59. Chapter 59

Chapter fifty-nine

H aven dashed out to the castle stables, planning to take Pluto to where the wedding was taking place rather than walk as she'd originally planned.

She held the skirt of her dress in her arms as she sprinted across the grounds. The castle would surely be rife with gossip tomorrow if anyone spotted her.

Finding Pluto in his stall, Haven quickly brushed him down and saddled him. Leading him from the barn, she hiked up her dress as far as she could with the cinched waist and climbed on. She let him walk for a quick warm up before taking off into the woods in the direction of the clearing Niks father had picked out.

It didn't take long riding at a fast pace before Haven was almost to the clearing. With the moon lighting her way and Plutos strangely good behavior, she was making great time. Maybe Pluto knew how important this ride was, Haven thought. If tonight did not work and they fell into war with the crown regents supporters it would likely be the first of many important rides. The thought caused anxiety to bloom in Havens chest.

Haven sensed the others up ahead, she'd sent her shadows crawling out ahead of her so she'd know when they were getting close. Also so she'd know if she was riding into a trap.

Haven felt a shadow brush against someone's ankle. Whoever it was seemed to be playing with her shadow, reaching down to twist their hand through it.

Riding a little further, Haven sensed no traps, not that she'd know exactly what to be looking for in the first place.

When the clearing came into view, she could see Roman at the edge closest to her. He was the one playing with her shadows. She sent a few more his way, coiling them around his legs. He smiled, causing Haven to smile at the sight of his upturned lips.

As Haven neared him, she dismounted Pluto and gave his black fur a pat. She hadn't thought far enough ahead to consider that now she had a horse to take care of while she was supposed to be getting married. She could ask Roman to hold him but even after everything, she was still holding out hope that he'd walk her down the aisle. Glancing past Roman, she found the rest of her friends standing in the circular clearing. Rea was standing off to the side looking rather lost and Nik was speaking with his friend Delroy, his back turned to her. The crown regent was nowhere to be found but Haven knew it wouldn't be long before he showed.

The ‘aisle' was about five feet of trimmed grass with different colored tulips lining either side. An archway stood at the end, created from bent branches with vines and more flowers interspersed throughout.

"You look great." Roman called to her.

Haven couldn't tell whether he was joking or not as she stepped up to him. Smoothing out her dress, Haven guessed he had to be. Her hair was windswept, she had twisted the front pieces behind her head and pinned them into place before she left but she could tell they were barely hanging on. Her small tiara was crooked and some of the fabric on her arms was streaked with dirt from her ride. Not to mention the boots she was wearing had a small hole that had filled with water when she stepped in a puddle on the way to get Pluto.

"I was trying to get here quickly," Haven smiled sheepishly.

"I'm not joking H, you look good."

"Thank you" She nodded

Roman reached up to straighten the tiara on her head. She hadn't put on the crown Astrea left with the dress, telling herself that crowns were for queens and Haven was still a princess. Knocking some of the dirt off her arms and pulling a small stick from her hair, Haven hoped she looked somewhat better.

Gripping the reins tightly in her hand, Haven bounced on her feet with nerves. After what happened earlier she wasn't entirely sure how she was feeling about her friends. She originally planned to ask Roman to walk with her but now, being back in his presence, the anger was starting to resurface. He'd poisoned her, let her father be killed and he'd been lying to her from the moment they met. He must have seen the uncertain anger paired with sadness written across her face because he asked,

"Are we okay? "

Haven took a moment before responding, "I honestly don't know."

Astrea joined the two of them wearing a sheepish smile. It didn't take long before Haven was no longer uncertain about what she was feeling, she knew it was anger along with sadness and the distinct feeling of being betrayed by someone close to you. Or rather, multiple someones.

Nik still hadn't turned towards her, Delroy had glanced over a few times but looked away whenever he caught Havens eye.

Haven silently vowed to try to forget about everything just for tonight. It would be hard seeing as she was about to get married to someone she was incredibly angry with. She knew he was to blame almost as much as Astrea and Roman but the fact he hadn't been directly involved with the death of her father slightly eased her anger towards him.

Taking a deep breath, Haven willed the tension from her body. It's just one night, she reminded herself, just one night. She could go back to being pissed at everyone after the sun rose.

Tuning back into the idle chit chat Astrea and Roman were making around her, she found them discussing why they thought the crown regent was late. It didn't take more than a moment for Haven to figure out that they were joking rather than discussing actual reasons,

"Maybe he slipped and fell and is lying somewhere bleeding out" Roman quipped

Rea huffed a laugh, "We could never be so lucky."

"Well maybe he finally got what was coming to him and was stabbed by a staff member," Roman gasped dramatically, "Maybe we'll all get to have some fun and play murder mystery when we get back to the castle. Then when we find the murderer we can throw them a party."

Both Astrea and Haven snorted. Although it seemed a little insensitive to be discussing someone's murder with their son barely ten feet away but if Haven had to guess, she assumed he'd agree. Nik might even be the one hosting the party.

"Maybe this was secretly all some trick to lure us out here so he could kill us without an audience" Rea jokingly slid her finger across her throat. She knew that her friends were joking but being reminded that Niks father wanted to kill her did not feel good. Her friends must have begun feeling the same way because they settled down, talking idly about her coronation and Romans return to his home kingdom.

Pluto nuzzled at Havens back, forcing her to pay attention to him, not that she really minded. A few minutes passed with Haven stroking his muzzle before her friends quieted suddenly. Turning away from Pluto she saw why,

Nik was standing before her, only a feet away. His gaze was hard and clearly stressed.

"Mind if I have a word?"

Haven nodded, "Of course."

Delroy stepped up, taking Plutos reins from her. She hadn't socialized much with Niks closest friend other than when he was being a jerk to her so she didn't have much reason to smile and thank him but she did it anyway.

Nik guided her out of the clearing into a tight cluster of trees. He stopped once they were out of fae earshot. Haven leaned back against a tree, watching Nik gather his words .

The moonlight glinted off his eyelashes and his face was strained but it did not make him any less beautiful. Haven was suddenly taken aback to the last time they were alone together, Nik above her, thrusting inside her.

She quickly turned her mind to other things, not wanting to start something their friends might overhear. Trailing her eyes over Niks outfit, she found nothing but black. His shirt was black, his pants and cloak were black too. It helped him blend into the darkness around him. Haven wondered if he picked it out for that reason specifically. It clashed somewhat with her gown but she didn't mind. When they first met all they did was clash with each other, their outfits reminded her of that.

"You look amazing" Nik spoke, his voice coming out deep and scratchy.

"Thank you. You do as well." Haven could feel her face flush red, she hoped he couldn't see it but with the strong moonlight and his fae eyesight she was almost sure he did.

"We should talk"

"Uh oh" Haven joked, trying to lighten the mood, "That never ends well"

"Are you sure about this?" Nik asked, ignoring her attempt at humor.

"Of course I am." Haven reassured.

Niks jaw tightened, "So you're saying that if my father hadn't forced you into this we'd still be getting married right now?"

Haven wouldn't lie to Nik. As much as she had been trying to look on the bright side, there was no way to dismiss the fact that she'd been forced into this. She liked Nik, was clearly attracted to him and could even see them ending up together. But there was no denying that if his father hadn't threatened her mom, Rea and Roman, if he hadn't forced her into a deal binding her to this marriage then she wouldn't be here tonight, standing in the dirt in a wedding gown.

"You're right. We definitely would not be getting married right now." She told Nik. He somehow managed to look both relieved and heartbroken.

"We have a lot to work through," She began, "There's all the stuff you lied to me about, your antagonism, the fact that you seem so against me loving you. I mean, we were basically enemies at the start of all this, we are going to have to,"

Nik abruptly cut her off,

"You love me?"

The question startled Haven. She hadn't meant to throw that little piece of herself out there mostly because she didn't know how he would react. Haven still could not bring herself to lie though which is why she responded with a simple head nod. She did love him, through all his harsh words and glares. Through all his soft touches and heated kisses, somewhere along the line Haven Montali Rionach began loving Nikolaus DaMarrel.

Nik crashed his lips to hers, eliminating the space between them and placing a hand on either side of her face. His lips were warm and soft against Havens as they kissed. He pulsed his tongue across her lips, requesting entry. Haven immediately granted it, letting out a small moan as she did. The sound of her moan encouraged Nik as he pushed Haven into the tree she had been leaning against. The rough bark of the tree dug into her back as Havens hands laced together behind Niks head.

The moment was entirely ruined when a voice shouted ,

"NIKOLAUS!"

That voice did not belong to just anyone, that voice belonged to Niks father. It was obvious he had made it to the clearing.

Nik pulled away, dropping his hands into Havens. His eyes were downcast but he wore a small smile as he told her,

"I love you too."

Haven didn't have time to process or respond because the crown regent shouted again, breaking whatever was left of the loving and soft atmosphere they'd built around themselves.

"Time to face the music" Haven quipped. Nik didn't smile. Instead, he turned, hand still in hers and led them back to the clearing where they would be tying themselves to each other. The thought didn't scare Haven as much as it probably should, after all, Nik loved her.