Page 86 of Brighter Than Gold

“He said it was too formal for me to call him Burke.” I shrugged, still not fully comfortable with his preferred name. “Anyway, he caught Nyx and I at the wedding, and well, you know how he likes to take things out when he’s frustrated.” Ialmostblushed. “Anyway, I fled the palace after the attack, and I ended up working at an inn with Nyx, until we ran into Yates weeks later. I came back to the palace and told Kas I was pregnant, and for the security of the child, we married.” It seemed so much simpler saying it all out loud, so easy and finessed.

“But you left?” Tanna asked.

“Yes. It was so soon after the attack on the Burke tower and he didn’t want to keep me in harm’s way. I was traveling to a safehouse and we were…” I had difficulty putting into words the horrible things Lazio had done. “We were held hostage by the Cormie Rats.”

“Wait…” Charlotte said. “The Rats?”

“You know them?” I asked, both surprised and scared. Charlotte became suddenly grim and solemn. For the first time ever, she had nothing to say.

“A story for another time, perhaps,” Tanna offered. Charlotte pushed the cake aside and reached for her wine.

“May I see the ring?” Tanna asked with a timid blush. I nodded and reached my hand out, displaying the simple gold band with the three sapphire stars. “Just lovely,” she marveled.

“I’m relieved that you’re both, I don’t know…all right with everything that’s happened. I value your friendship so much.”

“We were equally worried that we may lose you as a friend, given your new status, and well,ours,” Tanna admitted.

That made me chuckle. “I think I need real friends more than I ever have.” She reached over and hugged me tightly.

“Gods, I hope I’m allowed to request you both for company as well,” I said laughing. Even Charlotte giggled at that.

“Diana wouldn’t even utter your name,” she said. “I thoroughly hope she comes to tell me to go up to your quarters one day.”

“If I need to exercise my newfound authority, I will happily start there.”

“How do you feel?” Charlotte asked. “Being pregnant?”

“I’m scared, and slightly nauseous all the time, and just honestly so in love.” Reflexively I wrapped my arms around my belly. “I never thought I wanted children until this happened. But I’ve never loved something so fiercely.” Emotions swelled, I hardly ever had the opportunity to speak this openly and honestly. I seemed to always be apologizing or excusing the fact that I fell pregnant, but the truth was, I had such love for this baby. And I was grateful to have friends with whom I could share my happiness.

“You look radiant,” Nyx commented. He had seen me at my worst, he would know.

“What else? I feel like you’ve lived this whole other life in the last few months,” Charlotte said.

I wasn’t ready to divulge the rest, and frankly I didn’t know if I was allowed to. I knew my heritage was still subject to a degree of secrecy, and what had happened with Callan, well not a word of that would leave my lips.

“It’s just been… a lot. I’m happy to see familiar faces.”

For the next two hours we ate cake and lounged in Nyx’s bed. We gossiped and laughed, and it was the best evening I could remember having. I had such beautiful and honest friends in Tanna and Charlotte, despite the fact that all three of us shared my new husband’s bed. There truly wasn’t an ounce of jealousy I felt.

And then there was a knock on the door.

A footman entered shyly, seeing all of us on the bed.

“Umm, Miss Charlotte, I’ve come to collect you,” he said vaguely.

Oh.

She flushed a bright red that nearly matched her fiery hair.

“Be there in a moment!” she said to the footman, who seemed more than happy to disappear back through the door. “Well, this is fucking awkward!” she announced with a wine-heavy laugh.

“We won’t let it be,” I said. “I’ll walk you out.” I smiled warmly and held my hand out for her. She nodded and took it happily. “I feel rather ashamed, and like I should warn you,” I whispered as we made our way through Nyx’s quarters. “He’s angry…I know he always calls on you when he’s angry.”

I was suddenly soaked with guilt. My earlier confession to Kaspian was going to be taken out on innocent Charlotte.

She sighed and turned to me at the door. “It would probably be indecent of me to remind you that I enjoy it,” she said.

I hugged her tightly, and when I made to pull back, she kept me pressed firmly against her.

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