Good Night

by L. R. W. Lee

  “She needs to touch Jathan,” Kovis declared, stepping toward the table with Velma in his arms. His tone left no room for argument. I was glad he was here; they would have questioned me, but his position silenced any resistance they might offer. His sudden command surprised them, but I sensed it also sent a measure of relief that someone might have some clue as to how to treat their master.

  Haylan’s eyes grew wide at seeing us. We’d been gone for moons and now appeared out of nowhere. While she smiled at me, I could see her mind buzzing.

  Jathan and Velma panted, breathing through the next burst of blinding pain.

  “My prince.” Master Gavin’s brow furrowed. He was also shocked to see us, but he didn’t argue, just motioned Haylan to help slide the chief healer over to make room for one more on a table meant for one.

  Grains of sand fell to the floor as Kovis set her down gently. Velma leaned forward and met Jathan’s eyes. For his part, he studied her every movement, clearly unsure what to make of her. But as the next wave began, Velma thrust her hand from beneath the blanket and grabbed the healer’s. The wave died as suddenly as it began and they both exhaled.

  We all did.

  Jathan tilted his head and raised an eyebrow before bringing a hand to his head, as if assessing his own condition. His eyes roamed over her, up and down, not with lust, but searching for answers.

  “How did she…? How did you know…?” Gavin struggled to speak and finally abandoned the effort.

  Kovis opened his mouth to respond, but I held up a hand, cutting him off. The gesture was met with a gasp from Myla. Gavin jerked his head back, but Haylan grinned as she spotted my ring.

  I’d promised myself several moons before that once we got back to Veritas, I would trust my friends with my whole story. At the time it had been as a counter to Kovis’s dark moods, but he’d grown so much since then that it now seemed unnecessary. I shook my head. No, I needed to do this for me. I needed to trust that my friends could handle my background, no matter how odd, and still accept me, and while I hadn’t foreseen a situation like this to do so, it had presented itself.

  “This is my sister Velma,” I began. “Another of my sisters is upstairs with Kennan. We all just arrived… from Dream realm.”

  Kovis laughed at the four’s expressions of disbelief, probably seeing it as vindication for his own reaction when I’d first told him.

  I told them the whole story—well, I omitted the part about wings, but everything else—and explained why I’d returned with my sisters.

  Hands found chests as I began. And throughout, I couldn’t help but continually look to Haylan to see how she was taking my reveals. Her brows rose a good many times, and she gave me incredulous looks, but never once did she frown. Heads nodded as I concluded.

  Jathan stared at his and Velma’s joined hands. His eyes sparkled with curiosity and wonder as he brought them up and looked into her eyes. His voice was filled with awe as he said, “We’ve been bonded. The same as Prince Kovis and Ali.”

  She gave him a small smile, and in that heartbeat, I realized she and he were a lot alike. Jathan had experimented many times—saving me with Kovis’s magic, case in point. Velma had experimented and sent me to Wake. They were both smart and shared a curiosity that few held.

  “Prince Kennan and Alfreda have also been bonded,” I added.

  Jathan’s eyes lit up even more at that. “I’ve studied bonds.”

  Kovis chuckled. “More will ‘soon be known about them’ it seems.”

  Jathan laughed then told about Kovis’s first experience with the bond, and how he’d only been able to answer repeatedly, that ‘little was known about them’ to Kovis’s insistent questioning.

  I’d never thought of Velma as a romantic type, but as we talked, she rubbed Jathan’s hand with her thumb and her cheeks pinked. Jathan flushed as well. Before I’d come, she’d suggested I kiss Kovis to initiate contact. Had she held out on me? Had she thought those thoughts about Jathan? The little minx.

  I clasped my hands and drew them to my chest. They were so incredibly cute. Who knew how their relationship might grow, but it would be fun to watch.

  I hated to interrupt, but I looked to Master Gavin and said, “When I first came, Master Lorica had to work on my magical channels. You may need to take a look at Velma’s.” I still didn’t fully understand how they worked, but if it meant the difference between her having magic and not, I’d ask him to examine them.

  “Is it okay to let go?” Jathan asked. He glanced at Velma, concern written on his face. He worried about her, even now. My heart thrilled. They were too sweet.

  I couldn’t wait to see his reaction when he learned what they’d need to do to dream.

  I chuckled to myself, then pushed back the thought and cleared my throat. “I’m no expert, but in my very limited experience, as long as you’ve touched, you should be okay... for this sun. Experiment and see how much you need each other.” I gave Velma a wink.

  She and Jathan again pinked as did Master Gavin. Kovis, Haylan, and Myla grinned.

  “Well then,” Gavin said, clearing his throat. “Let’s get Velma into an examining room of her own.”

  Kovis excused himself to seek out his sister, and I stayed to oversee Velma’s care. It wasn’t long before Alfreda was brought down to the healers’ suites for further attention at Master Lorica’s direction.

  But once Velma and Alfreda were settled in treatment rooms and Jathan returned to his private rooms to convalesce, Haylan and Hulda ambushed me in the hall, making an Ali pasty of me.

  “Ali! Haylan told me the short version, but I want to hear everything, especially about that not-so-little rock on your finger.” Hulda winked and clapped, her red locks flapping behind her. “I knew there was something going on that you weren’t telling us.”

  “I knew you’d say when you were ready,” Haylan remarked. “You did have me going though.”

  I chuckled.

  “Our shifts just ended. Let’s go talk upstairs,” Haylan suggested.

  And so we headed up to the Common Room and sat on our preferred couch, the one with a view overlooking Veritas. I retold my tale, adding details about our wilderness wanderings that hadn’t been relevant downstairs. Hulda examined my ring—giggling with glee then oohing and aahing at her father’s artistry—and insisted on hearing all about how Kovis and my relationship had grown and blossomed. She begged for intimate details, but thank the gods Haylan was there to rein her in. It seemed she and Cedric had gotten more serious as well—I couldn’t wait to hear Kovis’s reaction to that, not after all that had transpired between the two of them on the road to the competition.

  “So you’re a princess in Dream,” Hulda said as I ended. Both she and Haylan still grappled with there being a Dream realm and having sand people who shepherded their dreams, but they didn’t act as if I’d sprouted two heads.

  “That’s right.”

  “Then you’ll have fun with Empress Rasa.” Hulda flicked her brows. “Second woman in command, nipping at her heels.”

  Haylan swatted her.

  Rasa. The thought made my stomach feel like I’d eaten a stone. Would she chew me up and spit me out again? How would she react to Kovis and my engagement? I supposed that was one thing he would address with her. Only time would tell how my relationship with her would go, but Kovis would coach me.

  Rasa aside, my sisters had always accepted me, warts and all, and as Haylan and Hulda listened to my stories with eagerness and accepted all I had to say—accepted me—I felt a kinship I’d only ever felt with my family. These women had always been eager to accept me, I realized. It had been me, in my fear of being rejected, who had been the impediment to something closer. I couldn’t wait for them to get to know Velma and Alfreda. It felt like I had four close sisters here.

  For their part, they told me all that had happened after we’d disappeared from The Ninety-Eight—about the fear that had settled on everyone, about rumors that insorcelled citizens had kid
napped the crown prince and the champion and were holding us hostage until Empress Rasa recanted her statements about dissolving the competition. They told about the empress dispatching search parties, about how the council members had reacted, especially Lord Beecham who had apparently barely suppressed a smug grin, and about the journey back to the capital.

  I was so glad the rebels were a thing of the past thanks to Selova and her fellow dream stitchers. At least I assumed they were. Between them and the council, they’d made Kovis’s and my life a living hell. I was ready to start a quiet, boring life enjoying my husband—that sure sounded good—and my sisters.

  Once all of our telling was done, we sat in silence. I drank in their acceptance and love.

  “Winter solstice is two suns away,” Haylan said, breaking the quiet. “And now that you’re engaged, you’ll probably be expected to spend it with your intended.” She flicked her eyes. “Since I am unattached and your sisters won’t yet be mobile, I’d be happy to spend it with them if you’d like.”

  “Thank you so much. That would be amazing.” I didn’t deserve her. I hadn’t realized the solstice was so near, nor had I thought about what my obligations would be as intended to the crown prince, but she had, and she was willing to modify her plans to include my sisters, just like family.

  It had been a long sun, a busy sun, but also a good sun, and when I reached Kovis’s rooms—I told myself I should start referring to them as “our” rooms—I was ready to relax and enjoy my Dreambeam. I was particularly anxious to hear how Kovis’s conversation with Rasa had gone.

  Bryce and Ulric bobbed their heads in greeting as I reached the door. They hadn’t been on duty last night, but clearly they’d been told Kovis and I had returned because no surprise registered on their faces.

  “Welcome home, mi’lady,” Bryce said.

  “It’s good to see you again,” Ulric added. “Prince Kovis has already returned for the sun.”

  “Enjoy your evening,” Bryce said as I walked through the door, and he closed it behind me.

  Kovis rose from the couch that was nestled before the crackling fire, swooped in, and planted a kiss on my lips. He followed up with a sensual hug, running his hands up and down my arms.

  His tattoo was yellow—optimism, confidence, if I remembered correctly—as it peaked out from where the two top buttons of his fine, white shirt hung open. A shadow, a sun’s worth of growth, accented his chiseled jaw. His eyes—I’d still lose myself in those pools of blue and hazel one of these suns—were filled with love and acceptance. He smelled like fresh air after rain, mixed with a hint of evergreen, male in every way.

  “Mmm. I like how this evening is beginning,” I said, returning the kiss. I wished I’d had a chance to bathe and change. I still wore my green healer’s robe from this morning.

  I’ll love you no matter what, he said.

  So I did smell ripe.

  Kovis laughed. “You smell fine.” He took my hand and led me over to the dining table. Memories of the first time I’d eaten at this piece of furniture woke. It had been awkward and uncomfortable and had started everything between us… less than an annum ago. I shook my head. It hardly seemed possible.

  He stopped at the head of the table and pulled out the chair. “Ali dearest.” He flicked his brows. A mischievous look lit up his face. What was he up to?

  Two place settings—a white plate, navy trim, with the Altairn emblem in gold in the middle, and a host of utensils on either side—had been set. No sooner had Kovis pushed in my chair than a knock came at the door.

  “Come in!” he called, still smiling.

  Four liveried servants entered, bearing trays of wonderfully aromatic dishes.

  One of the ladies halted the entourage and said, “For your dining pleasure we have roast mutton in a cream unchun glaze, sautéed mushrooms, green root terekle, and for dessert we have fresh whastaberry compote. Please enjoy.” Each server removed the silver top off their tray as she introduced it, then placed it before us.

  I grinned. It smelled amazing, but more, it’s what he’d ordered for us that first meal we’d shared together, the meal he’d later confessed he’d never planned to have with me, but had been overcome and unable to help himself.

  A steward poured white wine in our glasses, while another woman winked at me, then sprinkled red cut-out hearts across our places. My heart grew, and I drew my hands to my chest.

  “Thank you all,” Kovis said to them before they let themselves out.

  Once they’d left, Kovis took my hand in his and stroked my ring with his thumb. “We’ve come a long way, and I wanted our first night back to be memorable.”

  “I love you so much, my Dreambeam.” The words flowed naturally from my heart.

  “And I love you.” He leaned over and kissed me, then raised his glass. “To us and a long and happy future.”

  “To us and a long, happy, and very boring future,” I replied, earning a chuckle.

  “Yes, very boring,” he agreed. We clinked our glasses then dug into the sumptuous meal.

  “So, I take it things went well with your sister?” I asked, trying to push down my angst.

  He looked into my eyes. “She’s coming around now that she knows we’re engaged.”

  “Is that any different than where she’s been concerning me?”

  He smiled and shook his head. “Not really. She’ll get there though. I know she will. She wants to see me happy, and since you are the one who does that for me…”

  “So I still have a lioness to tame,” I replied.

  “She’s not that bad.”

  “Easy for you to say.”

  “Let’s not worry about my sister tonight,” Kovis said as he picked up a serving fork and filled my plate with the amazing fare.

  I didn’t want to think about the empress either, not when Kovis had taken pains to make this a special evening. So I pushed my worries aside, and we laughed and joked and exchanged mundane conversation about what had occupied our suns—I could get very used to this.

  We’d just finished our meal when another knock came. Was he up to more mischief?

  Apparently not, judging from the puzzled look that rose on his face. “Enter!”

  It was Allard. He strode to a stop, hands behind his back, and bowed.

  “Rise,” Kovis said.

  “I hope I’m not interrupting anything. I’m not on duty tonight, so I hoped this might be a good time to return what is yours.” Allard pulled out a smallish box and a royal blue bag.

  I knew exactly what they were, and my breath hitched. In all the chaos, how had he managed to think about…

  “I took the liberty of keeping these safe for you.” He handed them to me then stepped back again.

  Kovis beamed as I set them down and opened the box, already knowing what I’d find. A gold clasp, with complimenting gold chain, to fasten my robes. Each clasp was a swooping altairn with a sapphire inlaid in its breast. They were as beautiful as the night Rasa had awarded them to me as her champion.

  I returned them to the box and set it aside. The family of every competitor who made it to the final round of The Ninety-Eight never needed to work again. I’d wondered what the winner received, but with all that had happened, I’d never had the chance to find out. I held the bag and grinned, it was a substantial sum judging by its weight.

  “What will you do with it?” Kovis asked.

  I loosened the string at the top and turned it over. We had different currency in Dream, but I knew a lot of money when I saw it. Gold coins—crowns, one side bearing the image of Rasa, the other, an Altairn—spilled out. It was more than I’d seen in one place, and they were all mine.

  I looked to Allard. “Thank you for keeping these for me.”

  “It was my pleasure, mi’lady. Now, I’ll not intrude any longer.” The guard smiled warmly, then turned and left.

  I’d never been poor, and I certainly didn’t consider myself money hungry, but having all this gold… I ran my fingers throu
gh it, to which Kovis laughed.

  My thoughts returned to Kovis’s question. What would I do with it? Mema had directed most of my choices. This was an opportunity to have some fun. But even as I thought it, I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied spending it all on trivial things, especially when I considered its origin. I’d fought hard during the competition, at points barely making it out alive. I’d been fortunate. I’d won, others had forfeited their lives. This money was an opportunity to make a difference somehow.

  “I don’t know,” I finally said. “But I think I’d like to help some people.”

  “Would that fill up your life with good?”

  I hadn’t thought about it that way, but I supposed it would. “Yes, I think helping people would be very rewarding.”

  He grinned. “While we’re on that topic, I have a few ideas of what we might do to fill up our lives with what is very good.” It came out a purr. “Starting with helping you bathe.” Hunger had filled his eyes, and the part of his tattoo that peeked above his open shirt had turned red. It matched the red hearts the server had sprinkled on the table.

  I laughed. “Will there be magic involved?”

  “Most definitely.”

  “Then show me your wizardry once more.” I giggled as his thrum intensified.

  And so he bathed me, and we pleasured each other for as long as we could stay awake. Then he enfolded me in his arms. While I loved my wings, there was definitely something to be said for feeling his skin against my bare back as he drew me against himself. Yes, he was my home.

  Kovis was gone when I woke the next morning, and judging by the coldness of the sheets, he’d left early. No doubt Rasa already had him busy, especially with Kennan sidelined. Yes, Kennan. I hadn’t been able to assess his frame of mind last sun with the chaos that had erupted from Alfreda’s coming. I wondered how he really fared.