DISCLAIMER: The author's imagination and passion are the only sources of inspiration for this novel, which is a work of dedication. Parallels between these pages and the past or present may be apparent to some readers, but they are completely coincidental. You are free to interpret this art anyway you see fit, and it is meant for your enjoyment.
The joy that greeted Reinn's return to the world of the living almost shook the Hylde house. But once the initial shock subsided, she turned to face the two men who were near her bed. They had a horrible appearance. Dyierrean appeared as though he hadn't seen a bed in a century, while Giywon's royal silks were rumpled.
"You both look like you've been dragged behind a carriage," Reinn croaked, propping herself up on her pillows. "If I'm the one who was cursed, why do I feel like I'm the only one here who's actually slept?"
Giywon grasped her hand and murmured, "We couldn't leave," his voice full of anguish. "The world was grey, Reinn. Utterly grey."
Dyierrean continued, "And the guards were incompetent," despite the fact that his hands were shaking.
Reinn took a close look at them and sensed a warmth that was unrelated to the blankets. "Fine. Since you both spent a week acting like my personal gargoyles, I'm going to return the favor. But I am a fair woman. You will each get three days of my undivided 'care' to recover. And no, you cannot argue about who goes first."
"I am the Prince—" Giywon started.
"And I am the one who kept her soul anchored," Dyierrean countered.
"Rock-paper-scissors," Reinn gave the order. "Now."
Days 1-3: The Dragon's Retreat
Giywon won the toss, primarily by making a remark about Dyierrean's disheveled hair to divert his attention. The Crown Prince of the Edryyion Empire received a three-day treatment known as the "Reinn Hylde Wellness Program."
For Giywon, it was paradise, but a nightmare for the royal staff. Reinn let him sit in the sun, fed him herbal soups that she actually stirred, and—above all—made him discuss topics unrelated to politics.
On the second day, Giywon leaned back in a lounge chair and said, "You're actually... quite good at this," while Reinn read a book to him. "Though the soup tastes a bit like dirt."
Reinn joked, "That's 'earthy minerals,' Your Highness," and prodded his shoulder. "And stop moving. You're supposed to be resting."
He abruptly said, "I was so scared, Reinn," and his fun disappeared. She was astounded by the vulnerability with which he gazed at her. "When you didn't wake up, I realized that the throne meant nothing if you weren't there to tell me how annoying I am."
Reinn's heart began to soften. She bent down to give him a forehead kiss. "Well, I'm here now. And you're still very annoying."
Days 4-6: The Wolf's Recovery
Giywon's bright talk gave way to a deep, cozy silence when Dyierrean's time came. Dyierrean desired her presence above soup.
He was spending an hour staring at the same page of a book when Reinn discovered him in the library. Gently removing the book from his hands, she sat next to him.
Whispering, "You used too much magic, Dyierrean," she took his rough hands in hers. "Your spark is exhausted."
"It was worth it," he said, his eyes intense. He didn't retreat. Rather, he rested his head on her shoulder, a sign of such deep confidence that it tightened Reinn's throat. "I've spent my life guarding secrets and borders. I didn't know how to guard a heart until yours almost stopped."
Over the course of the three days, Reinn taught him how to cultivate and made him take "naps," which he complained about but secretly enjoyed. The funniest thing Samantha had ever seen was the most dreaded Duke in the empire attempting to carefully plant a daisy.
"You're doing it wrong," she chuckled as she guided his hands. "Gently, Dyierrean. Like you're holding a butterfly."
He turned his gaze from the flower to her. "I am being gentle. I'm staying, aren't I?"
Day 7: The Truce
Reinn urged that they all drink tea together in the garden on the last day. There was still tension, but the resentment had given way to an odd respect for one another.
"So," Giywon remarked, glancing at Dyierrean's well-planted flower. "I see the Wolf has become a florist."
Dyierrean shot back, "And the Dragon has become a soup critic," but he was grinning.
With her silver daggers on one side and a plush bear from the festival on the other, Reinn sat between them. The "Quiet Life" she desired had vanished, replaced by something far more colorful, she realized as she gazed at these two strong, broken, amazing men.
She openly stated, "I have feelings for both of you," causing both men to choke on their tea. "It's a mess. I'm a mess. But if you're both willing to stop trying to 'own' me, maybe we can figure out what this is."
Giywon grabbed her left hand. Dyierrean grabbed her right.
"I can wait," Giywon said.
"I've always been patient," Dyierrean added.
Glancing up at the sky, Reinn grinned. She didn't feel like a fictional character for the first time. She had a sense of control over her own life.
"Good," Reinn murmured, holding both of their hands tightly. "Because tomorrow, I'm going back to the marketplace. And this time, both of you are carrying the shopping bags."