A fencing match between rivals was a bracing way to start the day.

Axis slipped his cobalt Tempest silk waistcoat over his white button-down. He felt comfortable enough at swordplay that silk pants should do. They were also a bright blue which matched his opponent’s eyes. Even though Axis had only seen them on a handful of occasions, their penetrating effect was lasting. Would Gauge wear his glasses during combat? It made sense for the man to hide his eyes during social engagements, but it seemed like a disadvantage for a match.

These and other thoughts occurred to Axis as he prepared for the midmorning encounter. Lexia had said she would meet him at the Copper Cathedral, and Axis was in a hurry to arrive before she did and was left alone to entertain Count Snow.

On the way, Axis asked his driver, Bolt, “What have you heard?”

The only servant he employed shook his head. “It’s been silent all morning, sir. Winter is holding its breath.”

The onset of a new city would do that. Even so, Axis felt as if more was in store, and, knowing Gauge, there was.

As they pulled up, Axis cursed under his breath. Lexia was walking up. Emphasis on ‘walking.’ He disliked her cavalier disregard for her own safety, but there was no changing her mind about it. Lexia would walk whenever she felt like it, and Axis would marry her accepting that.

She’d pulled her hair back from her unmade-up face in a tousled ponytail, her lips and cheeks rosy from the crisp wind. Lexia had her hands in the pockets of her loose cream pants with brown pinstripes, and they hugged her hips in a way that was almost too flattering. The suspenders went over an oversized cream blouse which was tucked into her pants, giving her a boyish look aside from one last detail. A brown leather under-bust corset presented her breasts in an all too appealing manner. She topped all this off by openly displaying her excessive steam cannon on her hip holster.

Rhyme followed behind looking sullen about the entire affair.

Bolt said, “She’s a sprite, that one.”

Sprite.

It made Axis smile. “I like that.” He shouldered his sword case, jumped out of the car, and grabbed Lexia to spin her in the air. His future wife’s laughter lifted his spirits, and there was really nothing better in the world for it. In an uncharacteristic display of affection, Axis kissed Lexia there on the cobblestones. She melted against him with a purr, and it was enough to shake him out of the respite from his phobia.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

When Axis set Lexia down, she didn’t pout. In fact, she peered up at him with stars in her eyes. “Dear Prince, feel free to do that anytime.”

“Yes, we wouldn’t want Winter to run out of play-acting material, now would we?”

The couple whirled to find Gauge Snow standing on the steps to the Cathedral, leaning on the copper-topped balustrade. He looked ready to attend the most stylish funeral on Winter. The man dressed similarly to Axis—a silk waistcoat and button-down—but his silk pants were tucked into thigh-high boots, and everything was black. With his deep complexion and his black braids, it all blended into one seamless shadow. Even his lenses were black today, answering Axis’ earlier questions.

It all suited the Count.

As if mesmerized, Lexia took the first step toward him. Still holding her hand in public, Axis pulled to stop her. The moment froze—the gentlemen at odds and the lady in the middle.

When Lexia looked back at Axis, she beamed, shattering the ice. “The winner gets to take me to dinner.”

Someone barked out a laugh, and everyone turned stiltedly toward Rhyme. He was coughing into his fist in a terrible attempt at disguising his poor decorum.

Snow said, “I’ll accept those terms, but perhaps Axis could join us. We wouldn’t want him to lick his wounds alone.”

It was Axis’ turn to bark out a laugh, and he was surprised it felt good-natured. “I won’t be as charitable, Count Snow.”

Lexia muttered something, and Axis thought he heard her say, “Pity.”

He never let go of her hand, even as she pulled him up the steps. After parking the car, Bolt appeared, doubling as bodyguard. Rhyme walked with him to the door behind the couple. And Jan waited at the Wall of Pain.

There was something different about it…

“There are refreshments in the courtyard,” Gauge offered, ever the gracious host.

They followed him through the egregious foyer with its mirrored set of circular stairs leading to an open second and third floors. Beyond it, their party entered a courtyard filled with…

“Are those third generation heirloom black beauty tomatoes?” Lexia listed off the details of the plants in the raised beds as if they were rare gemstones.

Gauge smiled in a way Axis had never seen as he said, “Fourth, actually. They’re even sweeter.”

Lexia went to the next bed. “And Winter-native corn. This isn’t even engineered. I thought the last of it died when…”

When Gauge saved Winter from the apocalypse.

Rows of raised beds lined the courtyard with exotic fruits and vegetables. It explained why no one could match his chefs. The ingredients were enriched.

Axis loved the wonder and awe in Lexia’s black eyes as she studied all of them. Even Rhyme, Jan, and Bolt were entranced by her endearing behavior.

It was a shame Gauge ruined the moment by doing the same. In a voice so quiet Lexia couldn’t hear it, he said, “It looks as though you’re not the only one who can make her happy.”

Axis gritted his teeth. It was time to teach the Count some manners.