I didn’t mind hearing it again. It was all wrapped up in the story of how he had built the house so he could propose and have somewhere to bring home his young bride.
As I listened, it hit me suddenly that they didn’t cling to the water because it reminded them of their old home and independence. They refused to let it go because for them it was the taste of love. Moisture filled my eyes. If I could summon up the warmth and love of my mother every time I took a sip of water, wouldn’t I hold onto that, too?
Gregor had just finished the sweet finale of the tale when a slight movement caught my eye. I looked toward the open door that led out to the hall. A newcomer had arrived and was watching us from across the room, his eyes fixed on me in particular.
I jumped to my feet, shocked enough to emit a loud squeak. A rustle ran through the residents as they looked from me to the prince. I rushed over to him, waving a quick farewell and giving no chance for any of them to start asking questions.
He was back already! I couldn’t quite grasp it. I had been preparing myself to wait days to hear anything further and here he was already.
I bustled him out of the room, shutting the door firmly on the interested spectators before giving him a piercing glare.
“It’s lovely to see you, too,” he said, a laugh in his voice.
“Well? What happened?” The words burst out of me, bugling senselessly down the hall. I clapped both hands over my mouth and glared at him again. He had caused me to forget and speak more words since his arrival than in the previous year.
His smile did not abate, an infuriating dimple appearing as it deepened. Whipping out a fresh piece of paper and a pen, he held them out to me.
With a sigh, I scribbled the words out. He leaned over to read them before clapping a hand to his heart.
“What, no words of concern for my welfare or relief at my safe escape? I’m wounded.”
I narrowed both eyes at him. I’d wound him indeed if he didn’t get on with the story.
“Come on,” he said instead. “I’ve got something to show you.”
He grabbed my hand and began to tug me down the corridor. His grip was strong and sure, his hand rough and callused in a way I hadn’t expected—although I shouldn’t have been surprised. Gabe might be an expert archer, but he was too impetuous to remember gloves half the time. Dominic and I had once heard Gabe’s instructor chiding him on it—I could still see my brother’s smirk.
How long had it been since someone held my hand like this? I couldn’t remember. I pulled it free, ignoring the way the warmth of his fingers seemed to linger.
All thoughts of hands, archery, and even our childhood, disappeared as I stepped through the door into the kitchen.
“LADY!” Audrey’s scream filled the silence where my own cry wanted to be.
I had barely absorbed that she was real and here before she bounded over and enclosed me in an embrace. I squeezed her back, tears springing to my eyes.
“Auntie Audrey!” Juniper tugged at her skirt, and my friend let me go abruptly, reaching down to swing her niece up high.
“You’re so big!” she said. “When did that happen?”
Juniper frowned at her. “You went away and left me.”
“Oh, precious, I’m sorry. I had to go.”
I winced, my eyes searching out Wren. I knew what Audrey meant, but her sister didn’t.
Ash must have departed sometime before Gabe and Audrey’s arrival, but Cora and Wren were both here. Wren’s eyes didn’t leave her sister, following her mercurial passage around the room as if she didn’t dare lose sight of her. Cora looked pleased but also thoughtful, her eyes flitting between each of the occupants of the room.
“It smells delicious in here,” Gabe said in a meek, plaintive voice that didn’t deceive me for a second.
Cora immediately offered him leftovers of the lunch, however, and Wren came forward to scoop up Juniper as Audrey laughed and declared her intention to serve both herself and the prince.
“I drove him at a shocking pace,” she said as she gathered two plates and cups. “I couldn’t wait to get home here to see you all.”
“An absolute slave driver,” Gabe assured us all with a solemn expression. “Not even a morsel of food was to be permitted.”
Audrey giggled