“You’re sure you don’t want to put it off?” asked the Irish king.
“No.” Lore’s voice was sharp. “We do it tonight.”
There was a wave of faint murmurs, but it was impossible to tell if people were annoyed, neutral, or dismayed.
Meria squeezed my hand. “Come on. Let’s get you ready for the big event.”
“Sure.” I let her guide me away.
Eve stayed close by her side, and we walked in silence back to the room I shared with Lore. He didn’t follow us, and I was grateful for it.
As soon as we were inside, Meria and Eve turned to me.
“What has you looking like you swallowed a live fish?” Meria said.
“I don’t know what happened last night.” I clenched my jaw, but I was unable to keep the words from spilling forth. I could keep my secret from Lore, but I couldn’t keep it from my friends. “After the meeting with the historian, I woke up in this room covered in soot and dirt.”
They both frowned.
“What do you mean?” Eve asked. “We walked you back to your room.”
"I know. But I feel like I lost some time. Like I wasn’t fully conscious, then I woke up filthy.”
“Shit.” Meria collapsed in a chair but the hearth. “You think you did it.”
“Maybe? I have no idea.”
Eve scrubbed her hands over her face. “That doesn’t sound good.”
Meria rubbed my shoulder. “It was probably the witch with the deathly magic, and you got caught at the edge of the blast. Then you staggered back here and passed out.”
I liked that explanation. “Yeah, that could be it. But how did I get out there? And why do I feel like it was my fault?”
“I don’t know.” Meria grimaced. “This isn’t looking good.”
“Did you tell Lore?” Meria asked.
“No!”
“Good.” She nodded. “We keep this to ourselves while we try to get to the bottom of it.”
“But, how?”
“I have no idea.” Meria shook her head. “But we’ll figure something out.”
“In the meantime, we need to pretend like everything is normal. We can’t let anyone suspect you.” Eve clapped her hands together in a businesslike manner. “So you’ll get married, become the queen, and we’ll work together to kill the witch. Then we’ll all live happily ever after.” She grinned. “I like that plan. Now let’s get you ready. The wedding is at dusk and we’re running out of time.”
“Fine. I need the distraction anyway.” I looked toward the window, where the clouds were ever darker.
Memories of them surrounding me flashed in my mind. Had the witch with the deathly magic really been there? Or called me out there?
“Do you know where your wedding dress is?” Eve asked.
I pointed to a trunk in the corner. “I think it might be in there.”
“Excellent.” Eve went to it and pulled out a shimmery silver dress.
It was gorgeous, and somehow, the sight of it made tears prick in my eyes.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Meria laid a comforting hand on my shoulder.
I sniffed back the tears and wiped my eyes. “Nothing. I guess I’m just a bit overwhelmed. This isn’t what I expected my wedding to be like.”
“You don’t have to stay married,” Eve said.
“You’re right.” I drew in a bracing breath. “Once the witch is defeated, I can run.”
“Exactly.”
But the idea twisted my heart. I didn’t want to leave this beautiful place. I might not fit in perfectly, but it was better than what I had back in the human world.
More than that, I didn’t want to leave my new friends.
Lore.
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. My feelings for him were becoming a runaway train, and I needed to put the brakes on. Fast.
Lore
* * *
The rest of the day passed in a blur. I spent hours combing through the wreckage of the greenhouse for clues.
I found nothing, and it was finally time to dressed for the wedding.
My wedding.
The thought was laughable. I’d never intended to wed. And yet, here I was, with the dark clouds hovering overhead to remind me why I was doing this.
“It’s all so vague,” I muttered.
“What was that?” Dain asked.
I nodded up at the clouds. “We’ve got dark clouds and a seer prophesying an attack by an evil witch, so I’m getting married. Isn’t it all a bit ridiculous?”