“We are moving into a new era,” Aurora announced softly, her eyes on Baldur, “where politics do not include assassinations and clashes of steel but diplomacy. And the heads who remain are enthusiastic about Lunwyn’s bright future.”

Baldur’s eyes narrowed on her and he snapped, “At your command, you will lead the new Lunwyn to misery and my people will revolt.”

“We shall see,” Aurora murmured then her face brightened slightly. “Though, in opening your treasury, abolishing your paper currency and allowing our reunited citizens to trade their paper currency for coin, they seem to be quite content at the moment.”

Baldur’s face got red and I pressed my lips together to stop myself from smiling and looked out the window so I missed Baldur yanking the pen out of Aurora’s hand. I heard the scribble of the squib on parchment and I also heard movement as he stomped out.

I did not look back until Mother spoke.

“Gentlemen, if you would,” she invited and I watched her motion nobly to the oval table in the corner of the room.

The heads moved there with Mother. Frey and Apollo moved to me. When they arrived, they stopped close and Frey’s hand slid to the small of my back.

“Do you wish to stay, my Finnie?” he asked quietly and I scrunched my nose.

“Attend a meeting?” I asked back and he smiled at me before he turned his smile to an openly amused Apollo.

“Not exciting enough for my wee wife,” he muttered to Apollo.

Apollo’s response was an amused, rumbling, “Mm.”

“You two enjoy,” I mumbled.

“Right,” Apollo murmured, looking like he wanted to attend this meeting about as much as I did.

“And your plans?” Frey asked and my eyes went to his.

“Check in on Sky. He’s taking a test, he should be finishing up about now. And Bess is leaving.”

He nodded. “Then you should be away.”

“I should be away,” I agreed.

His eyes warmed, his head dropped and he touched his mouth to mine before again lifting his head.

“I shall see you later,” he muttered, looking over his shoulder at the conference table.

“Okay, honey,” I whispered, lifted my hand touched his chest and his eyes came back to me so I smiled.

His hand tensed at my back then he moved away.

I turned to Apollo and smiled at him too then my smile went wonky as he held my eyes but took hold of my hand and lifted it, knuckles up, to his lips. Then I watched as he brushed them with his lips and dropped our hands but kept firm hold of mine.

“Until we meet again, sweet Finnie,” he whispered gently and I felt my mouth go soft.

“Until we meet again, Apollo,” I whispered back, squeezing his fingers.

He made to let go but I held on tight and moved slightly closer.

Then I said quietly, “A wise woman once told me happiness is a line with contentment at one end and bliss on the other.” I squeezed his fingers again and went on fervently, “I hope you at least find a way to the middle of that line, Apollo.”

His lips tipped up slightly before his head turned and I knew he was looking at Frey when he looked back to me and I saw his remarkable eyes lit with an appealing light before he replied, “I have, my princess, just knowing you have moved up that line to bliss.”

My belly warmed.

“Apollo,” I whispered.

“Hold tight to it, my sweet,” he replied softly. “Every day is a gift.”

He knew and so did I. We knew this to be very true.

I just wished there was some way this wonderful man would open his heart to a woman who would be generous to it. But I knew like I knew when I thought I had lost Frey that this was impossible.

I nodded, his lips tipped up more, his fingers squeezed mine then he let me go and moved away.

I watched and saw Frey watching us. I smiled at him as his eyes slid to Apollo then back to me, they warmed and he smiled gently back. I looked to Mother who inclined her chin to me, her lips curled slightly then she looked back at the table.

I left the room and hurried to the side entrance to Rimée Keep, hoping Bess was not yet away.

When I exited, I saw she was not but the carriage was loaded, the horses put to and she was standing beside it fretting.

Her head turned and her face lit when she saw me. “Oh Finnie! There you are!”

She rushed to me as I moved to her and we took hold of each other’s hands.

“Your trunks are packed, everything is ready and –” she started but I interrupted her.

“Bess, I’ll be fine,” I told her.

“I know, but, the other girls –”

“The other girls are hopefully enjoying a much needed break like you’re about to.”

She looked at me and grinned so I grinned back because we both knew Jocelyn and Esther were undoubtedly enjoying their breaks for they were both in Houllebec in the company of their men, Thad and Oleg.

Where Frey and I were headed the next morning and I was glad of it.

My feet most definitely itched.

Then her smile faded and she whispered, “I’ll miss you, my sweet princess.”

I dropped her hands but pulled her into my arms for a hug and whispered in her ear, “And I’ll miss you, my sweet Bess, but it’s only a short time and soon we’ll all be back together again and off to face our next adventure.” I squeezed hard then let her go and stepped back. “Now, go. Spend time with your family and I’ll see you very soon.”

She nodded, grinned at me again then part skipped, part dashed to the carriage, taking the hand of the footman waiting there for her. He helped her in, closed the door and she leaned out the window and waved at me as the footman ordered the driver, “Away.”

“Farewell, Finnie!” she called, waving as the carriage rolled forward.

“Farewell, Bess!” I called back, waving too.

Then I watched and waved as the carriage continued to move until it disappeared around the castle. And I kept looking in that direction, seeing the frost city of Snowdon now embedded in the deep green of the short Lunwyn summer. The ice and snow were gone, the land was lush and vibrant and, Frey told me, this would be the way for another month or so before the snows again came and bound the nation in ice.

I turned to the doors, went through and immediately encountered a scowling Kell who was stomping toward me.

“Hey Kell,” I greeted when he got close and we both stopped.

“Where’s Frey?” he grunted, not greeting me when we both stopped.