Chapter 200
“What, you snuck out? Didn’t…tell him?” Jesse asks, his frown deepening in his confusion.
“What did you want me to do,” Daphne asks, giving him a genuine grin, “go knocking on bedroom doors and wake everyone up just to tell them I’m leaving? It is very early, Jesse, even if you keep psychotic child hours.”
“No, definitely don’t want you…knocking on doors…” Jesse murmurs, studying her for a moment as he processes the subtle information about closed doors and sleeping arrangements in the Palace last night. Then he works hard to fight a pleased smirk and turns his face away, lifting his chin towards the cab and starting over towards it. Daphne follows, suppressing her own grin.
As Daphne pulls the back door open and settles her breakfast inside a small pocket in her bag, Jesse knocks on the cabby’s window and has a quick exchange with the driver. Then he comes around, still holding Seraphina up against his chest, and leans down to give Daphne a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Safe journey, Daphne,” Jesse murmurs, standing straight and giving her a sad little smile, like he really does wish she could stay.
“Happy Midwinter, Jess,” she replies, beaming up at him.
“Byebye,” Seraphina whispers, giving a little wave, and Daphne laughs, leaning forward to give the little girl a kiss on the cheek before she hops into the cab and Jesse closes the door shut after her. Daphne looks backwards as the cab pulls away, a little too pleased to see that Jesse and the little girl still stand in the driveway, watching her go.
Then her eyes glaze over and Daphne loses herself in thought for the next twenty minutes. Deep thoughts – about…possibilities, and her life, and her future. And what it is that she really, really wants. When the taxi comes to a stop and the cabby clears his throat, Daphne blinks back to herself and is shocked to realize that they’re already at the station.
“Oh,” Daphne says, straightening up, embarrassed. “Sorry, sir. How much do I owe you?” She reaches for her bag, knowing her wallet is inside.
“Nothing, miss,” the cabby says, his voice very, very happy. “The young Duke paid for your journey – tipped me so heartily that I don’t even have to work the rest of the day, or tomorrow. Can just…spend the holiday with my kids.”
Daphne’s mouth hangs open for a second as she stares at the cabby, shocked, but he just grins at her and she presses her jaw shut, blushing again.
“Well, then I hope you enjoy it!” Daphne says, truly meaning it as she reaches for the door handle and starts to press it open and step outside.
“You too, miss! A happy holiday to you as well!”
Daphne shakes her head a little as the cab pulls away, pulling her bag up onto her shoulder and sighing, thinking of the mystery of a too-generous, too-caring boy who wants everyone to believe the opposite of him.
And with that thought heavy on her mind, Daphne turns towards the train station and starts on her journey home.
Mom bans all war talk for thirty-six hours.
“In honor of the gods!” she says at breakfast, staring around at us all like we’re blasphemous heathens. But every single one of us – Jackson alone perhaps excepted – just smirks at her, because we know her real reasons. Mom loves the holidays and won’t let anything spoil her good time. Not even the impending threat of war and destruction.
The morning passes cheerfully, as midwinter eve always does – with a big breakfast, and then decorating the living room with fresh pine boughs brought in from the forest, and stacking the wood high in the hearth. We can’t have our own traditional bonfire, after all – not inside, at least – but fire is a very traditional part of the holiday, and I intend to keep it burning for all twenty-four hours of midwinter. It’s tradition, and it’s been my job since I was a little kid.
Still, as the hours slip past and the sun starts to sink towards the horizon, I bite my lip, glancing surreptitiously at the clock.
“Just go,” Jackson says, kneeling next to me at the fireplace, handing me little sprays of pine that I’m tucking between the logs so that the fire will smell all balsamy and fresh.
“What?” I ask, spinning to stare at him with wide eyes.
“You think I use this Alpha hearing for nothing?” Jackson says, smirking at me and gesturing towards his ear. “I know Luca asked you to take a few hours with him this afternoon. It’s fine, Ariel, no one will care – just…go get ready and take the time you need.”
I gasp a little, pretending to be more scandalized than I am at his evesdropping. But then my shoulders slump and I glance over to where my parents are sitting, mom finishing up wrapping some of the presents that we’ll open tomorrow.
“Luca kind of got in trouble with my dad yesterday,” I whisper, anxious.
“So, what, you don’t think your dad’s going to let you go?” Jackson asks, likewise looking over at my parents, frowning like he kind of doubts it.
“No,” I say with a sigh, slumping back on my butt and resting my weight back on my hands. “I just…wish we had peace.”
“It’ll work out,” Jackson murmurs, reaching out to tuck a sprig of pine behind my ear. But I don’t miss that his wrist, just too casually, brushes against my neck as he drops his hand.
I gasp, smacking at his arm. “Jackson!” I growl. “Did you just scent mark me!? Again!?”
“Whatttt?” he asks, playing dumb. “No!”
“You liar,” I hiss, but I can’t help laughing as I lean forward towards him.
Jackson growls too and grabs me, pulling me into his lap. I laugh, curling up with him there and smiling up at him. “You don’t mind if I go? Leave you here all alone with my family, on a holiday of all things?”
“Nah, I’ll be fine,” he says, glancing around the room at where my family happily prepares for the party tonight. “I’ll…find Juniper. She’ll protect me.”
I grin, loving the idea. “I’ll be home in time for dinner,” I say, sitting up straighter and pressing a kiss to his jaw.
“If you’re not, I’m eating your food,” Jackson murmurs, helping me stand up from his lap by pressing me upwards with a hand placed a little too conveniently right on my ass.
“Don’t,” I snap, glaring at him and pointing a finger down at him even as I back away towards the hallway to my room. “Because none of the cooks will be here tomorrow, and we’ll just be on leftovers and whatever the hell mom can whip up, which is usually just cheese and crackers. And chocolate.”
“Hey!” mom calls from across the room, frowning over at me, insulted. “I can also boil pasta and put butter on it!”
But I just grin at my mom, mischievous, and dart down the hall towards my room. Because I have a date with my mate, who has been very absent, and with whom I need to have a very serious chat.
When I come out of my room a short bit later, wrapped up for the winter weather with a scarf wound around my neck and a pair of fluffy earmuffs perched on top of that, I’m surprised to see Rafe waiting outside my room, leaning against my wall with his arms crossed.
“You look cozy,” he says, giving me a grin as he takes in my winter wear, which is already making me a little over-warm. Mom keeps our private apartments pretty hot in the winter, always citing her years of freezing in an orphanage as an excuse.
“What?” I ask instantly, my voice filled with dread as I look up and down the hall. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong!” he says too innocently, uncrossing his arms and spreading his hands out, giving me a false smile.
“Rafe Meatball Sinclar,” I growl, stepping close and glaring up at him. “You’d better tell me.”
His smile falls instantly. “That’s not my middle name -”
“Tell me!” I snap, giving him a smack on the arm.
“Fine,” he huffs, looking over towards the living room. “Luca’s here but…dad won’t let him in. It’s super awkward. He made him…wait in the hall.”
“What!?” I gasp, horrified and mortified at once. “Why not!?”
“Says Luca owes him something,” Rafe murmurs, shrugging. “And he can’t come in until he gets it.”
“Oh my god,” I groan, running both hands down my face, worrying about my mate standing alone and embarrassed in the hall.
“I just thought you’d want to know,” Rafe says with a sigh, looking at me like he’s worried for me.
“Thanks, Meatball,” I murmur, reaching out and giving his forearm a brief squeeze. “You’re the best.”
Rafe rolls his eyes at me but follows as I dash down the hall and into the living room, where everyone – except my dad – waits awkwardly for the scene to unfold.
I scowl around at my gossipy family, whose ears are all perked up to hear every word of what happens next.
