Chapter 27

One month later

Jo

We are worn out from the day's activities. Jakob and I and many others have spent all day planting flowers, painting benches and—best of all—installing Jakob's sculptures in front of local businesses. They add a certain whimsy to this special place, and I couldn't be prouder.

"Let's stop in for a pint," Jakob says on our walk home.

"Are you sure? This is a lot of human interaction. Especially you, Jakob," I say, nudging him playfully.

He assures me he's up for it. "I want to squeeze out every last moment of peace and quiet before the tourists return for summer," he says.

Inside, Sabine is ecstatic to see us.

She treats us to a free round of drinks, which is lovely. And yet something feels off with Sabine. I can't put my finger on it. She's always been friendly but now, she seems a little on edge. Maybe she's tired from a long day outside, helping with the town glow-up.

"I'm so glad you're here!" exclaims Sabine. "We're having a Supernatural trivia night. I know how much you love that show, Jo."

Jakob chuckles. "Then it's decided."

We sit in a cozy booth by the window and sip our beers.

A server comes by and hands us a small dry-erase board and a black marker.

Jakob seems eager to participate. In fact, his whole demeanor around the townspeople has grown easier throughout the last several months.

I set aside my feelings of unease, happy that Jakob is growing accustomed to small town life.

He leans over the table as if he's examining my face. "Is everything all right with you, Jo? Are you too tired for this? We've spent the whole day working. We can go if you want."

I shake my head. "No," I say, painting on a brave face. "I'm all good."

He looks at me skeptically, then says, "Whenever you're ready, just say the word."

He trails off as I shake my head, insisting we finish our free beer. Sabine seems so happy that we're here, I'd hate to break her heart.

The conversation ends as trivia night begins. The pub buzzes with energy as teams huddle together, strategizing which members will answer what kinds of questions.

"First question!" Sabine shouts. People quickly quiet down to listen. "What is the name of the Winchesters' Impala?"

Without thinking, I scrawl "Baby" on the dry-erase board.

When Sabine asks everyone to reveal their answers, Jakob holds the board up for all to see. Every team but one gets the answer correct. Sabine points at us.

By the end of the night, we're the top scoring team. Sabine presents with another round of free drinks. Soon, I'm full of beer and glowing with all the congratulations from everyone in the village, and it's time to go home.

Just as we're about to leave, everything falls apart.

A tall, shadowy figure appears in the pub's doorway, brushing snow off his kilt.

I don't take too much notice of him at first.

Jakob freezes.

Then I remember…

I look back at the figure by the door, whose face I can now see in full.

I hook my arm through Jakob's. "Is that..?"

He doesn't answer at first.

My gaze goes from Jakob to the man in the kilt, whose severe face is unmistakable. He's in the background of every news story about every royal appearance.

Oh…my…gods.

It's Uther Nancarrow, the head of the palace guard. The one who dotes on Queen Hilde and Princess Flora, specifically.

My hold on Jakob's arm tightens, and I watch as Uther's gaze sweeps across the patrons and staff. There's a barely detectable nod in Sabine's direction. Sabine is working hard to appear nonchalant as she wipes down the bar.

Before I can wonder what that silent exchange was about, Uther's his eyes narrow as he focuses on Jakob. Time seems to slow down.

Did I have a premonition that this would happen? I thought I was just being self-defeatist—always assuming something bad was bound to happen after so many lovely days with Jakob. My life is too perfect.

But now, looking back, it was Sabine all along that made me feel anxious tonight.

Watching Uther stare at Jakob, it takes me less than two seconds to piece it together: Uther's been asking around town for Jakob. Sabine kept us here for that reason and that one alone.

The other patrons seem to be waiting to find out what will happen next. The tension between Uther and Jakob sees to stretch into a taut thread, and I'm waiting for this perfect quiet life that Jakob and I have built together to snap in an instant.

Uther's lips curve into a faint smile.

"You're a difficult man to pin down, Jakob. If only I'd known you were here on my first visit to Mirror Lake, this entire mission could have been made much more efficient."

What does he mean by "first visit," I wonder? I whisper, "We can escape through the employee exit!"

Jakob pats my hand that's hooked around the inside of his elbow. "It's okay, love."

With me clamped on for dear life, Jakob approaches Uther and extends his hand.

To my amazement, Uther shakes it. This is as close as I've ever been to royalty, even though Uther himself isn't even a member of the royal family.

From the whispers around us from the other patrons, I gather that people are starting to recognize Uther.

"Can we step outside and you can tell me what this is about?" Jakob asks.

The unflappable Uther's face doesn't move a single muscle. It's like staring at a sculpture of granite. "If you wish."

We move toward the door, and the other patrons return to their chatter and laughter, now that the scene is over for them. I glance toward Sabine as we make our exit with Uther. She gives me an apologetic look.

But I understand. The royals may not govern us in the same way now as they did for many centuries before, but they still hold an enormous amount of influence. No doubt Uther put pressure on a lot of people in Mirror Lake to track down Jakob.

But did they really have to bring out the royal fleet for this?

Right away, I feel embarrassed that a footman is holding open a car door for me, and here I am, dirty, sweaty, and dressed like a middle-aged mom out running errands, not for an audience with royalty. Or a royal interrogation—whichever this is.

In the back seat, Jakob's arm encircles my shoulder as Uther sits opposite us, his stony face focused on the outside environment. It's like he's trained in avoiding eye contact with the public at all costs.

Outside the car window, the street is serene and picturesque. A family strolls along the lakeshore at sunset.

I wonder when that will be us. Will it ever be us?

Of course it will. Jakob will take his lumps for keeping the ring—though in my opinion, it amounts to no crime at all. And we'll come back and resume the life we started. Maybe he'll receive a reward and a little attention for saving Flora's life, maybe he won't.

All the fuss will die down after a few weeks, surely.

"Can you tell us what this is about?" I ask Uther.

"I am under orders from the queen to fetch Jakob. That is all I can tell you."

The queen? Not the princess?

Then this is very, very bad.

Jakob looks at me, worry causing his brow to furrow and wrinkle prematurely. My hand reaches across his lap and covers his where it rests on his leg. "Look at me, husband."

The love of my life appears hollowed out. His eyes are less aquamarine and now shallow pools of ice blue.

"Everything is going to work out fine."

He blinks and gives me barely a nod, but it's enough to signal that he hears me. And then he lifts my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it.

Perhaps this is my role: to reassure him and give him some peace that things will be normal again.