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Panic prickles over my skin. I wouldn’t have guessed I would need to check for scary things attacking from above, but given I’m staying in a fortress full of gargoyles, I should have. “I’ll keep the window shut and locked from now on,” I announce.
Jace hugs me to him, having caught on to PDA with lightning speed. “Thank you.” His hair brushes against my cheek, and something electric licks its way through my body as sure as Jace’s kisses had heat swirling through my belly. I’ve had sex before, but I swear I came closer to climax while kissing Jace and grinding against him than I had with the awkward thrusting and fast finishes of human guys.
I’m not sure how to feel about the twins treating me as though I’m already a queen—bringing me food, badgering me into taking medicine, fussing over my safety and comfort.
Still, I can’t trust Atticus. He’s nowhere as easy to read as his brother.
As though he can feel my gaze on him, Atticus says, “It’s almost dawn.”
“I know.” Jace glances at me. “Time for us to go.”
I don’t release my hold on him. “Go where?”
“To the roof for our daytime sleep,” he says.
My fears rush forward. I don’t want to ask for too much, but I don’t know anyone other than them and Huey. “I’d hoped things might work differently in your realm, that you could stay with me until the trials.”
“You’ll be safe,” Atticus says, as if that’s the only thing that bothers me. “Darok the orc is posted downstairs at the door. He’ll accompany you should you need to go anywhere, and I hired the best brownie housekeeper in the Borderlands. She’ll clean, cook, and see to your needs during the day.” He stoops to pick up the oranges, putting them on the chest of drawers. “Fruit’s not plentiful in our realm, but I bought as many of your favorites as I could find.”
“Why?” After practically coercing me into coming to his realm with the threat of their execution on my conscience if I refused, Atticus arranged protection and a housekeeper in the short time that I napped? He buys my favorite foods? I stand and ask the question screaming in my mind. “Why would you do all that?”
He looks at me with a gaze full of heavy duties and responsibilities as if he carries the fate of the world on his broad shoulders. “You’re our queen. That alone is enough of a reason. But if the scent in the room’s any indication, you know you’re more than that.” He puts a hand over his heart. “You’re our mate.”
It’s too much. I can’t read him—not his expression, not his voice, not the meaning behind his words, and it drives me nuts. I’ve spent a lifetime reading other people, anticipating what they want, and knowing what they need before they do. But oh, I wish I could be a fated mate, if for nothing else than to bask in this endless devotion.
Heat rushes through me, and I step back, stumbling. Huey flaps his wings and takes flight. I’m not surprised when Jace reaches out to steady me.
“Keep Hudyakis with you,” Atticus says. “Don’t leave the tower without the orc guard by your side. But you should try to sleep through the day since you traveled across worlds tonight with no real rest and we’ve much to do tomorrow night.” With that, he walks into the hall.
Huey coos near my ear, nestling on my shoulder again.
Jace gets to his feet, spreading his wings. He takes up so much space. Even in this oversized room, he looms large and makes me feel dainty. I am not small or short in any way, but here I am, feeling delicate.
“I know you’re scared of heights,” he says, “but you could come with us to see us off to sleep. You wouldn’t have to get close to the roof’s edges.” He trails the back of a claw along my arm, and a shiver dances in his touch’s wake.
I haven’t had a decent date in two years, so why do I suddenly rank having a gargoyle with a body carved by the gods treat me as though I’m the most desirable woman ever?
“What do you want me to do?” I ask.
He rubs his thumb over my bracelets, and the rose quartz warms beneath his touch. “The better question is what do you want to do?”
Not the answer I expected or one I know how to respond to. Most folks want me to be the Rosemarie that suits them best, fits their needs, molds to their wishes. They don’t consider what I want. Heck, I rarely consider what I want.
With the way he’s looking at me and with far more courage than I feel, I do my best to woman up and conquer my fear of heights. Or at least do better than the shaking terror that overcomes me when I use a step stool to reach the highest shelves at home.
“I’ll come with you. Or at least I’ll try.” Holding Jace’s arm as if he’s escorting me to a fancy party instead of terrifying heights, we follow Atticus up a broad, sturdy staircase to a landing that looks more like an arched pavilion than any rooftop I’d expected. There’s a high domed lattice atop it. I stand in the center, not risking the whips of wind that might blow me or Huey near the edges.
“We can’t leave our sleeping spots completely unprotected,” Atticus says as if he noticed me staring upward at the architecture. “We top the roofs in spikes despite being defended during the day by the orcs and cupids.”
I snort-laugh. “Flying babies with little bows and heart-shaped arrows? That’s who you’re relying on to save you?”
He quirks a corner of his lips into the teensiest inkling of a smile. It’s not the fast flash of fangs and easy flattery such as Jace would give, but somehow it’s more precious. How would he taste? I chase away the thought and hug myself as if wrapping my arms around me might shield me from wanting more of his smiles and touches. “Cupids are vicious little devils,” he warns. “Stay away from them.”
I can’t handle new doses of weird right now. I’ve had enough already today. So I concentrate on the immediate. “What’s with sleeping on the roof? And how do your pants stay on when you turn to stone?” A tingling that has nothing to do with magic and everything to do with mortification spreads over my face and throat. I must be ten shades redder than usual. Why did I ask that? Obviously I’ve spent too much time already noticing their clothes—or lack thereof—and all the delicious skin on display.
Jace chuckles. “We don’t sleep. Not really. I mean we call it sleep, but we still sense the rest of the world which is why we prefer to stay up here where we can keep watch. The clothes thing is magic. We don’t understand it either. Shirts disappear, but the pants stay on. We can take them off if you prefer.” His flirty teasing slays me.
“No,” I squeak. “That’s okay. I mean…I…” Yeah, I’m just going to shut my mouth now.
