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“I know, I’m just curious. I’m not going to ask that of him.” After that meeting, after the way Randsin had stared down Dace like he had known the severity of our secret, I couldn’t help but ponder what Randsin did know. Did he know how to defeat the beasts that lived under his skin, should they emerge? Did he even know about all the things hidden in his body? Could the monsters still be removed, even though scars from King Ganglin slashed through them and broke their images?
My head pounded with the questions. Lifting one hand, I rubbed gently at my temple trying to take in what I was reading. I’d stared at the text for so long that the letters occasionally moved and danced into new words. Or were the books spelled?
“Well, I’m getting something to eat.” Hattie pushed off of the table, letting the chair squeal loudly against the floor. The noise made the scuttle of mice sound in the corners of the room. Hattie scowled. “Utterly disgusting, King Windre has to do something about the mice.”
“He could get a cat,” I offered.
She lifted her finger, wagging it in the air. “That’s a great idea. We’re getting a cat.” Their pattering feet shifted again as she turned and walked away. She’d have to weave through the shelves to find her way out again.
“Maybe two,” I heard her mutter.
“Thanks for helping!” I called, my nose still pointed down.
“What are sisters for, if not this?” she responded, but I could hear the undercurrent of annoyance in her voice. She hadn’t wanted to spend her time with me buried under books, but it’s what was necessary.
There was a draft in King Windre’s library. A cold wind occasionally filtered through the old pages stored here, leaving the hair on my arms raised. I’d push through the eerie feeling the older parts of the library gave me. I’d push through the pangs of hunger. I owed it to Daethian to do this for him. He had gotten me through the worst time of my life; I would get him through his.
So I did just that. I hunched over books, reading through what was thought to be the only answers to a witch’s curse. Words blurred on the pages. My eyes ached with every sluggish blink.
A plate clattered loudly against the table. My body jolted upright at the startling sound. Dace raised his brows and I noticed that he no longer wore his crown. His gold suit had been traded this morning for his preferred casual attire, a sheer black shirt tucked into dark brown pants and ending with his boots. I’d opted for comfort too when I’d awoken, choosing a pair of brown shorts and a cream camisole. Though due to the breeze, I’d shrugged into a long, knitted cardigan.
“Hattie said that you haven’t eaten today.” His gaze narrowed. “You told me you would go for breakfast before you came.”
“I tried.” I mustered an apologetic smile. “I promise, I went to his dining hall, but they hadn’t brought breakfast out yet and I could hardly stand to wait. I just want to do what’s right.”
“Well, you can’t do what is right if you wither away to nothing. You won't keep all that muscle you gained in training if you don’t nourish your body.”
“You’re right.”
Dace gave me his practiced smug smirk and slid the food in front of me, pushing the book forward. The smell of the candied bacon and shredded roast he had brought wafted up to my face with the steam. Saliva pooled in my mouth and my stomach gurgled in anticipation. I plucked a grape off the plate, tossing it happily into my mouth.
“Happy?” I said as I chewed.
Dace’s hands slid down from my shoulders and crossed over my chest in a hug. The sensation of him humming his approval vibrated against my skin as he dipped his head into my neck. He teased at the claiming mark, kissing it gently.
“You should take a break for more than just some lunch.” I could feel his smile against my neck.
“I don’t know,” I said under my breath, biting into the roast. It practically dissolved on my tongue, bursting with savory flavors. I could damn well moan from the taste and it probably wouldn’t be the most embarrassing thing I’d ever done.
“Could I,” he raked his teeth over my ear, “convince you?” His breath was hot and damp against me. Both of his arms loosened their hold, sliding down over my chest, across my stomach, and pushed my legs apart.
“How could I turn that down?” I laughed.
He leaned over the chair, his chest pressed against my shoulders and his hands roamed up my legs and teasingly over the button of my shorts. I closed my eyes. My lungs filled and released air quickly as I anticipated more of his touch.
Dace’s hands froze, his head tilting against me. I cracked my eyes, looking toward him.
“What’s wrong?” He remained so still for a second longer that I worried something bad was plaguing him.
Then he laughed. I caught the strain in his chuckle, a rasp that it didn't usually carry. His hands pulled back ever so slightly, still gently hovering over my thighs.
“Nothing, just had a thought.” He smiled, lowering his mouth to my ear. I strained to hear him speak. “We have an uninvited guest. Don’t look around, but when I tell you to, I want you to sprint toward the door and go get Graceson or someone of the like.”
There could never be a moment of peace. My fingers curled into my palms, and I smiled, playing along.
“Anything you say,” I purred. To any prying eyes, we were as we should be, flirty and unaware.
I pressed my senses to hear or smell or see whatever had tipped Dace off but came up with nothing but the smell of my food chilling under my nose. There was the quiet hush of Dace’s breathing beside me, and dark empty corners of the library with plenty of shadows to hide in. After a heartbeat, I caught a distant whistle, soft and only a hair away from utter silence. The press of Dace’s body was gone in one cold blur. I whipped around to look at him. One step away, he pinched a sharpened arrow between his fingertips. Glowing with fear, his blue eyes stared directly at me. Had he not moved the arrow would have gone through him and potentially me.
