His arms looped around me from behind and he burrowed against my neck. “I brought some jars,” he murmured. “And the nets.”
“And my Liam back.” I snuggled deeper into his hold, loving the feel of his firm chest against my back. “I feared he’d run away from me because he’s frightened of fireflies.”
He snorted as he handed me my supplies. “Not in the least.”
“Then he’s frightened of a common goose girl besting a dashing prince?”
An adorable boyish eagerness filled his face. “A challenge. One last kiss before you become my temporary enemy in this competition of ours.” He kissed me fiercely before pulling away with a hungry gleam in his eyes. “Ready to lose, darling?”
“I have no need to be ready for an outcome that will never occur.”
And I scrambled off. I was an expert at catching fireflies, having done so countless times in order to study the various species and their habits. By the competitive glint filling Liam’s eyes, he’d undoubtedly be a formidable opponent, but despite his own practiced skill, it quickly became apparent I was the superior firefly catcher, as I knew I would be.
Poor Liam quickly realized this and changed tactics from playing fair to playing dirty. When even his attempts at sabotage failed, in his desperation he became sloppy, swinging his net haphazardly without success.
He scowled at my jar of fireflies. “How many do you have?”
“Seven.” I tauntingly wove the jar. “How many do you have, dear? Zero?”
“Three,” he grumbled, taking another swing of his net and missing by inches. He mumbled a curse before throwing his net down and turning to me. His grin became wicked. “New game. Whoever catches the biggest firefly wins. Let’s see if I can catch my firefly.”
He began to advance and my heart flared to life in excitement. “Challenge accepted.”
I broke into a sprint and he gave chase. Our laughter rang through the night as we ran through the meadow. With his longer legs, he quickly caught up and tackled me. We tumbled to the ground and rolled a few times before Liam propped over me with an impish grin.
“I’ve captured you.” He pinned me gently and I wriggled weakly in protest, not really minding the feel of his knee against my stomach. “Now darling, I’ll take this.” He seized my jar and made to unscrew it.
“No Liam, please don’t release them, not when I haven’t yet studied them. It’s been years since I’ve studied Lycerian Lampyridae.”
He paused mid-screw. “There are different species?”
“Over two thousand.”
His eyes widened. “That many? Looks like we have a quest throughout our upcoming marriage to capture every single one. Very well: your jar, my dear. I don’t need to win this competition now that I already have my prize: you.”
He leaned down and softly kissed me before gathering me close and laying us down on the soft grass. I rested my head against his heartbeat as we watched the waltz of the glowing fireflies beneath the canopy of glittering stars.
I didn’t realize my fingers were fiddling where the ring used to be—until Liam glanced down at my fidgeting. “Is it strange not wearing the contract ring anymore?”
“It’s such a relief,” I said. “I hated how it forced me to deceive you.”
Liam picked up my hand, his thumb lightly tracing my finger where the ring used to be. “In a sense I miss it; it connected you to me.” He raised his gaze, his fingers tightening around mine. “I have the perfect solution.”
He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a lovely ring, the band smooth except for a dainty gold butterfly with one small diamond resting on each wing, simple in design yet still elegant. My breath caught.
“A promise ring, until the contract will no longer stand in our way.” He started to push it onto my finger but paused. “I want you to choose to wear this ring. After all you’ve been through, I could never force you.”
I smiled at him. “I’ll happily wear your ring.”
He grinned and slid the ring onto my finger. Its presence dispelled the lingering shadow of the contract ring, connecting me willingly to him.
Thunder rumbled through the sky, breaking the moment between us and forcing us to return to the cottage. The rain began moments before we took shelter, quickly soaking us.
We ducked inside the cottage, where Archer immediately started a fire while I frowned at the leaking ceiling. Unease that this wasn’t the proper shelter to offer a prince flared in my chest. My cheeks burned as my insecurities returned.
I fiddled with my new promise ring. “I’m afraid the cottage is in need of repairs.”
“I don’t mind a bit of rain,” Liam said with his usual cheerfulness. He rested his hand over mine, stilling the twirling of my new ring. “Please don’t be afraid, Anwen. I’m not going anywhere.”
His words and touch eased the tightening in my chest.
Archer finished stoking the fire and straightened. “I’ll check on the animals and move your geese to the barn.” He strode to the door, pausing to glare back at Liam. “If I return and find you’ve so much as laid a finger on her…”
He let the threat hang in the air before stepping outside, slamming the door behind him. I led Liam to the hearth, where we settled side by side. He wrapped his arm around me to rub away the cold. I leaned into him and smiled as he took my hand. I flipped my hand over beneath his and stroked his palm.
We stayed in this cozy position, keeping our hands clasped, until the door swung open and Archer entered, dripping water and carrying an armful of firewood. We hastily yanked our hands away but not soon enough. Archer paused in the doorway and narrowed his eyes at us, as if measuring the space between us. We must have passed, for he merely grunted and shut the door—blocking the howling wind—and deposited the wood near the fire.
“Your mischievous charges are safely cooped up,” he said.
I sighed in relief. “Thank heavens. And is Spider doing alright? The poor dear is frightened of her own shadow.”
Archer shrugged. “No idea. I can’t tell your geese apart.”
“She’s the second smallest. She has a bit of grey just below her beak.”
Archer gave me a blank stare. I started to stand.
“Perhaps I should check on the poor dear, make sure she’s—”
“You’re not going out in the rain, Anwen, not even for your children.”
“But—“
“No, Anwen.” Archer’s tone was fierce and worry filled his eyes. “It’s pouring. I don’t want you catching a chill.” He gave me a look that forbade any further argument. I reluctantly sank back down on the hearth.
“The way you mother me you’d think I was a child.”
“You’re a child to me,” he said. “I’m seven minutes older.”
“Those seven minutes will forever haunt me.”
He rolled his eyes but his lips twitched, revealing I wasn’t truly in disgrace. I frowned out the window, where the heavy rain beat against the windowpanes. My stomach knotted in worry. “Poor darlings. I do hope they’re alright. I so want to check on them.”
“You’re not going out in the storm,” he snapped.
“I’m only going to worry, you know.”
“I can handle a worried Anwen, but I can’t handle an ill one. As if I haven’t already worried about you enough these past several months.”
Despite his annoying mothering, I couldn’t resist smiling. “I love you, too, Archer.”
He grunted in reply and ruffled my hair, his way of saying he loved me, too, before he stood to remove his worn coat, wringing the water out over the basin before laying it out to dry. I watched with a frown.
“I worry, too, you know, so come warm yourself in front of the fire before you catch a chill.”
I patted the spot next to me and he obediently came over. When he’d settled, I got up and bustled around the kitchen preparing cups of watery tea, casting several anxious glances out the window, where rain and wind beat against the glass.
My nerves weren’t lost on Liam, who frowned worriedly at me as he accepted his cup. “Are you alright, Anwen?”
I nodded, even though it was a lie, and settled beside him. As we drank the warm yet nearly flavorless liquid, my gaze was repeatedly drawn to the raging storm outside, my mind eclipsed by my geese. Were they warm enough? And how was poor Spider faring? The poor dear was a frightened thing. If I could only check on her…
“It’s Spider, isn’t it?” Liam’s concerned voice drew my attention away from the window.
I gnawed my lip. “I know it seems silly, but I’m really worried about her.”
“It’s not silly at all.” Liam reached out to tuck a wet strand of hair sticking to my cheek behind my ear. “You’re compassionate. It’s what I love most about you.”
My heart fluttered at his words…until it began beating wildly when Liam drained his cup and stood. “What are you doing?”
“Spider is the second smallest with a bit of grey tuft beneath her beak?”
“Yes, she is, but…surely you’re not planning on—”
He bent down to kiss the top of my head. “You stay cozy and dry while I go on an adventure for my princess.” And before I could stop him, he bounded into the storm.
“Liam!” I scrambled to my feet, but the door had already slammed behind him. I ran to the window to peer out, but it was too splotched to see anything. I spun around to gape at Archer. “He went out into the rain.”
Archer grunted. “Either the man is insane or he’s in love with you.”
My heart warmed at the thought. My Liam was braving the storm for common me. His sweetness only caused him to steal another piece of my heart he couldn’t afford to.
I began to pace, fidgeting with my ring, only stopping when Archer tugged me to a stop, his eyes narrowing on the ring. His jaw tightened. “What’s that, Anwen?”
“Liam gave it to me.”
Archer sighed and dropped my hand, and I continued pacing the tiny room as I waited for Liam to return, repeatedly looking out the blurry window to search the wet outdoors. I couldn’t see him.
“He’s been gone too long,” I said. “Where is he? Will you go out and try to find…Liam!”
The door swung open to reveal a soaked and shivering Liam. I flung my arms around him. “Anwen, you’ll get soaked,” he said midst his chattering teeth.
“Oh Liam, did you really go check on Spider for me? How is she? Is she…what’s that?” Something wriggled between us. I pulled away to see something fluffy shuddering beneath Liam’s drenched coat.
“I pray this is Spider,” he said. “Especially since she made it her mission to try and eat each of my fingers, but the sacrifice was well worth it if I got the right goose.”
I gently picked up the huddling goose. “It is her. Oh, Liam.”
I flung myself at him again to kiss his cheek. I wanted to give him a proper kiss, but Archer’s protective hovering compelled me to suppress that impulse. Spider wriggled between us, forcing us apart. I stroked her shaking body. She honked in agitation and nestled closer to me, taking comfort from my embrace.
“She does seem rather frightened,” Liam said.
“Hence I was worried.” A new worry flared to life at his violent shiver. “You’re freezing. Come, let’s warm you up.” I laced our hands together and led him back to the hearth while still holding a rather wet goose. “You’re quite the hero,” I said. “Spider is rather difficult to catch, not to mention hard to distinguish from the others to those who aren’t familiar with my geese. However did you manage it?”
“Determination. I knew how important it was to you. I considered it a quest.” He rubbed his hands in front of the flames, revealing several red fingers where Spider had bitten him. I lightly stroked the marks. He forced a smile. “Don’t worry, it was worth the sacrifice of a few pieces of my flesh, although unfortunately, there were consequences.” He leaned close. “Your precious darlings have now been exposed to all manner of foul cursings.”
“That does sound serious,” I said gravely, all while fighting my smile aching to emerge. “Since you’re so wet, it’ll be easy to wash your mouth out with soap.” His shiver melted away all my amusement and my worry returned, tightening my chest. “I need to get you warm. Here, hold Spider.”
I plopped the agitated goose on his lap and went to fetch a blanket and towel from the loft. I returned and took off Liam’s coat before draping the blanket over his shoulders as he wrestled with Spider, trying to keep her from escaping. I picked her up and patted the other half of my lap not occupied by my goose.
“Rest your head here and I’ll dry your hair.”
He grinned and eagerly obeyed. I began to work the towel through his soaked hair, and he closed his eyes with a contented smile. “I think I like being chilled if this is my reward.”
“Except for a worried Anwen.” I brushed a kiss along his cheek. When I’d finished with the towel, I ran my fingers through his wet hair. I could stay in this moment forever—the warmth from the flickering fire, the sound of rain pattering the roof, a goose in my arms, and especially Liam lying on my lap. I wished for more moments like this with him. Was such a future really a possibility?
Archer cleared his throat in warning, breaking the spell. Liam sighed and reluctantly sat up, his tender gaze resting first on me, then on Spider. “She seems to be settling.”
I reluctantly turned my attention to Spider and tickled beneath her beak. “A bit, but she’s still frightened. Poor thing.” I kissed her head.
Liam’s grin grew. “You mother her as if she really was your child.”
“I’ve had her since she hatched.”
“So we’ll start our marriage with seven children? A fine number, which I hope to add to.”
I flushed and Archer cleared his throat again, this one accompanied by a sharp glare. Liam leaned towards me.
“Does he not like the idea of us marrying?”
“He doesn’t want me to hope for the impossible and get hurt.”
“It’s not impossible,” he said firmly, whether for me or himself I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to think about our seemingly hopeless situation, not when this moment was too special. Once again Spider provided ample distraction. I cradled her shaking form close.
“She still seems agitated. Perhaps music will calm her. Would one of you fetch my music box on the shelf near the door?”
Liam leapt to his feet before Archer could even stir. He carefully picked up the music box. “You still have it?”
“You chose the most perfect gift for me.”
Liam beamed. “I was rather good at that husband thing. I hope with practice I’ll become even better.” He returned to my side, handing me my music box.
“You were very good.”
“I’ll be an even better one once we can be together.”
Another reminder of the obstacle keeping us apart, one I couldn’t dwell on now. Desperate for a distraction, I wound my music box and opened it. The music floated through the air, blending seamlessly with the sound of the storm outside. Spider calmed with the music enough to hop off of me and waddle around the room. I rested my music box on my lap and traced the butterfly patterns.
Liam watched with a soft smile. “Why do you like butterflies so much?”
“They’re the most lovely metamorphosis insect. It’s fascinating and wondrous how a seemingly insignificant caterpillar can transform and become not only a beautiful butterfly, but also develop wings to fly.”
Liam’s smile became knowing, and the look he gave me was as if he could see straight into my heart. It was a rather pleasant notion. “Ah, so you see yourself in the butterfly. The question is: do you still believe you’re a caterpillar when nothing could be further from the truth?”
“But it is true,” I protested. “I’m a common caterpillar, but unlike them, I can’t change who I am.”
“You’re wrong,” he said gently. “Just because you were born one thing doesn’t mean yo
u’ll always remain that way. A person’s identity isn’t forever tied to their birth. You’ve already demonstrated the royal within you and that you’ll make a remarkable queen. I’ve seen it time and time again—your kindness towards me at the first of our marriage, your compassion towards the village family whose house burned during our honeymoon, the natural way you embraced your duties as crown princess…. You might not have been born a royal, but you’ve become a princess who’s meant to be the future Queen of Draceria. Once a butterfly has transformed, it can never go back to being a caterpillar.”
My lips quirked up. “Nor can a crown prince ever return to being the spare when he’s destined to be king. You’ve grown into your role.”
“As have you,” he said. “While you falsely believed you were merely pretending, you embraced the role and truly became my future queen.”
I pondered his words as I traced and retraced the butterfly carvings on the music box. “You really believe I’ve become a butterfly?”
He pressed his forehead against mine. “I know it.”
I smiled. Perhaps I had. Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t fully return to who I used to be. I had changed, even if I hadn’t been able to see it until now. But was it enough? One look into Liam’s adoring gaze and I knew it didn’t matter. Liam saw me for who I truly was. He believed in me and loved me. I was enough.
Archer cleared his throat. “I noticed the ring on Anwen’s hand,” he said gruffly. “I’ve had enough of enchanted rings and I want to be assured that this is one contract Anwen is willingly entering into.”
Liam’s usual cheerfulness melted into a rare serious expression as he turned towards Archer. “I know you care for your twin and want what’s best for her. I’m an older brother to three sisters and know what that emotion feels like. Rest assured, I will always care for her. You have my word.”
Archer stared at him, jaw taut, before his expression softened. “I’ve been watching you these past few days and can see that your feelings for my sister are genuine. If you can wriggle out of your contract, then you have my blessing, Your Highness.”
Liam gave me a triumphant grin. I extended my hand to see my ring, which glistened in the flickering light of the fire.
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