V rubbed his arm, eyes meeting hers. “I’ll try not to, I promise.”
“Good.”
“First one to the library wins.” James took off through the maze.
V took her hand. “I think we made him uncomfortable.” He turned to the faeries and saluted them, eyes gleaming. “Thank you, thank you so much.”
Noli’s heart jumped. He thanked the faeries for saving her. The faeries chattered in response. She still couldn’t understand them.
“Shall we?” He held out his hand to her and looked in the direction James had run.
“He misses her.” Noli leaned her head on his shoulder as they wove through the hedge maze and returned to the big house. She’d missed V, and the idea that he’d worried when she’d been ill made happiness bubble inside her.
“James misses Charlotte so much.” He put an arm around her waist as they walked.
“I miss her, too.” A little piece of her had died that day. After all, it could have been her.
He squeezed her. “We all do.”
“We’re in the Otherworld, together. Does this mean your quest was over, were you successful?” The dirt under her bare feet felt sinfully delicious and part of her expected her mother to yell at her to put her shoes—or clothes—on at any moment.
“Yes, we were successful. May I tell you all about it as we eat? Are you hungry?”
Her belly rumbled in reply and she laughed. “That sounds perfect. Will you please explain to me how I got here? The last thing I remember was … ” She froze as she recalled the previous events. “Your uncle. Your uncle attacked me, and threatened me—and you, too.”
Steven pulled her close. “You’re safe, Noli. I won’t let my uncle hurt you.”
“I won’t let him hurt you, either. Will you teach me to use magic to defend myself? And can we continue fencing lessons?” Anything to be able to protect herself—and those she loved.
“Of course.” He took her hand and they resumed walking.
“But how? Mama went to Boston and you can’t be with me.” She sniffed at the thought. It wasn’t as if she needed him, but after being without him, she knew that she liked being with him. It felt … right. It always had.
“We could remain here for now.” Steven wiped away her tear with his finger. “While we figure things out. If you wish. You might not be allowed to wear my sigil, but you’re still mine. Remember when the queen gave you to me?”
“I’m not a marble, but yes, I remember. It’s protection, right, and different from the sigil?” Noli never would understand that concept any more than she’d get used to V’s name being Stiofán or him not actually having to wear glasses.
“Even the queen can’t take that away from you, which means that we can still be together, if you still wish to be with me.” He looked at her with bashful eyes. “I’ll understand if you—”
Her lips captured his before he even had the chance to finishing, telling him with her kiss what words couldn’t say.
When she broke it off, he grinned. “So, it’s yes?”
“I suppose,” she grinned. “I meant what I said. We’re in this together. I’m not a marble.”
He laughed. “But you’d make such a pretty marble.” She shoved him. Steven laughed again. “Yes, we’re in this together. I promise.”
“I missed you so much, you fussy old bodger.” She squeezed him tight.
He leaned in and kissed her. “I missed you, too, darling. I missed you, too.”
Twenty-Two
Where Do We Go From Here?
“Where do we go from here?” Still in her nightdress, Noli leaned against V on the settee on the library, their finished supper sitting on the low table. She loved eating in the library instead of at a proper table, so delightfully scandalous.
Steven and James filled Noli in on all their adventures and she’d told them about hers. She was glad to hear that Rahel was at home with her father. It galled her that Vix hadn’t told her about James and V’s arrival. Nevertheless, Vix had been the one to summon V when she’d needed him. The idea of Vix and James knowing about the Otherworld still seemed so strange.
It felt odd to be at big house without Charlotte and she kept expecting to see her cuddling James in the window seat.
“This artifact troubles me. I think we need to ask
Quinn about it.” Steven rubbed his chin. “I can’t believe I’ve never heard about it.”
The artifact. She needed to remember something about the artifact. “My valise! Do you know here it is?”
“It’s in your room. Vix gave it to me when we took you from Boston,” James replied, mouth partially full of food. “She said that everything you had on ship was inside. Why?”
“There are important things in it.” She wasn’t ready to mention that she had a piece of the artifact. However, perhaps checking on it would help her remember. The watch chain was also inside her valise and that was not important but gave her an excuse. “I’ll be right back.”
She dashed out of the library and found the valise sitting on her bed, well, Elise’s bed. But she always used this as her room. Opening the latches, she fumbled inside until she discovered what she sought—the watch chain and the metal piece. Noli also pulled on one of her simpler gowns, since James was present. She tucked the metal piece away, glad it was safe, and ran her fingers through her hair, untangling it. Watch chain in hand, she returned to the library where James and V discussed whether or not Quinn would know anything about the artifact.
“James, I made this for you.” She held the assembled, but unwrapped, watch chain out to James, twitching a little in apprehension. The sprite didn’t interject, perhaps she remained asleep. Noli wouldn’t mind if she never woke up.
“What it is?” James took it from her. “Certainly, it’s quite nice. You made this?”
“It’s a watch chain, made from Charlotte’s hair—so she’ll always be with you.”
James stood and embraced her, eyes glistening. “This is this nicest gift ever.”
“I’m so glad you liked it.” Her heart leapt at the idea that it pleased him, since it had taken longer than she expected to make.
“I still think the idea of weaving a dead person’s hair into something is odd,” V replied, as he took another bite.
“Good thing it’s not for you.” Noli plopped down beside him on the settee, wiggling her still bare toes. “So, you want to visit Quinn?”
“He’d be the best person to speak to. Also, I should let my father know we’re still alive.” V looked less excited about that idea.
“If we’re venturing into the mortal realm, could we send Mama and Jeff an aethergraph telling them I’m well?” Noli took a sip of tea. “I don’t want them to worry.”
V squeezed her hand. “That’s an excellent idea.”
“She’ll want me to return to Boston.” As much as she missed her mother, that’s not what she wanted for herself.
“You don’t have to go to Boston. Do you wish to rejoin Jeff and Vix?” V looked at her through veiled lashes. “I’ll support you in whatever your decision may be.”
Wait. For the first time in her life she could do whatever she desired. Not what her mother wanted. Not what Jeff wanted. Not even what V wanted. Her.
She kissed V so deeply that James cleared his throat in protest in the background.
“So, you’d like to return to the Vixen’s Revenge? I think you’re well suited to being a ship’s engineer.” V’s cheeks pinked in embarrassment.
She liked bashful V and bumped him with her hip. “You are a fussy old bodger. Is staying here truly an option? It feels … indecent.”