“Tegwyn?”
“Yes?”
I shut my eyes, preparing for his imminent rejection. “Will you just get on the bed? I know you’re trying to be a gentleman, but it’s fine. It’s big enough for the two of us.”
He tenses, and I don’t dare look up. I just wait for his inevitableno.
But then, to my surprise, the chair squeaks beneath his weight, and I stifle a smile once the mattress sinks beside me. Finally. All is right with the world.
He doesn’t get under the quilts. He merely lies on his back, gazing up at the ceiling as he twirls his thumbs. It’s obvious he’s uncomfortable, and I’m rather surprised.
He never struck me as theshytype.
I bet he has been with a lot of females. That beautiful Fae with the dappled moth wings comes to mind. She seemed to be quite smitten with him. I could tell by the way she looked at him; I could tell by the way she looked atme.Her buttercup irises had been green with envy.
Well, at least she can sleep easier at night when she finds out that there is nothing between us. I’m not sure what Tegwyn and I are to each other, but it’s not much more than casual friendship. He's my keeper, and I’m his ward. As per the terms of our contract.
“Tegwyn?”
“What?”
A smile curves my lips. “Thank you for joining me. I feel much safer now.”
He snorts, rolling his eyes. “Whatever makes you happy,princess.”
I peer across the bed, glancing at his horns specifically. I always wanted to know how he slept with them, but it doesn’t look like he has any trouble at all. Yet, he doesn’t remove his boots or his cloak, and I think I spy the glint of a bronze knife in his hands.
Heavens. Does he ever relax?
But I appreciate the gesture. The knife’s not just for him, it’s for both of us. He’s really going above and beyond the terms of our contract.
Carefully, I reach across, placing my palm around his right cheek. His slitted pupils explode, and soon that faerie glow returns to his skin.
Thank goodness.
My gaze moves to his lips, and I’m so glad he removed that scraggly old scarf.
Tegwyn shouldn’t hide his face.
Again, I’m tempted to discover what his mouth feels like. I must still be a little high from the rush earlier, but before I do something stupid, I shut my eyes, letting go of his face.
Then I turn onto my side, facing the peeling wallpaper. “Sleep tight, Tegwyn.”
I don’t think he ever gets any sleep. I feel his gaze throughout the night, even long after I fall asleep.
But I still sleep like a baby. Just having him close is enough.
I wake up a few hours later to the sight of Tegwyn’s luminous eyes. I don’t even flinch, a testament to how accustomed I’ve become to his presence. He really doesn’t scare me anymore.
“Tegwyn, what’s wrong?" I ask, a yawn splitting my lips.
He whirls towards the door, cloak sweeping in the breeze behind him. “Just come along, and no questions.”
I climb out of bed, grabbing my boots. Then I drape my cloak around my shoulders, following him out of the room and down the creaky stairs.
The inn is far too silent. Even the foyer is devoid of life once we reach the ground floor.
We step out onto the cobblestone, winding through the backstreets of the city—a massive labyrinth of alleyways that seems to go on and on. A low mist hangs in the air, the chill permeating the material of my cloak.
