Cursed by Darkness (Once Upon A Curse)

45. Juniper

FORTY-FIVE

Juniper

4 MONTHS LATER…

W ringing her hands together, Juniper tapped her foot repeatedly on the marble floor. Someone cleared their throat—Rafe, she thought—but she couldn’t stop staring at the empty chair across from her. Until Bodin’s large, comforting hand landed on her knee and gently squeezed. She met his gaze, and he mouthed, breathe. Taking a deep inhale, she nodded and put a hand over his. He turned it to entwine their fingers.

She couldn’t help but be nervous. Today was huge.

“Sunshine,” Bodin whispered as he leaned in close to her ear. “It’s going to be all right. The treaty is already agreed upon; this is just a formality and signing.” He kissed the side of her neck, right on the spot he knew made her shiver, causing her to do just that and him to grin.

Juniper nodded and said, “I know. It’s just… strange being here.”

Her husband chuckled. “Agreed. You have to admit though,” he glanced around the brilliant ballroom they’d been brought to for the meeting, “it’s quite beautiful.”

“Breathtaking,” she admitted, tilting her head back to look at the crystal chandeliers hanging from the vaulted glass ceiling. The sun reflected off the crystals, creating rainbows across the sand-colored marble pillars and floor. At one end of the room, four thrones sat upon a raised dais, the two at the center tall and ornately carved out of white stone. The two on either side were smaller and set back a little, made for their princesses. On the opposite end of the room were towering double doors made of dark wood that contrasted with the rest.

The doors that now opened, letting in the King of Gilarn and his eldest daughter, Princess Iliana.

Bodin pushed to his feet and helped Juniper up as the rest of their party also stood. The king inclined his head, his smile warm but wary. “Had I known your condition, I wouldn’t have insisted we meet here, Your Majesty.”

Juniper shook her head, putting a hand on her small round belly. But it was Iliana who said under her breath, “I told you she was with child.”

Her father’s jaw clenched. “Yes, but I had not realized she was so far along.”

“It’s fine,” Juniper cut in before the princess could argue on her behalf. Since the battlefield, the two had become more acquainted, writing often to find a way to stop this war. Iliana had visited their home multiple times, always with the excuse that they needed to work on the treaty. Though, she usually stayed for several days, most of which were spent with Juniper and Nadine. The three had grown to be close friends.

King Dag nodded once more and indicated for everyone to sit. Along with him and his daughter were a couple of councilors and a dozen guards who stood behind them. Bodin guided Juniper into her seat before taking his own. They also had a few people with them to serve as advisors—Laurent, Moreau, and Richard. Her father still acted as her guard from day to day, but Bodin had given him a formal title and position as an advisor. They had kept his relation to her a secret, however. For the time being, they thought it best. After ending one war, they didn’t want to face another king’s wrath just yet.

Eventually, Samuel would take over as her head guard. But convincing Richard that it was for the best wasn’t going to be easy.

Rafe, Hugo, and Delroy had accompanied them as well. Since they had been a part of that final battle, everyone agreed that a representative of each kingdom should be present. That meant Rafe, but where he went, Hugo and Del did too. Though, she suspected Hugo had other reasons to visit her as often as he did.

She glanced to where he sat next to Laurent as Bodin made introductions. The two weren’t speaking again, and the tension between them was palpable. Bodin had let it slip one night that he caught Laurent slipping out of Hugo’s tent that morning, and she had her suspicions they were sneaking around for a while after that too. But something happened recently to put an end to their semi-friendly banter.

Hugo still wouldn’t tell her what it was, and Laurent was clueless as to why he was so mad. Naturally, that just made Laurent pester him more, trying to get under his skin.

He leaned over to whisper something, and Hugo’s cheeks reddened, even as he scowled and glanced away. Her brother’s eyes widened a fraction when he caught her watching them before he cleared his throat and lowered his gaze to the table. Laurent turned to see what he’d been looking at and chuckled when he saw Juniper staring. He gave his usual smirk and wink.

Juniper shifted her attention back to the royals seated across from them. A councilor withdrew two scrolls from a bag—one for each kingdom to have. The reason they were here. The treaties were unrolled and checked for consistency. Everything was the same, both calling for peace.

Quills and ink were already on the table when they had arrived. Each king took one and prepared to sign, but King Dag paused. He glanced at his daughter. “There is another matter to discuss before I do this.”

Juniper’s brow crinkled in the center.

“Forosse and Mesairla are aligned through marriage,” he started. “You do not have any siblings or heirs, Bodin, but I think it only fair that we have an equal alliance.”

“You wish to marry someone from Forosse?”

The king didn’t answer. Instead, he looked farther down the table and said, “Prince Hugo.”

Juniper’s eyes snapped over to her brother. His jaw dropped a little, the color draining from his face. Beside him, Laurent visibly tensed.

“You are closest in age to my daughter, and you are unwed, correct?” the king asked, making Juniper turn to her friend. Iliana appeared as stoic as ever, but Juniper knew her well enough by now to see the concern she fought to hide. After all, she had pointed out how much time Hugo and Laurent seemed to spend together during one of her visits. She had clearly picked up on the fact that more was going on between them.

“I am, Your Majesty,” Hugo said in a tone Juniper had never heard him use before. Something like resigned grief.

Juniper shook her head, unable to let him do this; he’d already sacrificed so much. “We are honored by your selection, but?—”

“I’ll do it,” another voice cut in.

To her immense surprise, it was Delroy speaking up, not Hugo, or even Rafe. Everyone stared at him as he stood and bowed his head.

“I am a bit older than Hugo, but as second born to the throne, it is my duty to accept such arrangements,” Delroy said.

Iliana opened her mouth to argue. Just as she did whenever the two were in the same room. “Prince Delroy?—”

But he interrupted again, putting a hand on his younger brother’s shoulder. “Besides, I believe my brother is already spoken for.”

At that, Iliana’s glare softened. Hugo’s face flushed again, and his jaw clenched, but he didn’t argue. To save Hugo from marrying a woman he would never love or be interested in for more than friendship, Juniper knew the princess would accept the man she could barely tolerate. Iliana nodded toward Delroy in silent agreement. They might hate each other, but they both cared for Hugo too much to let him do this, Iliana having become friends with him too during her many stays in Kehlir.

“Then, it’s settled,” the king said. “I wanted to at least open the discussion before signing the treaty.” Looking at Bodin, who’d remained silent throughout all of this, he smiled. “Let us end this godsforsaken war.”

Bodin dipped his quill into the inkpot and signed his name to each piece of parchment without hesitation. While the other king went to add his signature, Bodin angled toward Juniper and took her hand once more. Under his breath, he whispered, “We did it.”

Juniper leaned into his side. The treaties were signed, Bodin and King Dag shook hands, and then the latter excused himself. His councilors followed him, but Iliana stayed behind. She waited for the large doors to close before standing with a sigh. “I can show you to your rooms if you’d like to rest until dinner.”

A unity feast in honor of the treaties would take place tomorrow, so they planned to head home a couple of days after that. While Juniper loved getting to see her friend and visit this kingdom, she couldn’t wait to be home again. She missed her bed. It had taken nearly two weeks to travel here because of their multiple stops. That long in carriages and on a ship in the middle of winter while pregnant was not fun.

Iliana led them upstairs to the guest wing, where rooms had been prepared for them. Delroy went into his without a word to his new fiancée. Rafe shook his head and apologized before going in after him.

“Thank you,” Hugo whispered, putting a hand on her arm.

The princess nodded. “No one should be forced to marry or pretend to be something they’re not.”

With a look toward Laurent that seemed almost involuntary, his throat bobbed. Then, he focused on Juniper. “You shouldn’t have been forced to?—”

“Stop,” she said, interrupting him. Erasing the distance between them, she hugged her brother. “You did it to set me free, and it worked out in the end.” She pivoted to see Bodin. “I kind of like my husband.”

Hugo and Laurent both laughed, even Richard let out a soft chuckle. Bodin simply shook his head with a smile.

Putting a hand on her stomach, Laurent asked, “Are you sure this is his? After our torrid affair—ow!” he yelled when Hugo smacked the back of his head.

“Don’t even joke about that,” her brother said in a harsh tone.

“People might think you’re serious.” Bodin stepped closer. “We can’t have rumors spreading about the legitimacy of our heir.”

“Fine, but why did you hit me?” he asked Hugo. “You know I’m just teasing them.”

Hugo crossed his arms. “It’s not funny.”

Laurent narrowed his eyes, then his lips started to curl up.

“Don’t start,” Hugo said, heading toward Del’s door too.

“Sorry, Juni, my love,” Laurent said with a sigh. “It seems our love affair may need to end. Someone is jealous, and you know he’s even more of a miserable ass to be around when angry.”

“Fuck off.” Hugo went into the room and slammed the door behind him.

Juniper startled. She hated that they were like this now. For a short time, the two had seemed happy. And the goddess knew Hugo deserved that after everything he’d endured over the years. They all did.

Laurent—upbeat, sarcastic Laurent—lowered his head. It was the most solemn she’d ever seen him. Slowly, she reached out and took his hand. When he didn’t look up, she stepped closer and whispered, “Just give him time.”

Her best friend shook his head. “I don’t even know what happened, that’s the worst part.”

“I’ll talk to him again.”

With a sigh, he gave her a side hug. “Thank you.”

Her heart broke as he walked away, but he paused at the door and turned to face them. As if trying to lighten the mood, the corner of his mouth lifted and he said, “Remember, I’m on the other side of that wall. Try to keep things down please.”

“Oh gods,” Juniper whispered, turning toward their own room. “Please stop.”

“I’m just saying, don’t scare off poor Kristoff again.”

Before either could respond, he disappeared into his room.

Cheeks on fire, Juniper looked around at the remaining people in the hallway.

After a moment, Richard cleared his throat and said, “Get some rest.” He patted Bodin on the arm and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be down the hall. Kristoff and Samuel will be on duty though.”

He nodded toward the two guards then left the three royals alone in the hallway.