Innocent Darkness (39 page)

“I think so.” Noli fidgeted in front of the mirror as she fixed her hair. The waves were much easier to braid, but part of her missed her wayward curls. She still couldn’t get over her appearance. Or what was happening to her. “What will Mama say … about me?” She wasn’t totally unrecognizable, just a much more beautiful version of herself.

“It will be fine. You still look like you, everyone’s just going to think you finished maturing at school and that growing was, um, kind to you. It does happen, you know.”

She grimaced. “I liked my old self better.”

“I know. I liked your old self better, too. We’re going to find a way to fix this.” V kept saying this to her over and over, probably to reassure himself as much as to reassure her.

Taking his offered hand, she stood. She couldn’t help but be excited to return home to her mama. Everything would be fine, just like V said. “I’m going home.”

“That you are.” He handed her a dark green cloak.

She adjusted the cape in the mirror and turned a little, studying her reflection. “Do you think green is my color? Blue might bring out my eyes more.”

Her mouth clamped shut. She kept saying and doing stupid things. It was as if someone else had taken control of her body and all she could do was watch in horror, powerless to stop it.

V wrapped his arms around her. “I love the way you look in green.”

Noli shouldn’t care what
anyone
thought about her appearance, but her heart fluttered and she turned away. She didn’t want V to know how hard this was on her; how it took every ounce of willpower she possessed to fight from succumbing to that other girl—the one who just wanted to drown herself in frivolity, completely unaware of the bigger picture.

Even then, it didn’t always work.

It physically hurt, both to resist and to see what she’d become. But she’d continue to fight from completely becoming this new girl. If she didn’t, the high queen would win.

Finally, she could go home to her mama like she’d wanted.

Like the wish in the tree, she regretted it.

“Please don’t.” Taking her face in his hand, he covered it in kisses. “We could still stay here if you’d like, but I know you don’t.”

For the briefest moment, that other girl wanted to. It would be much more fun here, with balls and parties …

Noli gave that girl a mental shove, wishing she could lock her in the attic.

“You’ll stay with me?” Noli wanted to smack herself. She sounded so clingy, so stupid.

V gave her another kiss. “Of course.” He took her hand. “Let’s go say goodbye to Lottie and James, but we’ll be back soon.”

“How exactly will we do that? We have to follow societal conventions again. We can’t sneak away together without causing a scandal. Besides, we’ll be punished for ages.” It would be worth it to see her mama again. She’d try to be a better daughter, to take care of her mama, just like she’d promised Jeff.

“I’ll figure it out. I’ll be on restriction for life, but you won’t.” He led her towards the library. “It will look like you’re being sent home from school because you’ve been cured.”

Noli winced. In a way she had. If she wasn’t vigilant, she’d become the very girl they wanted her to be.

“I’m sorry,” he soothed. “I should have used another word.”

They walked into the library. Noli ran to Charlotte and hugged her. “I will miss you.”

“I’ll miss you, too.” Charlotte smiled. “You’re coming back soon?”

“Of course, I’m going to build you a better chair. Someone has to know how that floating chariot works … if not perhaps I can base it on the workings of a hoverboard.” She’d tried here to see what she could design, but thinking often made her head hurt. Hopefully it would be easier to think back home.

“I can’t wait.” Charlotte gave her one final embrace.

Noli gave James a hug. “Bye, James.”

“Hurry back.” James grinned.

James’ clapped his brother on the shoulder. “I don’t envy you, but I appreciate you working things out with father for the both if us.”

“I am eldest.” V smiled. “Besides, you’re the one who has to deal with Queen Tiana regularly. I don’t envy you there.”

The queen kept dropping by, either to try to lure Charlotte back to the palace or gloat over Noli and their bad bargain. Noli learned her lesson; she’d never bargain with the Fae again.

Taking her hand, V looked at her. “Ready?”

“Can we go check on the wood faeries first?” She still possessed that connection with them, with the flowers and trees. If anything, it seemed stronger.

“Of course.” He smiled. She appreciated how he didn’t pity her. He did coddle her, but sometimes she needed it.

They visited faerie tree in the middle of the hedge maze. They’d buried all the little wood faeries who’d died and been checking on the ones who survived as they grew stronger. The wood faeries weren’t strong enough to fly around, but they did come out from their knothole, probably hoping she had treats for them in her dress pockets.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have anything for you today,” she told them.

“I do.” V took a handkerchief out of his coat pocket, little pink cake inside. “But you have to share.” He broke it up and doled out pieces to all the wood faeries, who bickered and fought over crumbs of varying sizes.

She smiled at their antics. “Will you let wood faeries move into my tree?”

“If it’ll make you happy.” He took her hand. “Everything’s going to work out.”

“If you can’t fix it no one can.”

He smiled wryly. “That’s not precisely true, but I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

“How could I not trust you?” She fingered her necklace, a
sigil
he called it. “You’re my best friend … and so much more. You defied your father to rescue me—and I know your father.” Noli grinned. “You even faced the high queen.”

His face crumpled. “I’m sorry. I’ll fix it. We’ll fix it.”

She ran her fingers through his wayward hair. “It’s not your fault. I don’t blame you.”

Even if she wanted to. She found it difficult to feel negative—or complex—emotions for long, another thing she hadn’t told him. He had enough to worry about.

Capturing her fingers, he kissed the tips, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through her. All those sensations had become more intense—and harder to fight.

“I don’t deserve you.” His voice became ragged as their fingers intertwined.

“Funny, I feel the same,” she replied.

His eyes gazed deep into hers. “This does nothing to affect my feelings for you. It’s merely a setback. All relationships have setbacks.”

She thought of her parents, how her mother still pined for her father. “That’s true.”

Fingers still intertwined, he pulled her closer. “Magnolia Montgomery Braddock, I love you, and I promise to love, cherish, and protect you always.”

He kissed her, slowly, madly, deeply, as if trying to connect their souls. She kissed him back, trying to take everything he offered—love, comfort, stability—and drink it in.

She broke it off before it became more, even though that other part of her thought it crazy to break off a kiss with such a handsome man, and a prince to boot.

“I love you.” She gazed into his eyes, enjoying this last moment. As hard as it would be, they’d have to be more cautious at home where, once again, propriety ruled. Taking her hand, he smiled. She squeezed it. Home. In a few moments she’d be able to hug her mama again.

“Can I tell you how excited I am?” Allowing excitement to take over, she grinned again.

He kissed her. “You just did.”

Noli linked her arm through his. “Come on, V. Let’s go home.”