Page 74 of A Glimpse of Music

“What if Calle won’t let me leave again?” Her voice shook at the terrifying possibility. “What if he takes Maisy away for good?”

More gentle caresses. “This is Calle we’re talking about. Not Liam. He would never hold you against your will. And we left Maisy and Eva with Lyyli. Breathe, Nyana. All will be well.”

She nodded and focused on his sweet, cinnamon-apple scent. Warmth. Safety. Love. They were in this together. No matter the outcome. Joel wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her or Maisy if he could help it.

The palace doors squealed open. Her shoulders tensed. I’m not ready. I don’t like this. I don’t feel safe.

“There you are!” Calle called out behind her. “Finally. I’ve been on the edge of my seat since last night.” He chuckled, followed by the sound of boots jogging down stone stairs. “Care to enlighten me?”

Joel ever so slightly shook his head at Calle over her shoulder, and she heard him halt. He said nothing more. He didn’t approach. She exhaled a ragged breath. Embarrassment warred with her desire to flee.

And then Joel leaned closer to murmur quietly to her. “I can suggest we meet somewhere else. We don’t have to enter the palace.”

Warm, cinnamon-apple intrigue beckoned her closer to the safety of him. Lean into Joel? Flee? Or face the horrors of her past?

A frosty breath escaped her mouth with one last shaky exhale. She could do this. She could face her past. She could face Calle. And then she could move forward.

“Don’t leave my side,” she whispered.

“I won’t.”

“Promise me.”

He pressed a sweet, lingering kiss to her forehead. “I promise.”

Slowly, she turned to face what she wanted to flee. Calle shifted from foot to foot, discomfort and uncertainty in the crease between his brows. Her breath caught like each time she saw him since she’d found out he still lived. He looked so much like Maisy. Shoulder-length auburn hair. The same face shape. Similar eyes aside from the color difference. His were amber. Maisy had inherited her blue. And the way he pursed his mouth as if deep in thought exactly mirrored their daughter.

Their daughter.

She wrung her hands together. How would Calle react? Would he be upset? Angry? Happy?

No, he would be absolutely crushed. She wanted to spare him the heartache. But sometimes, the truth was worth the pain.

Calle stuffed his hands in his pockets, never taking his eyes off her. “You look…different.”

Joel snorted. “Not a compliment, Calle.”

“Well, I meant it as one.” His laughter lightened the heavy atmosphere considerably. “You look happier. More like how I remember you. It took me off guard for a moment.”

She released the tension from her lungs and attempted a smile. “I am happy. Joel…” Her words trailed off, not knowing what to say or how to say it. Instead, she settled for taking Joel’s hand and squeezing it.

Rather than acting cold toward her, Calle offered a warm smile when his gaze settled on their intertwined hands. “It seems you ended up where you needed to be all along. I’m happy for you two.”

“Thank you.” The words directly from Calle’s mouth meant more than he could possibly know.

A flap of wings brought Nyana’s attention to the skies. The shimmer of gold upon white feathers momentarily took her breath away. Skaja’s wings glistened like sunlight upon freshly fallen snow.

The valkyrie landed with hardly a sound beside Calle, her nose and the curve of her ears tinged with pink from the cold. She dressed in thick leather decorated with feathers, her hair bound in a braid down her back. Not quite Heulwen fashion. Not quite harpy fashion either.

Skaja and Calle shared a lingering glance, speaking without words. She raised her eyebrows. He shrugged a shoulder. Her mouth quirked to the side. His lips responded with a playful smirk.

Although they didn’t physically touch in Nyana’s presence, the way he looked at Skaja with longing and love in his eyes warmed her heart. Calle was happy, too.

“It’s cold out here,” Skaja commented, breaking the momentary silence as she eyed her. “Where would you like to meet, Nyana?”

Calle snorted. “You never get cold.”

“I’m practicing being more civil, just like you suggested.” She shoved his shoulder, causing him to laugh as he stumbled. “I don’t see you doing the same.”

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