6.35 – The Heiress and the Fox

6.35 – The Heiress and the Fox

Rosalie only had a half-hour to metaphorically catch her breath before the next major event was upon her. Somehow, one that felt even more important than her meeting with her father.

"Aww," Delta's voice came from the window. "Look at the two lovebirds all cuddled up. It's so cute I might just vomit."

Rosalie and Zoey straightened out on the bed, their attentions snapping toward Delta's voice. Sure enough, she was poised there, sitting on the low windowsill of one of the many towering windows adorning the palatial bedroom.

"Delta? Where'd you come from?" Zoey asked.

"Security's lax in the d'Celestin estate," Delta snorted. "Surprisingly so. As long as you aren't in one of their prison rooms, at least." She slid off the window sill and stretched. "Sneaking into bedrooms is a useful skill to have, anyway, no matter where you are, so I was getting my practice in." She grinned. "Useful for a few reasons," she leered, making the innuendo clear. "Not just burglary."

Delta definitely seemed like she was mostly back to normal, Rosalie thought. Not sulking or glaring. That was good, right?

Then again, she was deliberately avoiding meeting her eyes.

"Uh," Zoey said, glancing toward Rosalie. "Yeah, I guess so."

A brief, awkward pause hung in the air.

"Ugh," Delta said. "You two are gonna be weird about it, then. Of course you are. Zoey, can me and Blondie have a moment?"

Zoey blinked rapidly. "Yeah, sure. I'll just go ... do something," she said lamely. She squeezed Rosalie's knee and gave her an encouraging smile before making her exit—heading out into the hall to do who knew what.

Rosalie had likewise slipped out of bed and stood by then.

Another awkward silence.

"So," Delta said, uncharacteristically shifting in place, as if looking for something to say. She shoved her hands in her pockets. "You grew up here?" She looked around, obviously meaning the palace.

"Um. No," Rosalie said. "This is the Fractures. I grew up on our estate in Haven."

"Right. Obviously. Duh."

More silence.

There'd been a number of tense situations between her and Delta, but this particular one felt so much worse than the others.

Delta sighed.

"It wasn't cool you didn't tell me," she said, being blunt about it.

Rosalie supposed she shouldn't have expected anything else.

"I meant to," Rosalie said. "I really did."

"That's what Zoey told me."

"But then Lucinda showed up."

"Yup."

The foxgirl had clearly already been caught up on the situation. There wasn't much to explain.

Rosalie's hands clenched and unclenched at her side.

Eventually, she said, "I'm sorry?"

"Why?" Delta asked.

The words caught Rosalie off guard.

"Why?" she echoed.

When they parted for air, Delta was looking down at her with lidded eyes, seeming distinctly pleased with herself.

"Apology accepted," she said wryly. "But you're on thin ice."

"You said girlfriends," Rosalie murmured. "You two made it official?"

Delta paused. She tilted her head. "Huh. I guess we did. Didn't even think about that."

Of course that was how Delta and Zoey established their relationship. Certainly more casual than how it had happened with Rosalie.

"Also," Delta said, leaning back to obnoxiously tap Rosalie on the nose. "I still find you annoying. And arrogant. Don't get that mixed up. I'm just saying I forgive you for this whole mess."

"Of course," Rosalie said, a smile tugging at her lips, which she tried to wipe away. "The same goes for you."

Delta sniffed. "But, you know what they say. The girlfriend of your girlfriend is your enemy, or something like that." She grinned, then pulled Rosalie in for another kiss. Her thoughts were briefly scrambled for a second time.

Pulling away, Delta sighed, "And we've still got a whole lot more to talk about. What the hell. You're a d'Celestin." She shook her head and let go of Rosalie's waist. "Whatever. Let's go find Zoey and Maddy and get out of here. I hate being in this palace. And there's a whole city to explore." Purple eyes flicked to the window, where Mantle spilled down the mountainside. "Always liked checking out new places."

"Sure," Rosalie said, her heart still pounding. Half from being kissed, half from relief.

Things had really worked out, then? She'd almost braced herself that they wouldn't. Though she supposed the heavier conversations were still to come. Zoey had been right that Delta saw Rosalie as more than her name, but that far from meant she was pleased with her new circumstances—being involved with the d'Celestin family. As her wanting to flee the palace as soon as possible indicated.

Holding Rosalie's hand, Delta pulled her along, headed for the door.

Outside, Zoey immediately perked up and pushed off the wall. Seeing Delta dragging Rosalie, she started beaming at the two of them.

"Yeah, yeah," Delta said, rolling her eyes. "Your girlfriends kissed. It's hot. Don't be a pervert about it."

Zoey laughed. "That's not it. I'm just glad you two made up."

Rosalie, for her part, winced at the exchange, looking up and down the hall. "Right ..." she said to Delta. "Just so you know, we're keeping all of our personal involvement to ourselves."

"Her dad knowing might cause issues," Zoey explained.

Delta raised an eyebrow. "You mean Enzo d'Celestin, Guildmaster of the Deepshunters, tyrant of half the Fractures, is a bit controlling when it comes to his daughter's maiden honor?"

"That's the allegation. But actually, it's more about ... other things."

"Though also that," Rosalie grimaced.

Delta shook her head. "Okay. Whatever. Come on, I want to stop thinking about all that garbage for a second. Where's Maddy? We're heading into town."

"We are?" Zoey asked, facing Rosalie. "Is that fine?"

"I still have to greet my sisters. But Elodie is missing, like she always is, so that's happening on her own schedule. And Charlotte is out doing a shard."

"So we're all good to leave?"

Rosalie nodded. It wasn't like they were confined to the palace. She squeezed Delta's hand once, then pulled away. She couldn't go holding hands with either of them out in public, as displeased as she was about that.

"So sneaking into bedrooms is gonna be even more useful than I thought," Delta mused. "I was just joking." She laughed. "At least sneaky sex is hotter than boring-old allowed sex. We should try doing it somewhere public. Maybe the dining hall? Or his bedroom?"

Rosalie made a choking noise, which was probably Delta's intent. Even Delta wasn't so crazy as to try to do that inside the d'Celestin palace's public rooms, right? Much less her father's bedroom. That one was just disgusting.

Surely she didn't mean it.

Right?

Delta met her horrified expression with a completely serious one of her own.

Zoey spared an amused look for Delta. "Maddy's in this room," she said, gesturing. "Oh, and by the way, haven't had a chance to ask. You two also move up in advancement?"

Delta grinned at her. "Yup. Bet we all did. But that's on the docket. Let's get out of here first."