King of the Wilds - Tasha Black Page 0,36

looking for me?” he asked, sounding surprised.

“Look, I don’t know what sibling rivalry is like in your world,” she told him. “But it sounds terrifying. In this world, a lot of siblings recover from their rivalries as adults. And they find comfort in their unique shared history.”

He looked thoughtful.

“Believe me, Bron, no one here will share a history like yours,” she told him. “Dorian and Tristan are desperate to find you. They love you.”

A smile split his handsome face. “Well, let’s go find my brothers then.”

She smiled back and wondered if anyone had ever looked forward to such an unusual family reunion: three brothers, three kings and their queens, a triumvirate formed in desperation, tempered by invisible fire, and reborn on a beautiful spring morning, when it seemed that anything was possible.

As the trees spread their branches once more, she saw that the entire hillside of rhododendrons had blossomed around them. The sky was brilliant blue overhead, and the birdsong seemed to carry a deeper meaning.

Like they were celebrating the return of their king.

25

Bron

A few days later, Bron waited in the rose garden outside the mansion, with his brothers by his side.

He felt buttoned up and sweaty in the formal suit of human clothing, but Tristan and Dorian had assured him that Miranda would like it, and he was determined to do all he could to make this day special for her.

He looked at his brothers, each resplendent in his own fine suit, all of them looking as happy as he felt.

Chairs had been set up in the rose garden for friends and family. Bron didn’t recognize many of the faces, but Officer Dale Evans and his wife were there, with Helen Thayer and her boyfriend seated beside them. The woman who ran the grocery store, and Carl from Le Sucre had joined them as well.

In time, Bron knew, he would get to know all the people who were important to their circle of friends.

For now, it was enough to be spending his time volunteering with Miranda, Sara, Tabitha, and his brothers to get the mansion back in shape.

With the help of Jack Harkness, a carpenter from Tarker’s Hollow, Bron was learning to be an excellent woodworker. “You sure have a way with wood,” Jack would say, shaking his head in wonder. Jack didn’t realize Bron had a serious advantage with anything that had to do with trees.

They hoped to have the place ready for tours and history lessons in the next year. Miranda and Tabitha were working with the local school district to plan a Rosethorn Valley History summer day camp.

It was good to see Miranda happy. When Bron first met her, she had seemed as buttoned-up as he was laid-back.

Now she laughed easily, and he saw a wild side of her that he hadn’t dreamed he would be able to set loose so quickly.

His new friend, Jack, began to play the acoustic guitar softly, which Bron knew was the signal that things were about to begin.

Tristan and Dorian straightened up and their friends in the chairs all turned to look as the freshly polished doors of the mansion swung open.

Sara came out first, her long dark hair swirled in a loose bun and topped with a lace veil. Her gossamer gown trailed behind her as she walked slowly past their friends to stand beside Dorian, whose expression was steely. Bron knew him well enough to know it was because he was trying not to cry.

Tabitha came next, in white satin with a tiny, box-shaped hat over her glossy hair. Tristan smiled and Bron hoped their friends didn’t see the slight glow that emanated from his brother’s body as he joyfully watched his betrothed arrive at his side.

Bron held his breath as he waited for one more queen to grace the doorway.

Miranda stood in the threshold for just a moment, then time seemed to stand still as she moved toward him.

Her fiery hair fell in loose cascades down her back. She wore a simple cotton dress, her only adornment a circlet of baby’s breath in her hair. Her feet were bare. She was just as he loved her best - completely herself.

He felt almost gutted with love.

The mayor of Rosethorn Valley came forward and began to speak the words of the ceremony, but Bron could hardly hear them.

Miranda was beside him, gazing up at him, her eyes hazy with love.

He managed to say his piece when it was his turn and slide a ring onto her finger.

The ring and