“Lying.”
“Stealing,” he countered.
“Fighting to the death.”
He paused, brows furrowing. “You said you weren’t going to kill me.”
“Basic rules of fighting. Never trust an angry woman with a sword.”
“Noted.” A wicked smile curved his lips before he pressed a kiss against my beating pulse, sending tiny shivers through my body. I curled my fingers into his shirt, tugging him closer, needing to feel the feverish pull of his mouth again.
He came willingly, molding his body against mine.
I bit back a moan as his tongue swept into my mouth. Spinning me away from the glass case, he lifted me, arms beneath my thighs, and walked toward the training mat. He lowered me to the cushioned surface, our mouths still fused together.
My hands splayed across his muscled back, smoothed over the ridges of his abdomen, and glided past his collarbone to wrap around his neck. Above my head, the stars glittered through the glass panes, and the darkness that had always infected my life wrapped around me. But this time, I felt safe.
Treasured.
Loved.
His fingers ghosted over my rib cage and tangled with the ties on my bodice. He whispered his intentions, and I nodded as the chilly air caressed my exposed skin. The heat of his mouth followed, and I arched my back, lost to sensation.
***
We lay together, wrapped in each other’s arms. Bowen smoothed a hand over my hair and pressed a kiss to my temple.
“You’re cold,” he whispered. “Next time, we need to reevaluate our surroundings. There’s a bearskin rug in front of the hearth.”
I chuckled and nuzzled his neck. “You’re right. You have weapons in every room. We could have easily fought where it was warmer.”
Reluctantly, he reached for our clothes, helping me slip back into my dress. Once clothed, I leaned back against his chest, letting him wrap his arm around my middle.
I covered his hands with mine, rubbing my fingers over his rough skin. “After everything that happened tonight with Argus and the Grimm’s blade, are you really okay? I know how significant tonight was for you. I don’t take what Gavin and I did lightly.”
Bowen dropped his chin onto the top of my head and sighed. “I’ll only admit this to you, so you can’t tell a soul…” He waited until I nodded, then he gave me a little squeeze for good measure. “Swear on your reputation as a mystical weapons dealer?”
“Of course! I’m not a gossiping goose like you or Gavin.” I swallowed a laugh. “Tell me.”
“When I realized the Grimm’s blade was fake, I was relieved. It was like a message permitting me to just let it all go. And I did. I dropped that fake dagger into the crucible as if it were the real thing. It felt cleansing.”
“Did Argus know it was fake?”
“Nope! You should have seen his face. Worth all the trouble. I wish I had my sketch pad.”
I elbowed him in the ribs. “Bloodthirsty!”
“Always,” he whispered against my hair. He blew out a breath. “So now this is behind us, where do we go from here?”
“Honestly?” A soft smile spread across my lips. “I wish we could just stay in this moment, suspended, for a little while. But I know that’s not possible with my brother and Ethan still out there.”
“We could keep searching. Make another round to the shops, see if anyone recognized them from the posters.”
“Yes, we should do that, but first, I have a different idea.” I turned in his arms, tilting my head back until I met his gaze. “The other day, you mentioned we should try to meet with another witch to get as much information as we can. Well, I think I know where to find one who will help us.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. When I helped the oracle, she gave me a name and told me to visit her if I ever needed anything.” I drew in a breath, steeling myself against the nerves. “If you can face Argus, I can face a witch. Let’s turn in the favor and go meet Tessa Daniels.”
