the room as a figure stepped inside, black cloak dotted with snow, flurries whirling in after him. A servant shut the door and took his cloak, hanging it on the wall behind him. His umber skin glowed in the warm light, his black hair shorn close to his head, matching black stubble covering his strong jaw.
“Maverick Von Lucas,” Elisabeth said in awe. “He never comes to these things.”
He straightened, face severe as he sent a cursory look around the room, gaze roaming right past me. I hadn’t invited him, which meant... my husband marched his way and shook his hand, clapping the famous adventurer on the back. Not just an adventurer. Explorer, historian, scholar. Maverick did it all, and he’d earned many admirers in the process. Along with a coveted position as the frost queen’s historical advisor. He took another step into the room, everyone crowding around him to hear about his latest escapade.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Elisabeth said, brushing past me and joining the crowd of revelers.
“Tell us about how you got that bejeweled goblet,” a man called. “I heard you had to outrun a few boulders to escape with it.”
Maverick smiled good-naturedly. “And nearly fell into a snake pit in the process.”
A few women, including Elisabeth, raised their hands to their mouths in horror while the men chuckled.
My husband raised his hands to shush everyone. “At least let the man get a drink before you barrage him with questions about his latest quests.”
My throat grew thick as I hung back. I’d love nothing more than to sit next to Maverick and spend the entire night listening to his adventures. But my husband would never allow it, not when I had duties to perform, like mingling and making him look good.
Calls for my name echoed across the room, some high priest’s wife who probably wanted to gossip. I needed to stop staring at Maverick and mingle with others, to represent my husband with a smile on my face. I glanced back at Elisabeth’s ring, my fingers twitching as I heard bits and pieces of Maverick’s latest conquest: where he barely escaped with his life after diving in the frigid Silver Seas to explore its icy depths. Then he’d had a run-in with the notoriously secretive seafolk. So many adventures. So many treasures. So much history.
My fingers twitched again as Elisabeth’s ring glinted in the light. No. No. I could not do that here. My extracurricular activities happened outside the home, in secret. Never so close to my husband, and definitely never in front of so many people.
Maverick's voice rang out from the middle of the crowd. “Thegolden rope was a challenge. I had to scale a cliff to get it while fighting off dragons. I didn’t realize until I got to the top of the damn mountain that they were actually just protecting their eggs—which lay on top of the rope. I got quite a few burns.” Through the crowd I could see him rolling up his black sleeves, revealing scar-riddled arms.
“He’s so gorgeous,” a water court ambassador said as she passed me.
“And he’s single,” the woman next to the ambassador murmured.
The ambassador waved her hand. “He’s always single. Too focused on his work to take a wife.”
“Maybe that’ll change once he meets me,” the other woman said, and they both laughed, weaving their way toward him.
Oh, screw it. I may not ever experience the life Maverick Von Lucas lived. But I could live out my own passions, in my own small way.
I sidled toward Elisabeth, ring sparkling on her finger. If Maverick saw it first, he’d no doubt want it, and he’d get it. The difference was all he’d have to do was ask. Then he’d take it back to the Academy of Scholars & Historians, where it would be forever out of my reach.
The history behind it. The stories it could tell. It would be an amazing addition to my collection. After tonight, Elisabeth might shove it in some drawer, not even caring about the valuable artifact she possessed. It would be lost to time. I swallowed as she turned to whisper with one of the high priestesses of the frost court, whose gown was long and flowing, fabric thin, unlike the rest of the ladies from other courts who wore thick wool dresses, often layered with fur-lined jackets and sturdy boots. Like the priestess, I didn’t need to bother with all that, being from the frost court. Ice flowed through my blood.
Someone called for me again, and I caught the sharp look my husband sent me.
Do not embarrass me.
I bit my lip, then he looked away, and I had my opportunity. Before I even knew what I was doing, I stumbled forward, bumping into Elisabeth, muttering some apology, placing one hand on her arm while the other deftly reached to that ring and slipped it right off her finger and into the pocket of my dress.
I spun on my heel and made my way across the room toward thecalls for my voice, heart hammering. If I got caught stealing, it wouldn’t just be my husband’s wrath I’d have to endure. It would be the frost queen’s as well.
It was a good thing I’d never been caught, and I had no intentions of starting now.
Chapter Two
EMORY
Maverick didn’t stay long. I suspected he came only to do my husband a favor. Lord Growley regularly donated to the academy where Maverick was a professor—his other coveted position—so he’d likely been forced to make an appearance and keep one of their wealthy donors happy.
