Part 101 (1/2)
”Absolutely,” he whispered back.
”Hold tight to that, baby.” I kept whispering, and his arms went super-tight around me.
And against his skin, I smiled.
Chapter Thirty.
The Plan Is in Place ”Oh my goodness,” elan breathed. ”Is that the Black Prince?”
I didn't answer at first. I was too busy staring at the man and woman standing at the top of the steps of an a-freaking-mazing palace that was in an a-freaking-amazing city at the base of some, you guessed it, a-freaking-mazing mountains.
I knew the woman was Cora, the Gracious.
I also knew the man was Prince Noctorno of Hawkvale, ruler of Bellebryn, known as the Black Prince. I'd seen his pen and ink pictures in the papers from the Vale too.
They just did not do him justice.
In any way.
And staring at him as I drove our sleigh closer to the steps (or, more to the point, the horses moved there without much direction from me seeing as I wasn't paying attention), I was wondering if all this craziness wasn't about Frey commanding dragons and such, Lahn being mighty and such, Tor sharing his soul with his wife (and such), and Apollo commanding the wolves.
I was thinking those witch b.i.t.c.hes were jealous because our men were hot.
Seriously.
I fought to find my voice and said, ”I think he is, honey bunch.”
”Wow,” she replied.
She could say that again.
I pulled her closer as I started paying attention and guided our sleigh to a stop. This I was able to do after I tore my eyes off the tall drink of hot water that was the Black Prince. I then looked to the other person on the steps with Tor and Cora.
She was a woman with very straight posture, her eyes aimed down the length of her nose, wearing a cloak made of dark brown pelts so l.u.s.trous, they were almost (almost) as fabulous as elan's hair.
A woman who took regal to extremes.
A woman who had to be Finnie's mother (kind of, she was the other Sjofn's mother, but she'd claimed Finnie).
Queen Aurora.
I no sooner stopped the sleigh when Finnie dumped Viktor right in my lap, put a hand to the side of the sleigh and threw her legs over it.
She then raced up the steps and even as the Queen of Lunwyn stared down her nose at her and didn't move a muscle, Finnie didn't hesitate to throw herself in the woman's arms.
I watched the queen roll her eyes to the chilly blue skies.
I also watched her arms close tight around her adopted daughter.
How sweet.
I could watch no more because Apollo filled my vision and he did this to reach in the sleigh and lift elan over the side.
She giggled when he did this for no apparent reason other than it afforded her the opportunity to giggle.
So I smiled when she did for no reason except I thought she was cute.
I moved Viktor to my hip as I stood and the fur blankets dropped away from my lap.
Apollo opened the door to the sleigh and Frey was there.
He reached for his son and I handed him over.
He took hold with a murmured, ”My grat.i.tude, Maddie,” then turned and sauntered up the steps.
I exited the sleigh at the same time Apollo called, ”Chris!”
Chris had dismounted and was moving our way. I felt Apollo's hand clasp mine and bring it up. He smoothed it around the inside of his elbow and I moved closer to him as he took elan's hand.
To my utter delight, delight that meant my head whipped around and tipped back so I could aim my beam of happiness to Apollo, Chris took his place beside me.
Taking in my smile, Apollo's lips twitched and he turned his attention to the palace.
Thus, we all moved to the steps.
And when we did, Apollo murmured, ”This pleases me.”
It pleased me too.
Big time.
”What, Papa?” Chris asked.
”That Maddie will be meeting Prince Noctorno in a normal fas.h.i.+on, not in the throes of a needed rescue.”
I wasn't beaming at that. I turned a glare in his direction.
He grinned down at me.
Chris burst out laughing.
I instantly quit glaring.
Apollo tucked me closer to his side and turned his attention to the steps, leading us up.
I wished they had cameras in this world so I could have a picture of our progression. I really, really did.