Chapter 131

I glance at Luca, who likewise looks at me curiously, picking up on the same vibe.

Because – I mean – Jesse just said some really nice things to Daphne, but the way he delivered them…he wasn’t hitting on her at all. No flirting, no quiet looks of interest. Instead, he just laid out her compliments like he would to any friend who was feeling anxious about their debut in a new city.

Is Jesse – is he not interested in Daphne anymore, the girl to whom he’s professed his ever-lasting love? Was that all a joke?

Or, because we’re back at the Capital, has he just moved on to other girls, letting Daphne fall to the wayside?

And…

Well, why is Rafe frowning at Jesse for being so nice to Daphne?

He’s iealous, Luca says directly into my mind, and I look with surprise up into his eyes. Quietly, subtly, he nods to me. Rafe, he continues, he wishes he’d said that first.

How do you know that!? I ask, likewise silent.

I know he’s jealous, Luca continues wordlessly, giving an accompanying shrug, because that’s how I’ve felt and looked, when someone beat me to saying the things I wanted to say to the girl I liked.

But Jesse’s not even hitting on her! I say, casting out a hand in protest. He’s just being a good friend!

Doesn’t matter, Luca continues, shaking his head and staring into my eyes. He got to -

“Are you guys doing it?” Ben asks from between and slightly behind me and Luca. My mate and I both jump, spinning to see him standing there, looking between us curiously. “Were you like…talking mind-to-mind?”

“Um,” I say, glancing up at Luca, not sure if it’s a secret or not.

“Kinda,” Luca says, giving Ben a little shrug.

“Cool!” Ben says, bursting into a grin as the train comes to a full stop. “Wait, so, what does it sound like? Can you like, hear each other, or is it impressions of words –“

“As fascinating as this is,” Rafe says, interrupting, his tone implying that it’s the least interesting thing he’s ever heard. “I think it’s time that we prepare to disembark. And because half of us are new to this…I think that we should prep you for what’s coming next.”

Luca, Ben, and Daphne go a little pale as Jesse and I sigh. Because Rafe is right – things have changed now, and while we’re used to our world it might take them a little time to adjust. I cast my eyes over Ben and Daphne especially, because at least Luca knows what it’s like to be in the spotlight.

Rafe spends the next few minutes explaining that we will wait to get off of the train until all the other cadets disembark and a team of guards from the Palace can come and sweep both the train and the platform for any threats. Once that’s done, we’ll disembark and be surrounded by guards whose job it is to stop anyone who tries to annoy or harm us. There will be paparazzi waiting for us outside of the station, but in general, we’ll basically have a bubble of protection around us as we head for the cars.

Jesse, a little bored by the briefing – because of course, we’ve done this since we were kids – wanders off to the bar and comes back with a few glasses of wine, pressing them into everyone’s hands. I take a cheerful little sip, attempting to give Rafe the attention he deserves but failing a tiny bit. After all, I know everything he’s going to say.

When Jesse presses a glass of wine into Daphne’s hand, she looks up at him, anxious. “Um,” she whispers, tucking her hair behind her ear, “is this the best idea? More to drink?”

“Oh, yes,” Jesse whispers back, nodding definitively, his face perfectly serious. “Actually, the best way through any and all royal functions is just to be completely drunk the entire time –“

“It’s true,” I whisper, stepping close to Daphne and giving her a wink. “Jesse’s actually been drunk every waking moment since he was eight years old –“

Daphne bursts into laughter at this, looking up at Jesse, who laughs too and smiles down at her.

“Um, excuse me,” Rafe says, frowning over at us, and we all snap our attention back to him. “Am I doing this briefing for myself?”

“I’m listening!” Ben says cheerfully, raising his own glass of wine and then draining it. “You’re doing great, Rafe! Very interesting, very informative! Beautifully presented!”

I can’t help it - I burst into laughter again. And then we all do. Rafe is the last to join us, but then he groans and gives in, snatching Jesse’s glass of wine out of his hands and draining it as Ben did. “That’s what I get, for trying to be the responsible one.”

“Which is why,” Jesse says, slinging an arm around Rafe’s shoulders, “I’ve been trying to convince you to stop taking that role since we were, like, born. If you would just turn into a reckless disgrace like Ariel and me, we could take over the world -”

Rafe scowls at him, but suddenly the door opens, and a man in a royal uniform steps inside, giving a sharp bow. I burst into a smile as he straightens up, because of course I recognize Captain Conner, who heads up the Royal guard and who we’ve known since we were babies.

“Your Highness, your Grace,” he begins, nodding to Jesse and Rafe, “honored guests,” Captain Conner continues, nodding around to the rest of us, but then he stutters to a stop when his eyes fall on me. Conner freezes for a second and then bursts into a smile, bowing low again. “Your highness,” he murmurs, and his face is the picture of happiness as he stands straight. “Forgive me, I wasn’t expecting you.”

“That’s okay!” I say, waving a cheerful hello. “It’s so good to see you!”

He smiles at me but then fights it, working hard to return to his professional demeanor. He takes a deep breath, nodding again, and gesturing towards the door. “If you’ll accompany me? The station has been cleared and the cars are waiting.”

Rafe nods our readiness and Conner steps outside. Then we all grab our backpacks, and Daphne her suitcase, and file cheerfully off the train.

“Wow,” Daphne says, looking around the giant train station with its soaring glass ceilings. Her smile reveals how impressed she is as she walks next to me, my hand in Luca’s. “This is…this is amazing…”

“First time in the capital, Daph?” Luca asks, friendly.

“Yeah,” she says, grinning. “I’m staying a few days – for your fight, of course –“

He beams at her for this.

“And then I’m going to go to my mom’s for the holidays themselves.” Daphne and Luca continue to chat with me in the middle, him asking her where home is, and Daphne letting him know that it’s a little bit north of the capital – just a small town where a fabric mill used to be in the days of industrialization. They chat about family history, but on Daphne’s mention of the north, my mind drifts – predictably – to someone else I know who is from a place much further north.

My heart sinks a little, even as I hold Luca’s hand, and I work very hard to ensure that my emotions don’t travel down my bond to him. Because I’m not sure he needs to know right now just how sad I am that Jackson didn’t meet us at the train, that he didn’t come to the Capital. Part of me wanted him to come so that he can meet my family, and so that they can meet him, but –

I mean, another part just wants him close. He’s my mate, after all. What am I going to do without him for two weeks? How am I supposed to bear it? I mean, I don’t even have any way of contacting him. It’s not like he has a phone at the Academy.

Or otherwise, if we’re being honest.

I sigh, and do my very best to cover my sadness, and I don’t think Luca notices as he continues to chat with Daphne. Her eyes, however, flick to me, her mouth pressing to a sad little line.

But I give her a wink, and force myself to lift my chin, determining to make the best of it.

I look forward, making myself think about how happy I will be when I see my mom, and dad, and my brother and sister – and Jesse’s huge, insane family. They, too, will be waiting for us at the palace when we arrive.

I feel more cheerful as we walk, as I glance around the familiar train station that I’ve been in a thousand times, my eyes sliding over the people who are bustling around, going about their daily business and trying to get home through the cold. And even if my eyes do settle on one particularly tall figure leaning against a lamppost, his back to us and his shoulders turned in, I know it’s just my imagination – my hopes - getting the better of me.

I grit my teeth against my second sigh, forcing my eyes up to all of the pretty tilework that rings the borders of the station, making myself admire the artistry of our people but…

Well, my eyes drift back to the tall figure.

And as we get closer and closer…I narrow my eyes.

Because…

But no. There’s no way.

But then suddenly it’s there – the scent of pine, and embers, and the sense of warm cozy things on cold nights –

And before I can even stop myself, I’ve dropped Luca’s hand. Suddenly I’m sprinting – my mate’s name on my lips.

Jackson turns when he hears his name called, his face curious and serious. But the moment he sees that it’s me?

God, the smile that breaks out on his face - it’s the prettiest damn thing I’ve ever seen.

Captain Conner gasps as I burst past him, grabbing for me and shouting my name, but I’m beyond him now, laughing as I dash across the end of the platform and throw myself into Jackson’s open arms.