I bit my lip. “Does…does Granmanmi know?”
Ellabeth looked at me. Then her gaze fell on something behind me, as if she was searching for the right answer.
“I think so,” she finally said.
“Has she been to see me?”
Ellabeth’s face tightened. I knew that look. I already knew what she’d say before she said it.
“No, she hasn’t.”
I nodded, turning away. Stars. That stung. A familiar tendril of shadow snaked its way to me, rising to rest beneath my chin before lifting it.
“I don’t like seeing this pout on your face, Starling. Get rid of your bestie so I can thoroughly rid you of it.”
Despite myself, my lips twitched into a smile. I looked at Quazar, who’d taken the liberty to sprawl out over my bed. He winked before popping a cookie into his mouth.
“Mm, these really are burning good. But not as delicious as you. And that was just your fingers. Imagine when I finally get my tongue in your?—”
I cleared my throat, fighting with all my might to keep my composure. My face burned as I blinked through the haze that was quickly consuming me.
Quazar grinned, those pointed tips of his teeth turning my mind into an unraveled mess. I trailed my gaze down his exposed torso, and those muscles begging to be touched. Down the length of the tunic, until I reached the hem of his pants. And lower. What I saw made my knees weak.
“Forcing me to settle for these rotting cookies when I’m clearly meant to haveyouis entirely selfish, if you ask me.”
I coughed, trying to keep my face from turning the deepest shades of crimson.
“My…my hair.” I spun around, breathing in short, quick spurts. “Will you help me with my hair, it’s…Well. You see it.”
Ellabeth looked at me a long time, studying my expression. Then she looked over at Quazar, who was downing my cookies one at a time, eyes glued to me. She looked at me again. Then at Quazar. Then back at me one last time.
“Hair,” she said slowly.
“Yup. Hair.”
She raised a brow.
I said nothing.
Quazar chuckled darkly down our bond.
She snuck another curious look at him, narrowing her eyes, before looking back at me.
“Sure,” she drawled. “I’ll do your hair.” A beat. “But only if Valoryen takes his leave.”
I opened my mouth to answer.
“No.” Quazar answered before I could, with such ferocity my hearts skipped three beats.
Ellabeth glared at him.
“We’re going to be doing hair and havingfemaletalk. Why would you want to stay?”
“Maybe I’d like to know how to do Starling’s hair.” He grinned, chomping on his fourth cookie. “Maybe one dawnI’llneed to do it…you know, because she’ll be too sore to do it herself.”
My jaw dropped.
Ellabeth’s eyes widened almost to the size of her head.
