Page 114 of This Prince Is Not Charming

They crowded the doorway in front of Best Dressed, my father sandwiched between them, his eyes filled with panic. “Are you sure you have to leave, dear?”

I glanced up at my husband, and Cillian smiled down at me. “We can do whatever you want,” he said, voice low.

I looked back at my father, at this group of people who had come together so Cillian and I could go on an actual honeymoon.

“Papa, you are going to be in great hands.”

“Margaret is going to stay with you every night.” Niamh put a hand on his shoulder.

“And I’m bringing you dinner every evening,” Cillian’s mother added.

“I’m bringing the cards,” his father said. “I’ve got some new games I think you’ll like.”

My father’s eyebrows rose in interest. “I suppose I would like to play some new games, see some new faces, other than these two.” He jabbed a thumb toward Cillian and me.

Cillian smiled. “Oh, you could never tire of this pretty face.”

I rolled my eyes, because of course he was talking about himself.

“Go on, you two.” Marsten shooed us. “Go have an amazing honeymoon.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. Cillian hadn’t told me where we were going, and I was a little hesitant to portal outside of Fairwitch Isle, what with the risks and all. But since Lor had awoken Aoife the Warrior Maiden, all the castle rooms had reappeared, and the magic had seemingly been fixed. We were completely hidden once more, completely protected.

“Meera,” Marsten whispered. “Start the portal before she changes her mind for the millionth time.”

“It hasn’t been a million,” I grumbled as Meera lifted her paw, her magic swirling into a shimmering portal.

Cillian stepped forward and held out his hand, eyes twinkling. “You ready?”

I looked at my father. “I love you, and I will be back in a few days.”

He nodded, swallowing thickly. This was hard for him, but he would be in good hands. The best hands.

I placed my hand in Cillian’s, and we walked through the portal, the magic sucking us in and spitting us out on the other side within the blink of an eye. I stumbled forward, shading my eyes as I took in our new surroundings.

Fairwitch Isle was gone, and in its place were sprawling green hills. I whirled around to face a cliffside, where the blue ocean spread out as far as the eye could see.

Waves crashed against the rocks below, the scent briny and perfect.

I gasped and walked to the lone tree that sat among the rocky hills. “Oh my godwitches,” I said as I traced the initials carved into the wood. C&C. “Our tree.” Tears sprouted in my eyes. “We’re going to honeymoon here?”

Cillian nodded. “There’s a cave nearby. I’ve been sneaking out of Fairwitch Isle during the night and getting it ready for us. We’ve got materials for fire, a nice thick rug, blankets, and food.”

My hand floated to my mouth as Cillian lay down under the thick, knotted tree with its sprawling canopy. “What are you doing?” I asked.

He patted the spot next to him. “What we always do when we visit this tree.”

I let out a laugh as I lay next to him. “This is amazing, you know.”

He grabbed my hand, staring up at the clouds that rolled through the sky. “I used to dream of this.”

“What? Being married to me?”

“No. Well, yes. But I mean I literally dreamed of this place. When I was taking my tonic and numbing everything, this is where my mind would take me when I was asleep and had no control. I could never remember the dreams. I’d wake up and just feel so fucking happy for a minute before it all ebbed away.”

I swallowed thickly, giving his hand a squeeze. This hadn’t been an easy journey for Cillian. He still fought the urge to get the tonic. He had to work every day to not succumb to his cravings.

“How do you remember the dreams now?” I asked.