I swing my bedroom door open, and Astrid is already laying out a dress for the day. The second she notices me, her nose twitches and she asks, “What’s the matter, Rosalina?” All my thoughts and emotions come spilling out of me in a sob.
For over an hour, Astrid sits with me, stroking my hair while I recount every detail of last night. Shit, why does this feel like I got played? I know who Dayton is. And I don’t want anything from him. He has to find his mate.
I nearly lose it when Marigold comes in carrying a breakfast tray. A breakfast tray that looks suspiciously like the one Keldarion had been carrying into his room this morning. Had he been trying to serve me breakfast in his bed?
I understand my feelings for Dayton: the attraction, lust, and regret all make sense. But I don’t dare dive into the part of my mind where I stashed my feelings for Kel. That is way more confusing. My captor, who always brings me my favorite food. The vicious beast who also holds my hair while I vomit.
Astrid recounts the events to Marigold while I eat my stupidly excellent breakfast. I bitterly wash down some buttery toast with orange juice, thinking how Kel chose all the best foods to help a hangover.
“I bet Dayton doesn’t mean it,” Astrid says. “The way he looks at you makes me think you’re something special to him, Rosalina.”
A part of me thinks she has a point; I mean, the guy cut off someone’s hands right in front of me. But he was so dismissive this morning. “I need to stop worrying about the princes and get back to trying to break this curse. Not just for them, but for you two as well.”
Marigold puts her hand on her hip. “Well, that would be nice. It’s not easy to have a good time when you’re a racoon every night.”
“But you always find a way,” Astrid chuckles and motions for me to change.
I feel an odd sense of loss as Keldarion’s clothes fall to the ground. “I can’t imagine. What was life like for you before the curse?”
Astrid helps me into my day dress, fastening the corset. “Honestly, not that much different for me. There were more visitors in the castle. And the staff made more trips into Winter with the master. It was a happier place in Castletree, many parties and balls. There were always things to do.”
“I miss those parties.” Marigold sighs.
“What about your family?” I ask. “Do you miss them?”
“I’m an orphan,” Astrid says. “Work in Castletree was highly prestigious, coming with fine lodging, all the food you could eat, and respectable pay. Prince Keldarion made sure the jobs were accessible to anyone who needed one. Working here is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Well, except for the hare part. But, hey, nothing’s perfect.”
“Astrid is selling herself short.” Marigold taps her on the nose. “She’s a quick study and a harder worker than anyone I know.”
“So, you all lived here before the curse?” I ask, sitting down at the vanity as Astrid tugs the knots out of my hair.
“Yes. It’s customary for the princes and their staff to live in the castle,” Marigold says. “Back home, we’d stare at Castletree and dream of being chosen to serve in the hallowed halls.”
I stand and look out the window over the vast horizon, beyond the castle grounds to the sprawling thorns. Somewhere out there is the rosebush that brought me here. Out there is my home.
“Oh my moon!” Astrid squeals behind me. “It’s snowing!”
Snowflakes sail past the window. Marigold gives an annoyed sigh behind us. “I’m going to have to dig out the woollies now.”
“Oh!” Astrid vibrates with excitement. “Snowball fights, snow angels, decorating for solstice, hot cocoa with whipped cream! The garden pond freezes, and we went ice skating last year. Doesn’t that sound fun, Rosalina?”
It’s nice to see her so excited about something. “Yes to everything except the ice skating.”
“What? You don’t know how?” Astrid furrows her brow. “I could teach you.”
“No, that’s not it,” I say softy, gripping my wrist. “I… I had a bad experience with ice skating before.”
Astrid opens her mouth to say something when Mr. Rintoulo, the butler who shifts into a giant brown bear at night, knocks on the door and delivers a parchment scroll.
Marigold unwraps it before looking up at me. “Here’s the proposed guest list for the ball. Astrid and I can get on sending invitations today.”
“Good,” I say, determined to stay focused on my goal. “Because I have more news.”
Astrid and Marigold both turn to me with wide eyes.
“Keldarion has agreed to come,” I say, my heart in my throat. “We’re going to find his mate. We’re going to find all their mates. Break the curse. And we’ll finally get our freedom.”
42