Page 97 of Spring Guardians & Songbirds

It was Tristin’s turn to choke on her sip of tea. “Lea.”

Leanna frowned. “What? Aren’t you curious, too?” She turned to me and leaned in, looking around as if she was to tell me a secret. “A poor soul confessed to her once and after laughing herself to tears she took his sister to bed. Right before him.”

That made me laugh harder than anything and Leanna’s eyes went wide, blinking rapidly.

Snow found that moment to come downstairs with Lila who rushed to Tristin’s lap and curled into a ball. “Lila is tired.” She yawned and her eyes slowly drooped while Tristin brushed her wild hair back.

Snow dropped beside me and sighed with obvious distress. Something was weighing down on her. “Llyn is colder than I remember it to be.”

“Frost is setting in some of our heights,” Tristin said. “The city itself hasn’t seen the sun in about three weeks now. Our city is too far up, the Fogling rain down on us in a matter of minutes.”

“Tomorrow,” I said. “I will come to Llyn and you can order your Nimbus to pull the clouds back. My presence will keep them dispersed enough to let the ground absorb some sunlight. If we can catch one, I’d like to take it back to Adriata for my scholars to take a look.”

“No,” Snow jumped.

“Love, I can help.”

“Not bleeding like a sieve you won’t.”

“I’m fine.”

“No, Henrik, you are not.”

“Oh,” a little gasp interrupted us, and we turned to Leanna. “Is this some sort of foreplay or?”

Tristin chuckled while Snow glared death at the tribe leader.

I leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Be nice, love.”

She huffed. “I’m nice. She is still breathing, isn't she?”

Leanna munched on some biscuits, pointing a finger at us. “You two argue like you’ve been married for a decade.”

“Trying to make it seem as long as it can be,” I said, finishing my tea.

Leanna grinned wide and leaned her elbows on her knees, blinking rapidly at the both of us. “More.”

Snow shot up and almost launched at her had I not warped an arm around her waist and pulled her to my lap.

Lila giggled and even Tristin smiled.

“Rotten ilk,” Snow murmured, leaning back on me. It took her a moment after to notice she’d made herself comfortable on my chest—that it was me she was leaning on. And when she did, she shot upright to her feet. “Time to go.” She strutted outside without bidding anyone her usual good night.

I bowed my head. “Thank you for the tea. And the entertainment.”

Lila waved a tiny hand. “Goodbye, uncle.”

“Goodbye, little one.”

Snow huffed and puffed in their dimly lit garden, gathering herself tight from the chilled breeze.

I held out a hand to her. “Let’s go.”

She crossed her arms. “Not yet. There is a bakery a few feet down the road. Thoughts of murder make me crave something sweet.”

The store was small, its walls painted a shade of coral and several rustling wind chimes hung from the ceiling producing a lulling melody every time the northern wind brushed through the parted window panes.

All sorts of colourful desserts were lined on glassy shelves and counters, all which Snow eyed with astonishment. To be a little sugary treat. Had she ever looked at anything else with so much love?