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Ashton settles an arm around both of us, and Sindri stiffens. “So what did they say?”
“Who?”
“Jason and Emrys. I thought you went to talk with them.”
“And I thought you were drunk,abesh k’emel.”
“Who cares what you thought?” Ashton sighs. “Did you or did you not talk to anyone?”
“I talked to Jason.” In stages, Sindri starts again to relax. His head lolls a little against Ashton’s shoulder. “He said he’ll come. He promised to talk to Emrys, too.”
“Good.” I tangle my fingers with his. “And why are you like this?”
“I had to fight the magic. She’s like… a surge. My body was trying to shift.” A shiver racks him. “Too soon.”
Too soon since his body tried to do that, since we brought him back down. I shouldn’t have let him come. I bet he’s in pain, he’s exhausted, and it’s my fault.
Then again, if the others join us tonight, help Ashton go find his brother, then it was all worth it. I hope he sees it that way, too…
“I’m sorry she hurt you,” I whisper and sift my hand through Sindri’s hair. It slips like silk between my fingers. His head is resting in my lap and I’m sitting with my back to a tree trunk near the stadium. The air smells of crushed grass and wet earth.
“Why are you here?” he says sleepily. “Shouldn’t you be studying for tomorrow’s classes?”
I stroke the delicate point of his ear, tap over the many hoops and studs he has it pierced it with, and he shivers. “I’d rather sit here with you. Why don’t you close your eyes and sleep a little? You need your rest before we leave tonight.”
“While you’re touching me there?” He snorts. “Fat chance.”
I run my fingers over his ear again. “Sensitive, huh?”
“A fae weakness.” He shudders again.
“Does it make you…?” I close my mouth, my face heating, my fingers stilling.
“Hard?” He grins delightedly and shifts a little, and God, yeah, the tent in his pants is quite eye-catching. “That answer your question?”
“Definitely,” I mutter, hiding a smile. “So if I keep stroking your ear, you’ll, you know…?”
“Come?” he supplies again. “Keep stroking it and find out.”
“Sin.” I shake my head.
“What? You’re the one with the questions.”
“You’re the one shivering and groaning when I stroke your ear.”
“Mm…” He does close his eyes, then, relaxing more. I let my fingers trail over his face, the thickness of his brows, the smoothness of his cheekbones, the clear line of his jaw and the fine stubble there, the long column of his neck.
It’s such a privilege, to be allowed to touch him like this. I’m holding my breath as I explore his features and he lets me, this prickly, arrogant fae prince who used to look at me like I was trash under his shoe. He’s come so far.
Maybe I should have held on to my grudge about the way he first treated me but I think I know now why he’s been like this, why he’s kept everyone at arm’s length. I’ve only caught glimpses of how he grew up and it’s not pleasant. Growing up in a den of vipers had to be hell. No wonder he has defenses like a hedgehog.
A handsome, sexy hedgehog and…
“Why are you laughing?” He opens a dark eye to look at me.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
One brow goes up. “It has to do with me, doesn’t it?”
