Page 70 of Blood Curse

Stellan’s hands left me. He stayed close without blocking the passage.

“What happened?” Elias asked.

“The kiss turned into a route to his throat.”

“Did you want the kiss?”

“Yes.”

“Did you want his blood?”

“Yes.”

Mara glanced at Elias. “You’re leading her towards an answer.”

“I’m checking whether she can separate the impulses.”

“I can,” I said. “Wanting both didn’t mean I agreed to both. I chose the kiss. I stopped before I bit him.”

Stellan picked up my hand again. “Do you still want contact?”

I laced our fingers together. “This much.”

The Crown tightened against my scalp. It had made my body respond and expected that to settle the matter.

It didn’t.

My knees shook.

Stellan caught my elbow with his free hand. “That’s enough analysis. She needs food.”

“I have a medical case,” Elias said. “It doesn’t contain toast.”

Mara left the wall. “The old kitchen is awake. I heard pans when we came through.”

“Harrowmere cooks now?” I asked.

“Only when it wants something.”

“Comforting.”

We reached the inner door. New voices moved through the corridor beyond it. I heard boots, luggage hitting the floor and someone asking where the king had gone.

Stellan’s mouth flattened.

“How many?” I asked.

He listened. “Five in this wing. More near the entrance hall.”

“Can we get to your rooms without walking through them?”

“Yes.”

Mara opened the door a crack and checked the passage. “Left, then the back stairs. I’ll deal with the arrivals.”

“Don’t promise them an audience,” I said.

“I wasn’t planning to promise them anything.”