Page 118 of Brighter Than Gold

We glared at one other, and I don’t know who started laughing first, but we wound up red-faced and breathless, holding onto each other to keep from falling.

“Come here, my darling.” Nyx pulled me into his arms. “I’m so happy for you. But you need to be careful. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

Nyx’s pearl-white hair tickled my cheeks. “I promise, brother.”

Our affection was disrupted by men’s shouts and a loud rumbling sound. My body immediately stiffened with fear, and I peeked back around the cedar hedge. My lady’s maids were unbothered, watching something in the distance.

“What’s going on?” I asked them.

“They’re setting up the dais, Ma’am.”

“What for?”

“The official birth announcement and naming ceremony of the baby. It will be this evening.”

I never thought it would be so soon. The birth announcement was a huge public celebration, the palace would open the gates and welcome in the people of Arronbach. It dawned on me then that this would be my first official event as Burke’s wife.

Nyx sensed my tension and rolled his eyes at me. “You’ll do fine, you’re the Realm’s new Northern darling. Come, let’s finish our walk and then I’ll help you pick out a dress.”

Chapter28

Reyah

Nyx insisted I wear a stunning, backless midnight-blue gown to the naming ceremony. It hugged my tiny swollen belly making it look bigger than it really was, but the dresser insisted that was a good thing. I was also made to wear an incredible pearl necklace that dripped strands of tiny pearls down a long chain along the exposed skin of my back. My hair was pinned low at the base of my neck, making the dazzling pearl droplets even more exquisite.

“My Gods…” Kaspian uttered quietly when he came in. His eyes drank me in as he walked in a circle around me, noticing every detail of the dress.

“You look simply breathtaking.” He craned his head, and the tip of his tongue touched my neck before his lips closed in for a slow, heated kiss. I may have enjoyed the contact if I wasn’t still bristling with irritation.

“Thank you, Your Grace,” I said smoothly.

“Are you nervous, darling?”

I wanted very much to keep my angry pretense, but I was in fact nervous about this first public viewing. Very nervous. “Of course I am.”

Kas laced our fingers together and he squeezed my hand tightly. “I’ll be at your side the whole time.”

He smiled down at me, and I wanted to simultaneously kiss him and hit him.

“Not too hungover this morning, then?” I asked in lieu of physical violence.

“No. I picked the short straw and was down early this morning discussing security for the ceremony.”

He stared at me directly as he lied, and I noted all the signs. The forced eye contact, the subtle touch of his chin. It made me wonder how many other times he’d lied to me, and I’d just never known what to look for. Perhaps therewasignorance in bliss, because there was certainly rage in knowing the truth.

“What’s wrong, Reyah?” he asked, raising a hand to stroke my cheek. I moved to avoid his touch.

“Nothing,” I said looking away. “Just didn’t have a very good night sleep is all.”Prick.

Luckily, the building tension was broken as King Aldridge and his family joined us while we waited to be escorted out to the dais. Juno ran quickly up to me and I smiled, happy to see the vivacious young Princess.

“Hello,” she said shyly.

“Hello Juno, it’s nice to see you again. Are you looking forward to seeing the new baby?”

“Not really,” she answered with a shrug.

I nearly cackled as Darian smacked his little sister in the shoulder. “Gods, girl, don’t be so rude!”

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