“It was ten seasons ago—”
“Eleven,” Pepper corrects her as they snag a scone off the tray, giving their partner a cheeky half-smile.
“I had mourned you for a decade,” she addresses Moth with a solemn nod. “But I was not looking for love. That season was being hosted by the Dragonfly Court, and Pepper was assigned as my guard.”
“We had a whole carriage ride to get to know each other.”
“I thought they despised me,” Ruby says, clutching a hand to her chest.
“I was quite shy.” Pepper taps thoughtfully at their chin.
“The carriage broke down in the middle of our journey—and the rest...” Ruby glances at the children who are attentively listening to Queen Plume’s story. “The rest ishistory.”
Her hand slides into Pepper’s and the pair lock eyes, glowing with affection for each other.
The more the four of us chat, the sillier I feel that the pang of jealousy just won’t go away. If Ruby and Pepper were anymore head-over-heels for each other, they’d have literal hearts in their eyes. Still, the image I saw of Moth and Ruby, and all of these kids running around is burned into my mind—a constant “what could have been.” The feeling follows me like a ghost for the rest ofthe day.
Moth loves me, I know that. But would he have been happier if he was in Pepper’s place? It’s a question I should be happy I’ll never know the answer to, but I can’t help but wonder: if he could have any future, would he really choose onewith me?
“She’s very beautiful,” I say once we’re alone inour room.
“Who?”
“Your ex-fiancée—obviously.”
“Ah yes, she is.” He nods. “Though Pepper is equally appealing…”
“You’re not making this better.”
“I find your jealousy … cute,” he says with a sideways grin. How dare he be so smug! It’s not as if I have a lot of opportunities to get jealous back home. We live in the middle of nowhere, and the only people we hang out with are married. Sure, I’ve seen him get checked out on the rare occasion we’re disguised in public, but that’s different.
“You two looked good together,” I say, hating the venom in my voice. It’s not just that she’s pretty—heck, I’m pretty too. Maybe not supermodel, drop-dead gorgeous like Ruby, but that’s not the problem. No, what’s bothering me is how they fit together like puzzle pieces. Yes, their lives have gone in completely different directions, but I can’t help but think she’s always going to be the one thatgot away.
Moth spins me around so that our reflections meet in the mirror. He towers over me, his frilly shirt unbuttoned while his strong hands trail down my shoulders to the soft curves of my body. “Welook goodtogether.”
He’s clearly not looking in the same mirror.
“You’re built like a god, and I’m like a …cupcake.”
He bends, kissing—no,biting—my neck. My tension releases at the sensation of just the right kind of pain radiating downmy spine.
“Is that why I crave you so badly?” He cups my chin, tilting my face just enough so that I’m staring in the mirror again. His wings sprawl out, wrapping me in their darkness. I lean into each kiss, relishing the feeling of being wanted.
His claws brush across the floppy strap of my dress that, despite my best efforts, has been sliding down my shoulder all day. “And this dress…”
“You like it?” I playfully let the straps fall, exposing the top of my chest. “I was thinking about changing before dinner. The lacing on the back was giving me troubleearlier.”
It wasn’t.Not that it matters. Moth knows exactly what I’m playing at here.
“Mmm.” He presses a kiss to my newly exposed shoulder. Seizing me by the waist, Moth carefully unlaces the back of my dress, threatening to unravel me right along with the decorative ribbons.
The garment falls away, and he stands tall behind me, running his fingers from my waist to my shoulders. The tip of his claws trace my jawline.
“What a beautiful confection…” There is nothing teasing about the admiration in his voice. He holds my bare body to his, feasting on me with his eyes alone.
My breath hitches. He makes his way down the length of my arm, biting and kissing, and food is the last thing on my mind.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, my voice weak and breathy, leaning intohis touch.
