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Her eyes turned to the door that separated her room from Hawthorn’s. It was a long way to replenish the water otherwise. She’d just sneak in, quiet as a mouse…
She tip-toed into the room before she could be accused of over-thinking, silently slinking towards the jug beside the window.
“Juliana?”
Juliana froze. “I’d forgotten you can see in the dark.”
“What are you doing?”
“Water,” she said, raising her empty glass. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“Can’t sleep?”
She shook her head. “You?”
“No. I think I might have given it up for the time being.”
She yawned loudly, pouring herself a measure and taking a long sip. “At least faeries seem capable of functioning on only a few hours…”
“You need to sleep, Jules.”
“Can’t.”
He sighed, the sheets rustling on the bed. “Come over here.”
“What, why?”
“Just do it.”
Muttering under her breath, Juliana set down her glass and did as commanded. Her knees brushed against the great bed. Hawthorn’s hands reached out to help her up, and tugged her into his arms.
“W-what are you doing?”
“Come on. You know this is better than tossing and turning in your own bed. Lie down with me.”
Juliana could think of a dozen reasons why that was a terrible idea, but she was sick of the silence between them, sick of sleeplessness. The bed was warm and soft, and she’d be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy the feeling of his arms around her.
But she was very, very good at lying…
“Fine,” she hissed. “But I’m doing this for your benefit.”
“Naturally.”
He pulled her down with him, tucking her under his chin, fingers skimming her hair.
They’d huddled together for warmth before. This was just that. Survival.
His throat throbbed against her nose, his heart pressed over hers. She could almost taste his skin; hot chocolate, spice, winter berries.
Survival,she reminded herself.Sleep.
That’s all it was.
Because it could never be anything else.
The day before the curse, Maytree consented to open up the gates for a precious few, carefully-selected guests, all thoroughly vetted and stripped of all weapons. Unsure of what the next day would bring, faeries did what they did best: they partied.
The great hall was strung with banners. The vines were forced to bloom. Fountains of wine, red, white and purple, spouted in every corner. Golden plates were laden with food, stuffed boars, roasted hogs, a dozen fat birds with crackling skin. Towers of fruit and cheese were spread through the room, piled on tables or floating discs. Music fluttered through the air.
