And she wasn’t wrong, because I could see nothing at all. I was truly blind, and if I were to win this, it would take all the memories of all the kisses that I’d ever had to help me find my beloved.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
I understoodthe drinking and singing now. And the sudden bursts of giggles. And Coppertomb’s annoyance at Grosbeak’s choice. And Bluebeard’s amused steepled fingers. They had all known from the very start what this would entail.
More annoying than having to participate in this farce for their entertainment, was the blindness. I would have liked to see who reacted to what when it took place. As things stood, I was required to focus only on the task at hand.
The first footsteps on the stairs leading to our platform — or perhaps I should say the first hoof-steps because they clattered — set a spike of dread down my spine.
Someone laughed nearby and someone else said, “Look at the face the ugly mortal is pulling. She’s practically green. Where’s Bluffroll? He likes them green. He should be here.”
“He’ll not trouble this world again,” I said precisely. “And if you kiss me, you may find the same fate for yourself.”
“She’s cold as ice,” the first one said, disapprovingly. “What was the Arrow thinking?”
“He’s not the Arrow anymore. We can play with his toys all we like.”
And then I was surprised by a very sudden, very wet kiss. I felt like I could hardly breathe, but I was certainly not going to open my mouth to draw in more air. Not after that. I swallowed, feeling ill at the smell of cheese that now wafted into my nose, and then I was kissed again, by someone new, I supposed, who at least smelled like wine and seemed to be less drippy.
I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and frowned. This was already horrible.
Beside me, I heard Ki'e'iren complain, “Don’t waste my time. It’s clearly none of you.”
I opened my mouth to ask her how she knew and then my lips were caught by a pair that were petal-soft and caressed mine with loving gentleness. Like I said, it was going to be confusing, but I knew this was not my Bluebeard. This person smelled of honey and freesia, not mint.
Ki'e'iren seemed to like that kiss more, though. I heard her sigh.
But her sigh was cut off by a sound from below. Someone spoke in a low, menacing tone I could not quite catch, and then there was a scream that cut off suddenly followed by a second one that went on and on and then stopped.
I drew in a long breath — from my nose, I wasn’t stupid — and steadied myself. There would always be violence where the Wittenbrand congregated. They were mortals with no veils, not bothering to disguise their peculiarities or passions. Where a mortal might kill your reputation, the Wittenbrand went for the literal throat. Where a mortal might silently plot revenge, the Wittenbrand plotted it openly, gathering support and offering riddles and challenges.
The next kiss thrust upon me was sharp and bold, as if the kisser were screwing up his courage to kiss me at all and then the one after that was hard and furious and followed by a laugh. I could almost have sworn that was Coppertomb.
There was a lull for me and I had the feeling that Ki'e'iren was receiving no lull at all. I heard wet smacks and moans from where she stood — in between screams and begging below us.
There was a metallic clash and the sound of sword on sword. Perhaps betting on the results had gotten out of hand. I’d seen that among them before.
And then a set of lips met mine that were tender in their touch but tasted of dead fish and rot and the teeth of the kisser nipped me as he finished his kiss. I spat to the side.
“I know that was you, Grosbeak. Are you happy to get it out of your system?”
He didn’t break the rules by addressing me, but his laugh was as familiar as my own, and I frowned.
Honestly, how dare Bluebeard smirk and steeple his fingers knowing this was coming for me? Why did he not warn me if he knew, or stand to prevent it? How many times had he taken a blow for me and how long had I carried him pressed against my bare flesh, and now he stepped aside and allowed anyone who pleased to kiss me? It wasn’t right, and I found I felt betrayal at his disregard. I had expected more from my husband. I had expected possessiveness and fidelity.
No one was kissing me now, and though I was grateful, it was not enough to assuage my fury. When I won this challenge — and I would — I would make him pay for not championing me.
Oddly, Ki'e'iren was still receiving kisses at a steady rate. They went on for some time and I was almost beginning to grow concerned — had I failed somehow already and been disqualified? — when a dry pair of lips met mine, but before the kiss could end, there was a strangled sound and a thump and the lips vanished suddenly from mine as another set claimed them, fitting my lips precisely, drawing mine into the embrace of his. I gasped and the kiss deepened, a forceful tongue sweeping between my lips in claim, and the roughness of an unshaven face brushing against my skin, and through the kiss I gasped his name.
“Bluebeard.”
And his murmured laugh of victory was followed by a second kiss as a hand met my jaw and caressed it and then swiped the blindfold from my eyes.
My husband’s cat’s eyes met mine and I drank in the sight of him.
Behind him, Grosbeak was cursing. “You’ve ruined the whole thing. It’s just like you not to be able to take a joke! You couldn’t let it go on for a few hours, could you? No. Not Bluebeard. You couldn’t just let a few Wittenbrand have a little fun, could you?”
“None other is to touch my wife,” Bluebeard said easily.
