The Summer Court

Chapter Sixty-Two

Her father had swept in after, making sure she was not harmed, and thanked Kannon for slaying the monster. He looked on the verge of waging war. The king left Elsine with the prince so she wouldn't have to witness the example he would have to make of the body to the entire court. The princess was thankful for the excuse to hide away from the public eye.

"I should have stopped him sooner."

Elsine looked up from where she had curled up on one of the settees, her knees to her chest. She studied the hard line of his mouth and the fire in his eyes. She hadn't ever seen him look so serious or angry. She stood up and reached out a hand to him so that he would stop pacing. He hesitated but took her fingers in his and let her pull him closer.

His brow furrowed. "I saw him pull you out of the room―" She stopped his words with her fingers on his lips.

"You still saved me." When he opened his mouth to argue again, she raised her eyebrows, and a small but relenting smile tilted his mouth. She shook her head, feeling like an idiot. "I should have known it wasn't you." She ran her fingers along his jaw to his ear and into his curls. "He wasn't near as beautiful. Even the things he said, how he felt, was. . . off," she told him shakily.

He let out a breath through his nose as his jaw muscle feathered, bringing his hands to cradle her face. She wanted to ask him to kiss her as he had in the garden so that she could forget the harshness of the Puca's mouth, but she wasn't sure if she was ready for that.

A thought occurred to her that made her stomach twist. "Was it you― at the chocolate fountain?"

"Yes, that was me," he assured her, his thumbs brushing her cheeks. Relief filled her chest and she smiled weakly. Turning her face down he kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her. Elsine slipped her arms around his torso and pressed her lips over his heart, laying her head over it.

"Thank you," she whispered. His chin rocked on her head, but he didn't speak, seeming unable to accept the thank you when he felt he could have done more. 

They stayed like that for a long while before Elsine excused herself to the washroom attached to their room. Shutting the door, the mix of stress and fear mingled with her repulsion like acid. What almost happened finally hit her with such force that she vomited into the toilet. Breathing heavily, she sat against the wall. When her stomach stopped roiling, she started to try and clean herself up.

Terwyn was sent in not long after. She hugged the princess tightly before she fixed her up and sat with her while she drank some water. She didn't say a word, but the princess was glad for her comforting presence. Elsine was more thankful for her than she ever had been in her life. She wished that Terwyn could have stayed a little longer, but she had to scurry off. The maid hugged her once more and Elsine held on tight before she pulled away to leave.

Elsine exited the washroom with her chin held a little higher and Kannon stood from where he was sitting. He bowed deeply with a gentle smile, addressing her, "My queen."

She smiled weakly, moving to stand in front of him. He tilted his head and his wild curls shifted. She had decided that she would banish what had happened. If Kannon hadn't gotten to the Puca first, her crown would have cursed the foul creature. She could hold her head high if she had so many standing behind her, willing to defend her to such extents. She would move forward. She was not weak or defined by who she chose to marry. And that creature would not take what she felt for Kannon away from her. In trying to tear her down, the Puca had unwittingly lit a bonfire in her soul and beneath her feet that would only make her strong enough to keep on.

Her fingers reached out tentatively to take hold of his emerald jacket. "Kannon?"

"Yes, little mouse?" He spoke gently― gone was the usual teasing and the mischief she was used to. It was replaced with the tender care that the princess could hear in his voice and see in his eyes.

"Kiss me as you planned to on the balcony," she asked quietly. 

He looked unsure, his eyes studying her. "Is that truly what you want, Elsine?"

She nodded, stepping closer and carefully pressing into him. "I want to. . . forget," she whispered. "I need you to remind me how you feel."

It was a vulnerable request. One she felt embarrassed to ask, but she needed to banish the cold hate. She needed the fire between them to burn the memory of it to ashes. He brushed his knuckles across her jaw carefully, and Elsine stilled. She waited for the fear to strike, but it was only warmth and fire.

As he tipped her head gently, there was a promise in his eyes. "Whatever you wish," he breathed over her lips and kissed her as she had asked.

**Edited Kylie R. Trask 2022**