A little worry curls in me at this and I open my mouth to ask more questions, but suddenly the train emits a loud whistle that makes me leap nearly out of my boots.

"Come on!" Jesse calls, sticking his head out from inside the coach. "There's champagne in here! I am not waiting for you! If it's all gone by the time you get in here then you only have yourselves to blame!"

I laugh, moving eagerly forward, Rafe and Luca following close behind. But just as I put my foot up on the prettily-wrought golden stair, I hear someone shyly clear their throat behind me. I gasp, recognizing the sound somehow, and spin, my eyes wide.

"Daphne!" I shout, thrilled to see her standing there, a tiny suitcase anxiously clutched in her hands, her auburn hair curling prettily over her shoulders.

"Um," she says, biting her lip, looking at me with sad and sorry eyes, her whole body tight with unease. "Is it okay? I mean...does my invitation to the Capital for midwinter still stand?"

"Daph!" I shout with a laugh, dashing away from the train car towards my friend and almost knocking her over in my eagerness as I hug her tight to me. She gasps a little at the force of me and then laughs too, wrapping one arm around me, her suitcase pressed between us. "Of course it stands! I'm so happy to see you! I'm so happy you came!"

tell by the tightness in her words that she's on the edge of tears. The train emits another sharp whistle and starts to rumble. "I didn't want to do it, but they made me - they said I wouldn't be allowed to keep my job if I

gilt stairs, already boarded, a

the train, but my powerful mate handles the

upwards, settling me against his chest as the train pulls away from the platform and picks up speed. I turn towards the carriage, eager to get

my cheek and running his thumb over my

lifting my chin and shaking back my head in a way that would send my hair cascading over my shoulders if it weren't

you crying on

a kiss to my mouth like he can't help it. And I know I should care, should worry about who might see

myself to care. Because it's just so perfect, and just so wonderful, to be here and

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