Chapter 165


    Rafe scowls at him, but suddenly the door opens, and a man in a royal uniform steps inside, giving


    a sharp bow. I burst into a smile as he straightens up, because of course I recognize Captain


    Conner, who heads up the Royal guard and who we’ve known since we were babies.


    “Your Highness, your Grace,” he begins, nodding to Jesse and Rafe, honored guests,” Captain


    Conner continues, nodding around to the rest of us, but then he stutters to a stop when his eyes fall


    on me. Conner freezes for a second and then bursts into a smile, bowing low again. “Your


    highness,” he murmurs, and his face is the picture of happiness as he stands straight. “Forgive me,


    I wasn’t expecting you.”


    “That’s okay!” I say, waving a cheerful hello. “It’s so good to see you!”


    He smiles at me but then fights it, working hard to return to his professional demeanor. He takes a


    deep breath, nodding again, and gesturing towards the door. “If you’ll apany me? The station


    has been cleared and the cars are waiting.”


    Rafe nods our readiness and Conner steps outside. Then we all grab our backpacks, and Daphne


    her suitcase, and file cheerfully off the train.


    “Wow,” Daphne says, looking around the giant train station with its soaring ss ceilings. Her smile


    reveals how impressed she is as she walks next to me, my hand in Luca’s. “This is…this is


    amazing…”


    “First time in the capital, Daph?” Luca asks, friendly.


    “Yeah,” she says, grinning. “I’m staying a few days – for your fight, of


    course


    –


    He beams at her for this.


    “And then I’m going to go to my mom’s for the holidays themselves.” Daphne and Luca continue to


    chat with me in the middle, him asking her


    where home is, and Daphne letting him know that it’s a little bit north of the capital – just a small


    town where a fabric mill used to be in the days of industrialization. They chat about family history,


    but on Daphne’s mention of the north, my mind drifts – predictably – to someone else I know who is


    from a ce much further north.


    My heart sinks a little, even as I hold Luca’s hand, and I work very hard to ensure that my emotions


    don’t travel down my bond to him. Because I’m not sure he needs to know right now just how sad I


    am that Jackson didn’t meet us at the train, that he didn’te to the Capital. Part of me wanted


    him toe so that he can meet my family, and so that they can meet him,


    but-


    I mean, another part just wants him close. He’s my mate, after all. What am I going to do without


    him for two weeks? How am I supposed to bear it? I mean, I don’t even have any way of contacting


    him. It’s not like he has a phone at the Academy.


    Or otherwise, if we’re being honest.


    I sigh, and do my very best to cover my sadness, and I don’t think Luca notices as he continues to


    chat with Daphne. Her eyes, however, flick to me,


    her mouth pressing to a sad little line.


    But I give her a wink, and force myself to lift my chin, determining to make


    the best of it.


    I look forward, making myself think about how happy I will be when I see my mom, and dad, and my


    brother and sister – and Jesse’s huge, insane family. They, too, will be waiting for us at the pce


    when we arrive.


    I feel more cheerful as we walk, as I nce around the familiar train station that I’ve been in a


    thousand times, my eyes sliding over the people who are bustling around, going about their daily


    business and trying to get home through the cold. And even if my eyes do settle on one particrly


    tall figure leaning against amppost, his back to us and his shoulders turned in, I know it’s just my


    imagination – my hopes – getting the better of me.


    I grit my teeth against my second sigh, forcing my eyes up to all of the pretty tilework that rings the


    borders of the station, making myself admire. the artistry of our people but…


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    Well, my eyes drift back to the tall figure.


    And as we get closer and closer…I narrow my eyes.


    Because…


    But no. There’s no way.


    But then suddenly it’s there


    —


    the scent of pine, and embers, and the sense


    of warm cozy things on cold nights –


    And before I can even stop myself, I’ve dropped Luca’s hand. Suddenly I’m sprinting – my mate’s


    name on my lips.


    Jackson turns when he hears his name called, his face curious and serious.


    But the moment he sees that it’s me?


    God, the smile that breaks out on his face it’s the prettiest damn thing


    I’ve ever seen.


    Captain Conner gasps as I burst past him, grabbing for me and shouting my name, but I’m beyond


    him now,ughing as I dash across the end of the tform and throw myself into Jackson’s open


    arms.


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