Page 35 of Only in Moonlight
“I’m accounting for your time traveling in the carriage.”
“You must be mistaken, Nin. We don’t have any appointments today.”
“No, you don’t. Your social calendar is practically empty. Day after day, you’re keeping poor Emmeline cooped up in here with this etiquette training. Yes, she needs to learn it to gain acceptance at the Court, but she’s going to feel like a prisoner at this rate!”
I stifled a laugh.If only you knew, Nin.
“I’ve packed you a picnic.” Nin herded us toward the door. “Eat. Have fun. Grope each other scandalously in public. Just get outside for a while.”
Valen didn’t argue. When he’d swooped down on his pegasus, I never would have guessed the terrifying man let himself get bullied by his own maid. I wished she’d interrupted when we were really practicing etiquette, though. Planning a heist was fun.
Valen swung by the kitchens on our way out and picked up two apples. Hadn’t Nin already prepared lunch? My confusion cleared a moment later when we went outside to the carriage.
“You’ll spoil them,” the driver scolded.
Valen just smiled as he gave each pegasus an apple. “They deserve to be spoiled.”
One pegasus nickered. The other nuzzled Valen affectionately. I kept back, watching him feed them and rub their heads. So he liked all animals, not just cats. I guess I could relate. Animals were better company than most people I’d met.
Once the pegasi had finished their treats, Valen helped me into the carriage, and we set off.
“So,” I said with forced cheer. “What do— Hell!”
The carriage jerked, and we shot into the air. I twisted my head, staring out the window at the retreating ground. My stomach dropped, and my hand flew out and grabbed Valen’s leg for support.
“It’s faster to fly to the gardens than to use the streets.”
Valen kept his voice neutral, but his eyes sparkled with amusement.
“Thank you so much for the warning,” I snapped. Then I realized my hand was clutching his thigh, and I yanked it back as if burned, trying desperately to forget the feel of firm muscle beneath the fabric of his trousers.
The carriage lurched, and I felt like I’d left my stomach back on the ground.
“Are you afraid of heights?” Valen asked. “You didn’t seem alarmed riding a pegasus before.”
“Because that makes sense. It has wings. It flies. How is this carriage staying in the air?”
“Magic,” he said with a smirk.
“Were you always such an irritating, clay-brained barnacle?”
His smirk grew wider, but then he relented. “There’s a complicated array of crystals connected to the element of air on the bottom of the carriage. I’m no enchanter, so I can’t explain it in any more detail than that.”
I crossed my arms and ignored him for the rest of the ride. We did not, in fact, fall out of the sky, and we arrived at some beautiful public gardens on the outskirts of the city. Crystal lanterns and trees of luminous white flowers illuminated the darkness. Water cascaded down artfully arranged rocks into a glowing pool behind us, and the air carried a fresh, floral scent. It was all very pretty, but I was getting tired of the weeks-long night. I didn’t know how Valen could stand going so long without seeing the sun.
“What’s the etiquette for a picnic?” I asked.
We sat on a luxurious blanket with delicate dishes arranged in front of us.
“Lax.” He poured me a glass of chilled wine. “You can eat with your hands. Just take it slowly and don’t chew with your mouth open.”
“Killjoy.”
The wine tasted even better than it smelled, its flavor light and peachy. Then I took a bite of luscious, buttery cheese, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes and moan.
When I opened my eyes, I found Valen staring at me, his wineglass paused an inch from his mouth.
“What?” I asked. “It’s really good cheese, all right? I can’t afford food like this on Earth.”
