Page 117 of Crown of Roses
“Rose gold suits you.” Ceridwen squeezed her tightly, then stepped back in awe. “And your aura…”
Maeve’s breath hitched. “What of it?”
“It’s something else…something wonderful.” Her gaze slid to her twin, then back to Maeve. “How are you feeling?”
“Better, thanks to you.” She grabbed Ceridwen’s hand, and without thinking, took Tiernan’s as well. “Thanks to both of you.”
Tiernan stood there, motionless, but Ceridwen laughed. “Offering up your gratitude so quickly, Your Highness?”
Maeve’s eyes widened and Ceridwen’s laughter exploded. “I’m only teasing. We’ll let this one slide.” She winked.
Maeve released them both, but when Tiernan stepped back to put distance between them, he flexed his hand. It was a barely imperceptible motion, hardly worthy of note. Her gaze flicked up to his face, but he turned around and walked away. She brushed off the strange reaction and returned her attention to Ceridwen instead.
“What are you doing out here?”
Ceridwen’s ruby lips curved into a smile. “Waiting for you.”
Maeve’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
“You’ll see.” She gestured to the sea beyond.
Maeve peered out over the railing, her eyes locked on the skies. At first, there was nothing but sun and sky. Endless and eternal. Then she spotted it. A glimmer between the clouds and a tug in her heart. A recognition. A calling.
A burst of mist seemed to tear open between the sea and the horizon, and Effie, in her terrifyingly beautiful magnificence, swooped into her line of sight. Atop her back sat Aran. Something swelled up inside her, she squealed, and reached out for Ceridwen. But only air moved between her fingers. When she looked over, the High Princess was gone.
Wind gusted into her, blew her hair back behind her face, and Effie tossed her fiery wings twice before settling onto the railing like the majestic dragon-bird she was. The three eagle heads tilted, eyed her speculatively, then dipped in acknowledgement.
Aran leaned forward and crossed his arms, letting them come to rest on top of one of Effie’s overtly alert heads. Then he grinned. “Hello, little sister.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
“Aran.”
It didn’t matter if she’d known him for only a minute or for a hundred years. There was a connection. A link between them, a blood bond, one her magic recognized, and it sent her heart soaring. She hoisted herself up over the railing of the balcony and leapt into his waiting arms. He caught her mid-air and laughter erupted between them. The sound was musical. Magical. He cupped her cheeks with his smooth palms and simply looked at her.
“It’s you.” Aran crushed her against him. “It’s actually you.”
She threw her arms around him, and affection colored her world in a swell of unexpected tenderness.
When he finally released her, there was a slight sheen to his emerald eyes.
“How did you know?” The question spilled from her before she could stop it. “How did you know I was your sister?”
He pulled an apple out of the tanned sack hanging from the side of Effie’s scaly body and tossed it to her, then ducked his head. “Casimir told me.”
She held the apple with both hands, and the tips of her nails bit into its skin. “So…so, you let him take me?”
His gaze snapped to hers. “Not by choice.”
“A bargain then?”
“So many questions,” he murmured, then shook his head. “But no, not a bargain. Blackmail.”
The apple bobbled in Maeve’s grasp. “What? He blackmailed you?”
“He did.” Aran pulled another apple from the sack and took a bite. “You probably haven’t noticed, but the Strand between us is gone.”
She glanced down to where the crimson Strand of a leaf should’ve marked her forefinger. But it wasn’t there anymore.
