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Quietly, Aelin sneaked through her castle, carefully making sure to remain unseen. Without telling anyone but her ministers, she had cancelled today’s council meeting.
And now she was on her way to the western tower, to her private little library.
She loved her children. Truly, with all her heart. But even with all the help she received, the five of them were still quite a handful.
So she had planned a luxuriously relaxing afternoon.
Spare time no one knew about.
So no one would come looking for her, asking about picture books, crafting materials, or where various plush toys and wooden horses might have vanished to.
With a relieved breath, she closed the door behind her.
She had made it.
All the way to the royal suite and into her little library.
Crossing the room with easy steps, she opened the door to the balcony that circled the entire tower and breathed in the warm autumn air.
The leaves had already turned every shade of yellow and orange, and the nights hinted at the approaching winter. But during the day, it was still lovely.
Aelin wandered along her bookshelves, dragging a finger over the spines.
What did she want to read today?
At one old, battered book, she stopped and smiled.
A classic.
One of her favorites since she had bought it in Rifthold more than twenty years ago.
She had already recommended it to everyone.
Dorian, Chaol, Rowan, Elide, and Lysandra had read it—which meant Lorcan and Aedion knew it as well.
Still smiling, she pulled Sunset’s Passion from the shelf.
Then she lowered herself onto the comfortable couch and reached for the quilt Elide had given her for her birthday a few years earlier.
Her hand met nothing.
Aelin blinked.
Usually, the quilt lay folded on the armrest.
Today, the couch was empty.
Aelin frowned.
Where was it?
With an impatient sigh, she rose and looked behind the sofa.
No quilt.
She lowered herself to her knees and looked underneath.
The only things she spotted were two wooden blocks and a stuffed plush cat.
But no quilt.
Perhaps one of the maids had taken it to be washed.
Annoyed, she left the library and headed for her bedroom.
The warm blanket was a bit much for now, given the pleasant autumn weather, but during the colder nights she already needed it.
It would do for the afternoon.
She opened the door to her bedroom - and froze.
The pillows still leaned neatly against the headboard, but there were no blankets. Neither on her side of the bed nor Rowan’s.
Her gaze drifted to the children’s bed, where the youngest two still slept with their parents.
Both Elain’s and Rían’s blankets were gone as well.
An uneasy feeling settled in Aelin’s stomach.
Surely such a thorough cleaning would have been mentioned by one of the maids?
Of course, she could simply light a fire and make herself comfortable in the library.
But something was happening here. Something Aelin simply could not ignore.
Just to make sure the children hadn’t taken them, she checked their rooms.
That only made the whole situation more confusing.
No blankets.
Not on Evvie’s bed.
Not on Cael’s.
Not on Darion’s.
None.
Aelin turned and left the tower, determined to find one of the maids and inquire about the missing blankets.
On her way to the head housemaid’s office, she ran into Elide, little Rían in her arms.
The one-year-old squealed happily and reached for her mother as Aelin approached.
“Hello, my love,” Aelin greeted her youngest daughter and kissed her soft blonde hair. “Where are you and Elide going?”
“It’s about time for her afternoon nap,” Elide answered. “I wanted to put her down in Eowyn’s bed since we were already in our rooms, but—”
She shook her head.
“The blankets were gone. I assume the maids took them for cleaning, so I’m on my way to the nursery instead.”
Aelin’s eyes widened.
“Your blankets are missing as well?” she breathed.
Really, this whole affair became curiouser and curiouser.
“I will investigate,” she declared, handing her daughter back with one last kiss.
“Unfortunately, our blankets are missing as well, but I will get to the bottom of this. Perhaps you can use a wrap to cover her during nap time.”
Elide took the child back and purred, “Come here, love. Let’s find you a place to sleep.”
“Mama.”
“Your mama is busy right now, little dove. We’ll see her later. Let’s wave goodbye.”
Aelin turned one last time and blew her daughter a kiss.
Then she continued on her way - a queen determined to unearth every secret hidden within her castle.
„Blankets?“
The confusion on the head housemaid’s face seemed genuine.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I don’t know anything about them being washed. It certainly wasn’t ordered by me.”
Aelin’s eyes narrowed.
“Have you been to the laundry house today, Mrs. Spriggs? Are you absolutely certain they aren’t there?”
The poor woman flushed.
“I - I haven’t personally, no, Your Majesty. But as I said, no such order was given…”
Aelin didn’t wait for her to finish.
She would go and check herself.
She no longer believed this was some harmless misunderstanding.
Something was definitely wrong.
Fifteen minutes later, Aelin paced impatiently up and down her study.
Her visit to the washerwomen had turned up nothing.
Not a single blanket had been there - neither being washed nor hanging out to dry.
So she had summoned two of her ministers.
The one for agriculture.
And for economic affairs.
When the two men entered her office, both looked distinctly nervous.
Being called before the Queen of Terrasen on short notice rarely meant anything pleasant.
“Your Majesty.”
They bowed deeply.
“How may we be of service?”
Aelin clasped her hands behind her back.
“Minister Snyder,” she said gravely, turning to her agricultural minister. “I require information of utmost importance.”
The man straightened immediately.
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“How was this year’s shearing?”
Silence.
The minister blinked.
Once.
Twice.
“The … shearing, Your Majesty?”
Aelin nodded.
“The shearing.”
“Well…” He cleared his throat. “According to the latest reports, production is up approximately eight percent for Anascaul goats compared to last year.”
Aelin nodded thoughtfully.
“And sheep?”
“Roughly the same as last year.”
“I see.”
The minister looked increasingly uncertain.
“Any numbers on goose down?”
“Goose down?” the minister echoed faintly.
“You know,” Aelin said, waving her hands impatiently. “For stuffing blankets and pillows. Any reports from goose farmers?”
Minister Snyder’s face turned pale, then red.
“I… I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I don’t have such numbers. I could make inquiries, but—”
Aelin huffed in exasperation and turned to the Minister of Economic Affairs. “And you? Do you have numbers regarding imports and exports?”
The man fumbled for a handkerchief and wiped a faint sheen of sweat from his brow. Then he cleared his throat.
“Wool exports have increased by five percent, particularly for fine Anascaul wool. As a result, there has been a slight surplus, and prices have dropped by one silver stag per bale.”
He swallowed.
“Of this year’s sheep shearing, approximately twenty-five percent has been marked for export. Domestic supply remains stable.”
Nervously, he added, “As far as I’m aware, no goose down is intended for export.”
“I see.”
Aelin resumed pacing.
“Do you have any figures regarding how much of that wool or down is used for blankets?”
The two ministers stared at one another. Both looked thoroughly confused and equally eager for someone else to be interrogated by the queen.
“Blankets?” one of them finally asked, carefully suppressing his disbelief.
“Yes. Blankets.”
Aelin stopped pacing.
“Is there a blanket shortage in this kingdom that I don’t know about?”
Both ministers stared at their queen as if she had suddenly grown antlers.
“I’m very sorry, Your Majesty,” one of them finally ventured, “but I fail to see—”
“Which is exactly why,” Aelin interrupted, “I am in charge of this investigation. You may leave.”
Her ministers almost stumbled over their own feet in their attempt to escape as swiftly as possible.
Aelin left her office as well.
Since she had been able to eliminate blanket smuggling as a possible motive, she would need the guards. The gates were to be sealed and everyone wishing to leave the castle questioned.
Especially those carrying suspiciously large bundles.
She needed Aedion for this.
Through the tether that linked them via the blood oath, she sent the silent command to meet her in the courtyard.
“Aelin.”
Aedion came striding toward her.
“What is wrong? What do you need?”
“The guards,” Aelin said darkly. “We need them for a search of the castle. Someone has been stealing.”
With quiet authority, Aedion had the guards assembled in the courtyard within minutes.
“You have been summoned,” he addressed them, “because a grave crime has been committed within these walls. Someone has been stealing from our queen.”
Grimly, he continued, “This will not go unpunished. You are to search the castle and question anyone behaving suspiciously. Her Majesty”—he nodded toward Aelin—“will now describe the items in question.”
“Thank you.”
Aelin inclined her head gracefully and turned to the assembled guards.
“Currently, five blankets are missing from the royal suite. In addition, one handmade quilt from Lady Elide.”
Indignantly, she added, “It was a birthday gift.”
“If that wasn’t enough, Lady Elide herself is missing several blankets from the Lochan suite.”
Beside her, Aedion had gone completely still.
When Aelin had finished her detailed inventory of the missing blankets and sent the guards on their way, he leaned closer and whispered,
“Blankets, Aelin? Really? All this for blankets?”
Aelin looked at him grimly.
“Yes, blankets, Aedion. Someone has been stealing. Not only from me, but from my children. And from Elide. That will not be tolerated.”
A terrible thought struck her and she whirled around, eyes narrowed.
“Why don’t you want me to assign the guards to this case?”
Aedion blinked.
“What?”
“Do you have something to hide?”
“Aelin - what?”
“Have you taken the blankets, Aedion? Did you build a lover’s nest in a hayloft for you and Lysandra and steal the blankets so the two of you could be cozy?”
“Aelin!”
Aedion stared at her in disbelief.
“Did you really just— Aelin!”
He looked genuinely offended.
“Are you suggesting I’m such a poor husband that I need other people’s blankets to seduce my wife? Children’s blankets, no less?”
“Well, someone took them,” Aelin shot back. “And I’m going to find out who and why.”
Aedion rubbed a hand over his face, murmuring something that sounded suspiciously like a plea for patience.
“Where have you looked for them?” he finally asked.
Aelin began counting on her fingers.
“I questioned the maids, checked the laundry house, and interrogated the ministers about a possible blanket shortage. Now the guards are on it, and the next step—”
“Aelin,” Aedion interrupted, “haven’t you considered the most obvious possibility and simply asked your children?”
Aelin waved him off. “They’re having lessons right now. There’s no way they could have taken them.”
“But have you asked them?” Aedion pressed.
Aelin rolled her eyes.
“Fine,” she snapped. “Let’s go ask.”
As they neared the library and adjoining schoolroom, they heard Lysandra’s voice before they even rounded the corner.
“What do you mean, you don’t know where they are?”
“My Lady, please, I am so sorry—”
Aedion quickened his pace and Aelin matched it. The moment the tutor spotted the queen, she turned even paler.
“Your Majesty, I’m certain they can’t be far. I only left for a few minutes—”
Aelin narrowed her eyes.
“You left them alone? After what happened last time? Have you learned nothing?”
“Please, Your Majesty.” The woman clasped her hands nervously. “I was going over an assignment with Lady Eowyn when the Crown Princess pointed out a wounded bird on the windowsill.”
She swallowed.
“Princess Evalin insisted on taking the bird to the healers, so I accompanied her.”
Without meeting anyone’s gaze, she continued, “We were halfway to the healer’s ward when the bird suddenly began flapping again and flew straight out the window, and—”
Aelin let out a low curse.
“Evvie followed, I assume.”
The woman nodded miserably.
“I am so sorry, Your Majesty.”
Aedion and Lysandra exchanged a look.
“I’d wager that wounded bird was Lysander,” Aedion said. “He’s always quick to help others get into trouble.”
Aelin turned back to the tutor.
“When you returned to the classroom, the others were gone too, weren’t they?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I am—”
Aelin waved her off.
“I know - you’re sorry. And I know very well what a lively handful those children can be. It would be easier to herd a sack full of fleas.”
She sighed. „Oh those children,“ Aelin muttered and exchanged a long-suffering look with Lysandra.
„I’ll look for them in the stables,“ Lysandra offered. „The last time they had a picnic in the hayloft.“
Aelin nodded her thanks. „I’ll check upstairs - perhaps they went to fetch a book or a toy.“
She turned to Aedion. „Do you want to come with me or Lysandra?“
Aedion nodded at his wife. „I’m coming with her. I’ll have to see the guards afterwards anyway.“
Aelin nodded and whirled around.
Light-footed, she ran through the castle.
No longer a queen on a mission, but a mother looking for her children.
Impossibly fast, she sprinted up the stairs - until she almost collided with Elide, Elain and Rían.
She skidded to a halt, narrowly avoiding collision and cursed softly, relieved the toddlers couldn’t quite understand yet.
„What are you doing here? Why aren’t you napping, sweetheart? And where is Elain coming from?“
„Oh, Rían slept already,“ Elide reported dutifully. „Just not very long. We were on our way to the gardens, when we met Elain and the nanny. She wanted to come with us, but forgot her books in the nursery. So we’re on our way back up to fetch them.“
Aelin nodded. „I’ll come with you - see if the others are upstairs as well.“
Elide laughed.
„Have they escaped their lessons again?“
The queen merely growled.
„Your daughter is with them, you know.“
Elide rolled her eyes.
„Of course she is. After her two sisters, I had hoped she would be a bit more reserved, but alas…“
Aelin chuckled. She and the witch queen were godmothers to the twins Marion and Manon, and the girls had obviously inherited their spirits.
On the top landing, Aelin pushed open the door to their suite.
And sure enough—
„Yes, take all of them. As many as you can carry. Quick.“
„Aha!“
Aelin stepped through the doorway.
Her eldest three children froze.
For one glorious heartbeat, nobody moved.
Princess Evalin stood in the middle of the room, clutching two pillows and what looked suspiciously like Rowan’s favorite blanket.
Cael was halfway inside a wardrobe, his feet still sticking out.
And Darion had somehow managed to pile so many pillows into his arms that only his eyes remained visible.
The first pillow tumbled down.
Darion squeaked.
Cael banged his head on the wardrobe door.
„Aha,“ Aelin repeated slowly.
„Retreat!“ Evvie shrieked.
Instant chaos erupted.
Darion dropped half his loot.
Cael emerged from the wardrobe wrapped in one of Rowan’s cloaks.
„Wrong thing!“ Evvie yelled.
„I know!“
„You left the blanket!“
„I can’t carry everything!“
„Take the pillow!“
„Which pillow?“
„All of them!“
„Oh no, you don’t,“ Aelin said, advancing.
„Follow me!“ Evvie ordered.
The three children bolted across the room.
They crashed into a chair.
Knocked over a basket.
Lost more pillows.
Recovered them.
Then reached the balcony doors.
„You come back here at once! You—“
But she was too late.
A single heartbeat later, a kestrel, a hawk and a buzzard fluttered over the balcony railing and out of sight.
Aelin ran to the balcony and searched for the fleeing birds.
A familiar cry sounded above her, and Aelin simply pointed and shouted, „The children! Catch them!“
Instead of landing and shifting back, Rowan circled once above her head before following his children.
Aelin cursed.
Shifting gave them an advantage she did not appreciate. At least Rowan had been nearby this time.
Elain giggled and proudly repeated the word, completely ignoring Elide, who immediately tried to tell her not to use it.
The little girl ran into the library, where Aelin’s book still lay forgotten on the sofa.
Aelin sighed at the sight.
This was how she had intended to spend the afternoon.
Elain retrieved her favorite picture book and bounced back to Aelin.
„Go others?“ she asked, holding out her hand.
„Yes, sweetheart. We’re going to find the others.“
The little princess nodded, satisfied.
„Dorian sleeping in garden,“ she informed her mother.
„Darion,“ Aelin corrected gently. „Dorian is the King of Adarlan, remember?“
Elain ignored her completely.
„I sleep too,“ she announced proudly.
„No, my love. No one is sleeping in the gardens,“ Elide chimed in.
For some reason, that made Elain furious and she immediately burst into tears.
Nonplussed, Aelin lifted the girl into her arms and tried - unsuccessfully - to determine what exactly had upset her.
Outside, they spotted Lorcan ahead of them, heading toward the castle orchard.
Elide called out to him, and he turned, waiting for them to catch up.
„Where are you going?“ Aelin asked.
Lorcan merely nodded further between the trees.
„Aedion’s eldest found me. Told me to come to the orchard.“
He glanced at Elide. „Do you know what this is about?“
Elide sighed.
„Unfortunately, yes. Our youngest escaped her lessons again. Lysander helped, but he probably got an earful from his parents, and I suspect that’s why he went to fetch you.“
Together they crossed the orchard, Lorcan carrying little Rían for Elide.
Aelin frowned at the structure ahead.
Had someone erected a tent?
In the orchard?
At this time of year?
Rowan, Aedion and Lysandra stood before it, their faces wearing varying expressions of amused exasperation.
As they drew closer, Aelin finally realized what she was looking at.
Blankets.
Dozens of blankets.
Some were spread across the ground. Others formed walls and roofs, fastened with pegs and strings tied between the trees.
Someone had even built a little entrance.
It looked - Aelin had to admit - remarkably cozy.
„What’s going on here?“ she demanded.
The flap of the blanket fortress shifted.
Her three eldest children emerged.
Then Eowyn Lochan.
Then Aemon Ashryver.
His younger brother, Alaric.
And finally, the curly head of Maryssa Moonbeam appeared from beneath Aelin’s missing quilt.
Counting Elain and Rían, who immediately wriggled free and ran to join the others, nine children now stood assembled before their parents.
The youngest was barely a year old.
The eldest nearly fifteen.
The younger ones looked delighted with themselves.
The older ones looked considerably less confident, fully aware they were not supposed to be here.
That is—
except for Evvie.
She folded her arms and lifted her chin. „That’s my castle,“ she declared proudly.
Then she gestured around herself.
„And these are my blood-sworn warriors.“
Aedion and Rowan quickly masked their laugh with suspicious coughing.
Evvie ignored them.
„And we are on an important mission.“
Despite her irritation, Aelin felt a smile tugging at her lips. „And what mission might that be, Princess?“
„We are looking for the little folk,“ Maryssa suddenly announced.
„We sleeping in garden,“ Elain added.
She looked immensely pleased with herself.
And suddenly Aelin understood.
The blankets.
The pillows.
The disappearing children.
Elain’s mysterious references to sleeping in the garden. And how inconsolable she had been when Elide turned her down.
All of it.
She closed her eyes for a brief moment.
Then she opened them again and fixed the older children with her most regal stare.
„The little ones don’t know any better,“ she said.
„But you do.“
Her gaze moved from Aemon to Eowyn, then Alaric, and finally her eldest daughter.
„Did none of you stop to consider that your tutors might get into trouble when you disappear halfway through your lessons?“
„Oh, come on, Aelin,“ Fenrys called from somewhere behind the blanket fort. „Don’t be such a spoilsport.“
„Fenrys Moonbeam,“ Rowan sighed. „Of course you are involved in this.“
„In my defense,“ Fenrys declared dramatically, stepping out from behind a wall made of quilts, „this was originally supposed to be a simple Moonbeam family outing.“
He gestured at the blanket fortress.
At the assembled children.
At the alarming amount of stolen bedding.
„But somehow,“ he continued, „things escalated. Before I knew what was happening, we were constructing a full-scale military encampment.“
Aedion pinched the bridge of his nose.
Fenrys shrugged.
„Erian got called to attend a fae birth and couldn't come. I told Maryssa to ask her friends, and then I simply went with the flow. Isn’t that right, Maryssa?“
The little girl giggled and leaned against him.
„That’s right, Fenny.“
Then she beamed at Aelin.
„Now everyone’s here.“
Aelin couldn’t help smiling back.
She had adored Maryssa from the moment Fenrys had brought his mate and daughter to Terrasen a little over a year ago. And hearing the blood-sworn member of her cadre answer to Fenny never failed to delight her.
Feeling her resolve beginning to crumble, Rowan stepped in, his voice stern.
„You will all apologize to your tutors tomorrow. And every lesson you missed today will be caught up. Understood?“
He was met with reluctant nods, muttering and several impressive scowls.
Lysandra folded her arms.
„You are not just anyone,“ she said.
The children immediately straightened.
„Every single one of you will one day hold an important position within these castle walls.“
Her gaze landed on Darion.
„How will you be useful to your queen if you cannot write a proper letter?“
The little boy turned scarlet.
Her eyes moved to her younger sons.
„Or if you don’t understand Terrasen’s laws? Its history? Its customs? Learning matters. Is that understood?“
This time, the agreement sounded considerably more sincere. Beside her, Aedion shot his wife a look of unmistakable pride.
Rowan sighed and turned back to the children.
„You really intend to spend the night out here?“
A chorus of enthusiastic nods answered him.
„You do realize the nights are already cold?“
„You can stay, Ada,“ Evalin offered graciously.
Aelin bit the inside of her cheek.
„You can put up one of your shields.“
Several children immediately nodded as if this solved every conceivable problem.
„Yes.“
„That would work.“
„Ada always does that.“
„Of course,“ Evalin added, lifting her chin, „I could do it myself with my own magic, but—“
Caelan, her younger brother, snorted.
„You farting isn’t wind magic.“
With an outraged shriek, Evalin sent a sharp gust of wind at him.
Caelan tumbled backward into a pile of pillows.
He immediately retaliated with a snowball aimed straight at her face.
Before anyone decided to summon fire and accidentally burn down the blanket fort, Rowan stepped between his children.
„If you want to stay here, you will behave. Is that understood?“
Brother and sister glared at one another.
„Caelan, apologize to your sister. And Evvie, help him up.“
Neither looked particularly pleased by the arrangement.
„We can stay?“
Aemon turned to his parents, open delight written across his face.
At fifteen, nearly grown, none of the adults would have blamed him for preferring the company of friends his own age.
But Aemon adored his younger cousins and was fiercely loyal to his family.
Aedion rolled his eyes.
„Yes, you can stay. But so will I.“
Then he glanced at Lorcan. „Will you stay as well? Keep an eye on them?“
Lorcan huffed.
„Well. It has been a while since I slept outdoors.“
He shrugged. „Could be fun.“
Then he looked toward Elide.
„If it’s acceptable to Mylady.“
Elide laughed and gracefully inclined her head at her youngest.
„You have my permission.“
With the twins away at school, it meant an evening remarkably free of parental responsibilities.
Aelin and Rowan exchanged an amused look.
„Alright,“ Aelin relented. „The older ones can stay. But the little ones—“
Elain had heard enough.
She charged across the clearing and wrapped herself around Rowan’s legs.
Jumping up and down, she shrieked, „I’m old, Ada! I’m thwee!“
The two-year-old proudly held up four fingers.
Out of solidarity with her sister, Rían immediately began screaming as well.
Evalin and Caelan abandoned their feud without hesitation and moved to shield their youngest sister.
Obviously, the enemy had changed.
Aelin blinked, clearly taken aback.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to Rowan.
„What do you think? Aren’t they a little too young for that? And the nights are already so cold.“
As a fae mother, she simply couldn’t help fussing over her little ones.
Rowan offered her a reassuring smile. „I’ll put up shields. We’ll have a campfire. And,“ he nodded toward the impressive blanket fortress behind them, „we certainly have enough blankets to keep everyone warm.“
Aelin shot him a look.
Rowan wisely ignored it.
He bent down and picked up Elain, gently folding down two of the four fingers she was proudly holding up.
„This many,“ he corrected.
Elain frowned at the revised number.
Then Rowan looked back at Aelin. „Enjoy your evening, Fireheart.“
His voice softened.
„I know you need some time to unwind. The negotiations with Melisandre have been exhausting. Three weeks of meetings would wear down anyone.“
He gestured toward the males gathered around the fort. „Besides, there are enough of us here to keep watch.“
His smile widened.
„Everything will be fine.“
In the meantime, Lysander - Aedion’s and Lysandra’s eldest - had reappeared and taken up position beneath an apple tree. He was trying very hard to look unimpressed by the chaos surrounding him.
„And you?“ Aedion asked. „Are you staying as well?“
The sixteen-year-old rolled his eyes.
„Maybe.“
Aedion snorted.
„You know, we’ll be sitting around the fire tonight. Keeping watch.“
Lysander remained suspiciously uninterested.
„Mm.“
„And telling stories.“
The boy’s expression didn’t change.
„Mm.“
„About the war.“
Nothing.
„About the battles we fought.“
Still nothing.
Then Aedion casually added,
„And Rowan might know a few stories about your grandfather that you haven’t heard yet.“
Lysander straightened immediately.
The reaction was so fast that everyone saw it.
Realizing his mistake, he quickly leaned back against the tree and attempted to recover some dignity.
„Whatever,“ he muttered.
Then, with studied indifference, he shrugged.
„I suppose I can stay.“
But the spark in his eyes ruined the performance completely.
Rowan nodded.
„It’s settled then.“
He smiled at Elain, who was bouncing excitedly on his hip.
„First, we’ll raid the kitchens. How does grilled sausage sound? Every proper expedition needs provisions.“
The children cheered.
„What about the greenhouse, Ada?“ Darion asked. „Maybe we can get fruit. Oranges, perhaps.“
The greenhouse had been one of Aelin’s favorite additions to the castle.
Kept warm by an eternal flame of her own making, it provided fresh fruit and vegetables throughout the year.
At the mention of oranges, Rían immediately let out another delighted screech. She toddled over to Rowan and wrapped herself around his legs.
„Om-range,“ she chanted happily. „Om-range.“
Besides Mama and Ada, the fruit had been among her first words.
Much to the irritation of her siblings, who for a long time had simply been referred to with enthusiastic pointing.
„Yes, love,“ Rowan laughed. „We’ll see if they have oranges.“
Aelin took a step back.
Then another.
Still slightly stunned by the events that had unfolded over the course of the afternoon.
She watched Rowan and Lorcan effortlessly fall into command. One group was sent to fetch nightclothes, toothbrushes and beloved stuffed animals.
Another was dispatched to gather firewood. A third immediately volunteered for kitchen duty.
The entire operation looked remarkably organized for something that had started as blanket theft.
Her gaze drifted to Lysandra on one side.
To Elide on the other.
Lysandra’s eyes met hers.
Then Elide’s.
For a heartbeat, nobody spoke.
Then realization dawned.
Aelin blinked.
„We’re free,“ she breathed.
Lysandra stared.
Elide stared.
Aelin repeated, louder this time,
„We’re free.“
The rest of the afternoon.
The entire evening.
No baths.
No bedtime negotiations.
No arguments over storybooks.
No searching for missing shoes.
No rescuing anyone from rooftops.
No chasing anyone through the castle.
Lysandra slowly placed a hand over her heart.
„I had forgotten what freedom feels like.“
Elide laughed. A genuine, helpless laugh.
„What are we even supposed to do with all that time?“
„Girls’ night,“ Aelin declared immediately.
The answer came so fast that neither of them doubted she had been wanting to host one for months.
„We’ll heat up the sauna.“
Her eyes brightened.
„And use the steam room.“
„And the pool,“ Lysandra added.
„Definitely the pool,“ Aelin agreed.
Several years ago she had renovated a suite of rooms in the western tower. Now they housed a small indoor pool, a sauna and a steam room.
During autumn and winter they were, without question, her favorite rooms in the entire castle.
„That sounds wonderful,“ Elide sighed.
Lysandra was already backing away.
„I’ll send for the masseuse.“
She pointed at them.
„Don’t start without me.“
Then she turned and disappeared toward the castle.
Aelin’s eyes gleamed.
„I’ll go to the kitchens.“
„For wine?“ Elide guessed.
„For wine,“ Aelin confirmed.
She considered.
„And cake.“
Another pause.
„And snacks.“
A longer pause.
„And perhaps a second bottle.“
Elide nodded solemnly.
„A wise precaution.“
The two exchanged identical conspiratorial smiles.
„I’ll stop by the library,“ Elide said. „We might need books.“
Aelin’s grin widened.
„Excellent thinking.“
Behind them, the children were already arguing over sleeping arrangements, oranges and who would be allowed to sit closest to the campfire.
For once, none of it was their problem.
Arm in arm, they headed back toward the castle.
Leaving the fathers, the blanket fort and the chaos exactly where they belonged.
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