In minutes, with Kiara’s rapid-fire tales, Breen had laughed off the chill of the flight. Replete from his promised biscuit, Bollocks curled by the fire for a nap.
“Now, you have a turn here. I want to hear all about Marco and Brian pledging. Which asked which, if that’s the way of it, and how and where. Do you know?”
“I do. Brian did the asking, though it seems Marco was planning to. Brian took him home to meet his family.”
“They loved him, of course. I don’t know them, but I know Brian, and he’s not a fool, so I’m saying his family shouldn’t be.”
“They’re not, and they did. After they’d met him and loved him—which is mutual—Brian did the asking.”
“Oh, don’t say in front of the family!” Bouncing, Kiara wiped her hands in the air. “That’s sweet, but it’s not at all, even a bit, romantic, is it?”
“Not in front of the family. Just the two of them. On a midnight picnic.”
“Oh!” Kiara fell back in her chair with her hands crossed over her heart. “I’m melting right here. You’ll tell them both how happy I am for them, and if Marco doesn’t invite me to the wedding itself, well, I’ll cry a river of tears.”
“I’ll tell him—if you promise to do my hair for it.”
“I can hardly wait to get my hands on your hair again, so an easier promise there couldn’t be. Now, I promised I wouldn’t stay long, and I already have. But I’ve something for you before I go.”
She got up and walked into the bedroom. She came back with a large box. “It’s a gift I hope pleases you.”
“A gift?”
“Open it, won’t you? I’ve nearly died waiting to give it.”
Breen pulled off the faerie-dusted bow and the gold paper to open the lid. Inside the froth of tissue, she found leather the color of the copper belt Minga wore.
“Oh! God!”
“Take it out! Try it on! Oh, I can’t stand the waiting.”
Because she couldn’t, Kiara pulled out the knee-length coat, then pulled Breen to her feet. “It has to fit, or I’ll kick Daryn’s ass so hard it’ll ram his balls. Oh, it fits, it fits! It’s perfect. Go, look in the glass. The color with your hair? It’s perfect. Oh, oh, it’s so what I wanted for you, and I hope it’s what you want for yourself.”
Stunned, Breen walked to the tall mirror, stared. The coat hit just above her knees, all butter soft with deep slash pockets and a lining of antique gold silk.
“Kiara—”
“It’s a coat fit for a dragon rider. Turn, turn, see how the back cinches at the waist? Feminine as well to show you’ve a fine shape.”
“It’s absolutely stunning. But, Kiara—”
“You did more than save my life.” The bubbling excitement in the voice turned quiet, and here was her mother’s steady dignity. “You turned it so I could change it. You showed me true friendship doesn’t always ask and prod, it doesn’t lie and use, all while manipulating feelings and heart. Without you, and Bollocks as well, I might have died that day, and left my family grieving. More, I might have died being deceived, being played a fool by one I believed cared about me and for me.
“Please accept it, Breen. It would make me so proud to see you wear what I helped make. Well, I didn’t do much of the making, truth be told, but I told Daryn how it must look and deviled him over it.”
“It’s the most beautiful coat I’ve ever owned, or ever hope to.”
“Truly?”
“Truly. Thank you.” She moved in to hug. “Thank you for the amazing gift, and just as amazing, being the first friend I made in the Capital when I felt so odd and out of place.”
Alone, she started to hang the coat—reverently—in the wardrobe where the speedy elf had already put the few things she’d brought for the trip.
Then she stepped back. “Hey, Bollocks, let’s take this fabulous coat out for a walk. And yes, you can have a swim. A short one,” she said when he jumped up.
They walked the grounds, watched those still training on the fields below. She glanced toward the woods. Part of her wanted to go in, check the portals there, but Keegan had asked her to stay close.
So she walked to the bridge instead and let a very happy dog jump off and into the water.