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“Yes, you totally did.”
“And what about the…” Daethian motioned to his neck, twirling his finger in circles. “The necklace thing he so desperately wanted. You have it?”
“I have it.” I patted my pocket. Since Daethian had given it back, I couldn’t bring myself to not keep it on me. I even went as far as to sleep with it on my neck. What if I hid it and someone found, or worse, took it?
“Good, good,” he said quietly, looking around the room.
“Daethian,” I leaned forward, keeping my voice soft. “Do you still love me?”
His gaze snapped back to my face. His crooked smile lifted softly, revealing small dimples in his cheeks. “Ryker Avery, I’ll always love you. You’re my best friend, but I think after all we’ve been through, maybe I’ll pursue the idea of marriage with literally anybody else, no offense.”
“None taken. What about Dace?”
“Do I love Dace?”
I snorted. “No, do you like him? Can we have your blessing?”
“Well, first, I’m honored that you’ve asked. Second, I can maybe admit that Dace is a good guy. I think he has your best interests at heart and that’s what matters most.”
My shoulders finally relaxed. Balancing my elbows on the edge of his bed, I cupped my cheeks and watched him. No weird tendrils of smoky black, no unnecessarily mean comments, no proclamations of love, just the way I liked him.
“How was the sex?” He smirked.
“Daethian! What?” I slapped his arm, murmuring a ‘sorry’ when he winced as I jostled his bed.
“So you guys…you have…” He pointed up to my neck to the marks that I hoped would never lighten to white.
“Oh, yes.” I smiled. “Is it weird if I tell you that the sex is great?”
“I’m your best friend. It would be weird if you didn’t tell me.”
“Very true.”
Healers moved around us quietly as they worked. The curtain did little to conceal sounds, so no matter how quiet I tried to be, I knew they could hear everything we said. Though I felt mildly safer knowing they were under oath.
The woman who had greeted me as I’d arrived poked her head around the curtain with the same cheerful smile. “King Dace has returned and he is asking if you are ready for your trip today?”
Damn. I’d been running late today. I knew when I arrived that I would have little time to read to Daethian as he lay there, but now that he was awake I didn’t really want to leave at all. Taking his hand in mine, I squeezed it, feeling him grip my hand weakly in return.
“A date?” Daethian asked.
“No, it’s a business trip.” I stood and bent over to reach his ear and whispered, “Witch business.”
“Oooohhhh,” he said, drawing the word out long and slow. “Be careful.”
“I will.” Tentatively, I pulled away. His warm hand slipped from my grip, his fingers automatically curling into his palm as it hit the bed.
“Would you mind handing me that book?” He pointed to the novel with its pages sprawled against the floor.
“Oh, yes.” I laughed nervously, picking it back up. “I left off right here.” I flipped through the pages directing him to the right chapter. “You probably don’t remember much of it.”
“A secret prince? A mercenary sent to kill him?” He closed his eyes as if trying to imagine the scenes in the book.
“Yes…actually,” I said in shock.
“I think I dreamt of it.” His voice was distant.
“Or maybe you should try and sleep some more.” I took a step away.
