CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Astaroth
“Old one,” I grinned, and waved Mergle away from the group he cavorted with.
He said his goodbyes and regarded me curiously as he approached. “Your Highness.”
Ears were everywhere. We needed a quiet place where no one could eavesdrop. Mergle followed me out to the garden near the dining hall. Once we reached the center, I dropped down on the bench, and he sat beside me.
“I suspect by the goofy grin on your face that your outing went well.”
I chuckled. “Started off a bit rough, but it was splendid.”
Mergle’s bushy brows popped up, the wrinkles in forehead causing rolls. “That’s surprising. I assumed last night’s events would push her farther away.”
I did as well. Calista refused to speak to me for the rest of the evening and most of the day. When she did, she used one-word answers. She even refused to sleep in the bed, favoring that dreadful chair she had claimed as hers by the bookshelf. Once she fell asleep, though, her neck was at an awkward angle and the sounds coming from her were loud enough to crack the foundation of the castle. I scooped her up and put her in the bed when I was certain she would not wake.
I didn’t sleep much, choosing to stay awake and enjoy being wrapped in the skirt of her dress she passed out in when she draped herself over me. As the sky lightened, I snuck from the bed and pretended to sleep in her chair. I didn’t get to watch the dress puddle to the floor last night, but I watched it through squinted lids this morning. The under garment she donned made my eyes fly open and cock stand at attention. Lace disappeared between her ample cheeks, leaving nothing to the imagination. I liked them and have already requested Bobbins to make more of them.
“Are you going to tell me about it, or sit there and smile like the dimwitted ones lost in nostalgia?”
I peered at him out of the corner of my eye. “Be mindful of your tone.”
“You do not scare me,” he quirked a brow, “young one.”
My playful glare elicited a snort. “Calista had questions about the hall.”
“I’m sure. Were you forthcoming with information?”
“To an extent.” Mergle waited for me to explain. “She’s terrified she will become one of them.”
“The pendant will prevent that.” When I didn’t speak, he said, “Ah, but you didn’t tell her that.”
“Not in those words.”
Mergle chuckled lightly. “Your patience has worn thin, Astaroth.”
“That it has.” I leaned back on the bench, crossed my arms over my chest, and kicked my feet out. “Much longer, and it will run out entirely.”
“Need I remind you that Calista hasn’t been here long? It takes time to woo a woman.”
“Remind my cock. Now that she is sharing my quarters, it believes we are beyond wooing.”
Mergle laughed hardily. “How do you plan to work this in your favor?”
“Stitch her to my life source.”
“What!” Mergle jumped off the bench and faced me. “You can’t! We don’t know what calamity will ensue.”
I leaned forward and propped my elbows on my knees. Even from this position he was beneath me.He is beneath me, in all things. Mergle needs to stitch that to memory again.“There will be none.”
“You do not know this. You risk all our lives attempting it. And for what?”
Without thinking, I wrapped my hand around my dearest friend’s throat. “Because I want to keep her. I have from the moment I laid eyes on her. Forever and ever, I want her the way she is by my side. Calista will not wither to age or the realm.”
Mergle stumbled back and rubbed his throat when I released him. The sting of betrayal pricked at me as he raised his head and met my gaze. “Your Highness—”
The title coming from him while we conversed in private grated on my nerves. “If you will allow me to finish, Calista is bonding to the realm.”
