Page 34 of How to Claim A Shadow King

"I do indeed," I tell him, and I hold up my skirts so that he can look at the strange little laced boots that the witches of the Wild Oaks have so generously provided me with.

It isn't until his fair skin flushes with color that I realize that he's old-fashioned, enough where me showing my leg might have simply overwhelmed him.

"Did I upset you?" I ask him.

He looks at me very seriously. "What I am right now could not be described as upset."

"You aren’t?" I’m confounded by this pronouncement.

"Precisely," he says. And then he smiles.

Or tries to.

I peer at him. "Then why do you look like you've swallowed a lemon?" I tilt my head. My stomach growls again, and I place a hand over it, willing it to be quiet.

"Because I very much would like to see everything else you have under that skirt, but I know that you require..." he says altogether stiffly.

A laugh threatens to burst out of my mouth and I do my best to swallow it, knowing that he'll be offended if I laugh at his heartfelt admission. Unfortunately for me, his heartfelt admission makes my stomach flip in a way I'm completely unaccustomed to. I don't quite know what to say after that, and an awkward silence falls between us as we continue our jaunt into the center of the Wild Oak Woods.

Before long, the awkwardness is almost forgotten; sheer excitement takes its place.

The Wild Oak Woods is even better on foot than it was from the vantage point of yesterday’s carriage. The closer we get into town, the more storefronts there are, and the more people.

And people who are not people, er, not human, at all.

A curvy, brown-haired woman walks by herself, holding a wicker basket aloft as though she plans to do her shopping.

"Excuse me," I say, practically skipping over to her. "Can you tell me where a good place to have lunch is?"

"You must be new here," she says, shading her eyes against the autumn sun. "I have to recommend Longleaf Brews, of course. Best tea in town."

"I am new here," I agree. "I'm Aveline. It's nice to meet you."

She smiles at me. "I'm Rosalina. I'm the owner of Familiar Finds," she tells me. "And who's—who are you?"

Malakai looks taken aback to even be addressed.

Something in Rosalina's face changes.

"No need to answer," she says, dipping her head. "Hash told me that you were in town, and I saw you just yesterday." Rosalina gives me a long look. "I saw you yesterday too."

"Yes," I say agreeably, slightly upset that we've been found out so soon. "I suppose anonymity was too much to ask for.” I glance back at Malakai’s imperious dark form.

"I'm part of the coven," she says, smiling at me sweetly. "I would walk you to Lila's—that’s the woman who owns Longleaf Brews, but I'm afraid I have shopping to do before I have to get back to my own store. Do you have a familiar yet?" she asks abruptly.

I stare at her. "I think so."

Just then, Ter squawks, dive-bombing me just enough to mess with my hair before settling on one of the lampposts lining the street.

"That's Ter," I tell her.

"How do you do, Ter?" Rosalina says to him sweetly.

"I'd be better if these two would finally get married," he answers in an acidic tone.

I stifle a laugh at the shocked expression on Rosalina's face.

"He talks.” Her brown eyes are huge in her face.