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“Test them out?”
A huge smile that I’d very, very rarely seen on his handsome face crossed his features. “Go flying.”
My eyes widened in surprise because I suppose I hadn’t thought of that, and I smiled back, then frowned when I saw a hint of worry cross his eyes. “Are you worried you won’t be able to?”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve flown, and I haven’t had both wings in over six years. Every time Master De—” He cut himself off and cleared his throat. “Every time Deamonne cut off one of my wings, and I grew it back, there was a bit of an adjustment period as my body grew used to it. I could never fly right away. That’s why I didn’t try to fly last night… that’s how they always caught me before I could escape.” The House he’d belonged to before Natas House hadn’t had the poison to keep him from his stone form, so every time he’d grown his wing back, his master had cut one off. I couldn’t imagine the pain he’d gone through. He’d literally had a limb cut off over and over again for years.
I cupped his bearded cheek, running my thumb over the skin under his eye. “That will never, ever happen to you again.” He nodded. “I won’t let it, Wey.”
He kissed my palm in response.
“Neither will Theon or Braz, and maybe even Florin.”
That made him smirk. “You’re starting to like the little imp, aren’t you.” It was more a statement than a question.
“No.”
“Liar.” He chuckled and gave me a hard kiss. “You like him.”
“I don’t… hate him.”
“You like him.”
I grunted, but didn’t try to correct him again because he’d know Iwaslying. As much as I hated to admit it, Florin was… well, he wasn’tthatbad. Maybe. I guess. I mean, yeah, he was… fine. Okay, he wasgood, at least to Theon and Braz. Ugh. Maybe Ididlike him. A very tiny, minuscule amount.
Wey snorted, kissed me again, and murmured, “He’s also still in the room with us, in case you weren’t paying attention, and I’m pretty sure he’s only pretending to be asleep.”
From behind me, a voice said, “You’re the ones talking while I’m trying to sleep.”
My eyes widened while Wey chuckled, so I leaned back and punched him in the arm.
“Dammit, Nica,” he laughed out, rubbing his arm.
I rolled to face Florin and pointed at him. “I still hate you.”
A smirk formed on his pretty face. “No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Mhm.”
I scowled.
“Youlikeme.”
“I do not!”
Florin was chuckling in front of me, and Wey was laughing behind me, a free sound I wasn’t used to hearing from my grumpy gargoyle. And no, that didnotmake me like the tiny human more for making Wey laugh. Not even a little bit.
Wey wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled my back into his chest, tickling my neck with his beard and making me squirm. He kissed my neck a few times, then asked, “Would you come outside with me? I want to try flying.”
My smile was wide. Weyneverasked for my company for things that made him feel vulnerable. Never. He was always so determined to do things by himself, trying to prove he didn’t need anyone. The fact he asked me to join him was huge. “Hell yeah, I will.”
“Goddess, you’re ridiculous.” He groaned, then kissed my shoulder and smacked my ass. “Up, Nica.”
I shook my head at him even though he wasn’t looking but still climbed out of bed and dressed. When I walked past Florin’s bed, I decided to be an asshole to make up for him overhearing that I like him and reached down to rub my hand over his head, messing up his hair.
Florin squawked in surprise—a sound I would obviously make fun of him for, for the rest of our lives—and punched me in the thigh. He was strong for someone so tiny, but I hardly noticed.
