Page 76 of Save a Wish

“I’m afraid this is my destiny.” I took Orla’s hand and Fionn’s. “But at least I have you two.”

Orla put her free hand atop mine. “Always.”

“We are loyal only to you,” Fionn added. “And if you want to escape again, we’ll help you.”

Orla nodded. “We’ll just have to—” She stopped talking when I held up a hand.

“There will be no more escaping,” I said. “I’m certain that at least a few of those ladies in waiting are spies for Cian or my parents or perhaps both.” I scanned the room. “Someone might be listening in on us right now for all I know.”

Orla and Fionn both surveyed the room as I had, but with so many shadowy spaces and little crevasses, we’d never be able to spot anything definitive. My friends both sported worried expressions on their faces and I felt compelled to comfort them.

“Hey,” I said, drawing their gazes back to meet mine. “As long as I’m here, I will make sure you are both protected. Though Cian and my parents succeeded in bringing me back to Verdalach, they also now know I’m capable of leaving. If they don’t want me to embarrass them or the country, I’ll always have something to bargain with.”

Orla and Fionn’s faces relaxed a little, but not enough.

“Let’s do some yoga together,” I suggested.

For the next thirty minutes, the three of us bent and stretched and held positions and breathed together. It wasn’t nearly as relaxing doing the moves in the fancy dress I’d been poured into, but some of the tension in my body sifted out. We ended with a short meditation and I longed for my singing bowls to bring us some extra peace, but alas, those were sitting in their cases back at Hank’s cabin. I certainly had no hope of getting another set here in Verdalach.

“I’ll bet your clients were delighted with your services,” Orla said after we wrapped up our impromptu session. “It’s so unfortunate they won’t be able to receive the benefits of your work anymore. It sounded as if your new business was what many people needed.”

“There is definitely a great deal of stress out there in the big, wide world.” I stood and looked out the window. The view was of one of the many gardens on the palace grounds, but all I could see now was darkness.

How fitting. My world would be eternally dark now.

“Are you hungry?” Orla asked as she stood. “I can get you something to eat.”

“I should be famished,” I said. “I didn’t eat lunch in anticipation of eating with Beckett later today and I’m certain it’s long past dinner time, but the thought of eating anything right now turns my stomach.”

“That’s too bad.”

All three of us turned our heads to the open door of my chambers where Cian leaned against the doorframe. His posture attempted a casual air, but his eyes were calculating. How long had he been standing there? I’d have to take care to lock that door from now on.

He strode in. Uninvited.

“I came here to tell you a special, albeit late, dinner has been prepared in your honor, Princess Aislinn.” The way he emphasized my title and true name got on my nerves. As far as I was concerned, I was still Sadie Rodgers. I always would be.

“I’m skipping dinner,” I said.

Cian came to a stop a few steps in front of me. “You’ll do no such thing, Your Highness. We need to welcome you home properly.”

“This isn’t my home.” I squared my shoulders. “This has never been my home.” And now that I knew what a real home was like, this palace, this country could never be that.

“Whether you see it as your home or not doesn’t negate the fact that it is where you will be living for the remainder of your life, Princess Aislinn.” The words slipped between Cian’s teeth as if he was losing his patience with me. Why did that bring me such pleasure? Irritating him would at least give me something to do with my time.

“I’d prefer to be called Sadie,” I said, enjoying how Cian’s jaw ticked as he stared at me.

“That’s a commoner’s name,” he said, “and you are no commoner.” He turned and walked to the door. “If I don’t find you in the dining hall in fifteen minutes, I’m sending royal guards up here to get you.” With a brief glare over his shoulder, he strode out of the room.

“He’s under the impression that he already has some status,” I said, “but we’re not married yet.”

“But he’s got your father wrapped around his finger somehow,” Fionn said, his voice noticeably quieter now that he was worried about spies and listening devices.

“It was upon Cian’s insistence that Fionn and I got arrested,” Orla added. “Your father is giving him power to make decisions.”

I didn’t like the sound of that at all. My father made poor decisions as it was. Having Cian counsel him wouldn’t improve things.

“You should go to dinner,” Fionn said, ushering Orla toward the door. “The less you make waves, the better things will be.”