Maeve leads the way out of the kitchen, rounding a corner that takes us to a winding staircase with sharp rails. I recall this staircase leading to Della’s chambers, and my heart wrenches at the thought, having once gone up there and seeing Della’s side of the castle. She’d patched me up, fed me, was honest with me. She was a good woman who didn’t deserve what happened. Fuck Decius for taking her away.
The thought leaves me as Maeve walks behind the staircase to pull a door open. It groans as if it hasn’t been used in ages, and we take a flight of stairs down until we’re on damp grass.
Maeve trots through the grass, her wide black pantlegs swishing with the breeze. Her curls whip around her face as she struggles to collect them all and tuck them behind her ears. Juniper doesn’t have to worry about loose hairs, seeing as hers is in a tight ponytail. She stretches her arms to the sky, indulging in the sunlight, still with flour on her cheek.
“You have a little bit of flour on your face.” I point to the area on my face, and she wipes hers.
“Thank you.” She rubs her cheek to make sure it’s all gone. “I bet Mum would’ve let me walk around with it all day like an idiot.”
I laugh as Maeve wanders down a gently sloping hill. The sound of the ocean intensifies, and birds caw and chirp, flying overhead. The grass is still damp, but that dampness feels good as it drags across my ankles.
Down the hill is a one-story cottage, tall, with black bricks and a wide steel door facing us. The roof is all black as well, with a tiny chimney to the left. Windows line every side of the house, which I’m sure provide a stunning view of the ocean from inside. Trees hover above the back of the guesthouse, creating an ample amount of shade.
Maeve walks toward a bridge with wooden slats and steel railing and platforms. As we follow her along the bridge, I notice the creek below. The water trickles by at a rapid pace, running between smooth black rocks. When we make it across, Maeve goes straight for the door.
“Better not be any bloody squatters in here,” Maeve mumbles as she twists the doorknob open. The door creaks, and she pushes it ahead, revealing the interior.
The first thing that captures my attention is the kitchen. Sleek steel counters and a gas stove, double ovens, and a slim fridge. I follow her into the guesthouse and spot that table she spoke of that can seat over twenty people, taking up most of the dining area. The table is coated with dust, and a stack of chairs are on either side of it, black, thick, and sturdy.
To my right, a black leather sofa is pressed against the only solid wall of the cabin, and to the left of the sofa—outside the wide floor-to-ceiling windows—is a wooden deck wrapped in steel with black railings. The deck offers a sideview of the ocean, the black waves rippling beneath the sunny sky. More seating is out there, as well as a built-in firepit.
I turn back to look around, and a folded bed is in the corner next to a door. Noticing the bed, Maeve says, “We can take that out.” She then opens the door beside it. “The bathroom.”
Juniper flips on a light switch, and the room illuminates with gold lighting. I hadn’t noticed before, but there are fairy lights sweeping across the walls, as well as bulbs hanging from thick cords above, giving the guesthouse a comforting glow. I’m certain it looks even better at night.
“Wow,” I breathe. “It’s perfect.”
“You sure? We can always go bigger, book a place in the village,” Maeve insists.
“No, no.” I shake my head quickly. “This is exactly what we need. Small and cozy. It’ll make it more intimate. Special.”
“Okay.” She smiles, pressing the pads of her fingers together in front of her. “This will make a great surprise for Caspian. So very thoughtful of you. Even before this Mournwrath came along, we were all so wrapped up in ourselves. It will be nice to have everyone together so we can catch up and breathe a bit.” Maeve huffs, as if exasperated. “In the meantime, let’s work on a menu and the list of guests we want to invite. Once we know who’s attending, I’ll contact one of my good friends to cater. It’s very last minute, but there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for her monarch. Once that’s settled, we can run to the village. Caspian insists that I take you there and let you pick out your own clothes.”
“Oh, you really don’t have to do that,” I assure her.
“I don’t mind. Juniper and I can tag along, plus it’ll give me a chance to go over my list for house maidens. The sooner we can get one, the better. No one will live up to Della, of course, but it’s better to have some extra hands than none at all.”
“Well, thank you,” I murmur. “I know you have much better things to do than wait around for me to shop.”
“Oh, please!” Juniper jumps in. “You think you’ll be the only one shopping? No way. I’ll show you all the best shops. Trust me. By the time we’re finished and you have your new wardrobe, Caz won’t be able to keep his hands off you. He’ll fuck you every way he can.”
“Oh my gosh, Juniper.” I fight a smile and a blush.
“What? It’s fine! We all have sex! It’s natural! And mind you, it’s a good thing for Caz. I swear he was going to explode one day from all his pent-up frustration. He has to let it out somewhere.”
“Jun, cut it out! You’re making the poor girl uncomfortable,” Maeve scolds, sauntering to the door again.
I follow Maeve out as Juniper goes on about how sex shouldn’t be so taboo, and despite the rather naughty turn this conversation has taken, it’s still nice to have. Having people to talk to who feel like family. People who understand both me and Caz. Faye would love it here, I bet. I’d love to talk to her right now, tell her how everything is going and to celebrate the fact that Decius is gone. If I could call her, I would, as it would be nice to communicate while away. Hopefully I’ll be able to go back soon and catch up. I also have to deal with Lou Ann, and at this rate, I will likely quit because the more time I spend in Vakeeli, the more I realize it’s not so bad. I feel more like myself here than anywhere else.
There are many things for me to deal with on Earth, and I’ll get to those, but first, I need to put a smile on my mate’s face.
