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“I know,” Gawain interrupted. “But you have forgiven Lyrastra for that intrusion. Kindly do the same for him. Besides, we need him. You’ve used him for stitching before. He’s reliable.”
Admittedly, Ulpheas had come in handy when I’d needed to reach Morgan in a hurry twice before. Once when Javer had been making a complete ass of himself.
A commotion across the deck drew our attention, and we looked over to see a wide-eyed Ulpheas with his hands up being berated by a barrel-chested sailor who seemed to think the courtier had stepped on some important pieces of rope.
“He’s not suited for sea life, but he’s a talented stitcher,” Gawain observed, one corner of his mouth twitching. “And by this afternoon, Crescent will be begging him to share his duties.”
“Oh, he will, will he? And how do you plan to arrange that?”
“Quite simple, really. If he doesn’t do it of his own initiative, I’ll tell Crescent I won’t be sharing his bed any longer until he puts a stop to his mad morning stitching.” Gawain grinned cockily.
I grimaced. “Lucky man to have someone to share his bed with at all.”
Gawain tilted his head. “I know better than to remind you how easily you could fill your own if you wished to.”
The fleet was full of the finest new recruits Myntra had to offer.
Well, the best we had been able to find on such short notice. A surprising number of both fae and mortals wished to join us. The prospect of warfare and adventure was still a draw for many, especially after a period of relative peace for over a century. And an intervention in a mortal-made war was a rare thing. Truly unheard of amongst the Siabra.
Now the ship I stood on and the ones around me were filled to the brim with men and women. I had caught some of their curious glances. In the galley that morning, a young mortal woman had “accidentally” stumbled and fallen against my chest when the ship had lurched. Even her tailored soldier’s uniform could not hide pert curves.
But as she had grinned saucily up at me, I had simply stood her upright and stalked off. I had not wished to be rude, but I had hardly been able to hide my revulsion.
There was only one woman in Aercanum whose form I was interested in touching... or having in my bed again.
Now I scowled at Gawain. “Not interested.”
“Not in the slightest, I know. I know,” Gawain said soothingly. “I know that.”
“They think that because my wife has run off I should, what? Tumble into bed with whoever I please? Where the hell do they think we’re going? We’re sailing across the bloody ocean to find her, for fuck’s sake.”
Gawain raised his hands.
I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
My friend shrugged. “It’s all right. I understand. You’re the most desirable man in a long line of royals who have a lengthy history of fucking whoever they please, but... that’s not you. You’re not your father.”
I shook my head mutely.
“Neither am I,” Gawain reminded me. “In case you’d forgotten.” His father and my father had been much the same. Which was to say, not very fatherly at all. More interested in who they could bed next than in parenting their offspring with anything resembling affection.
“I’m bonded,” I said through gritted teeth. “She’s my mate, whether she understands that yet or not. It means something to me.”
Gawain clapped a hand on my shoulder. “It certainly does. It means you’re in hell, old friend.” He grinned.
“Accurate.” I took a deep steadying breath of sea air.
It felt like it had been years since I’d had Morgan by my side. Or in my bed.
Now, for a split second, I permitted myself to remember her sweet, curving body lying naked against mine. Her silver hair, loose and coiling down around her shoulders as her lovely rose-tinged lips parted and she lowered her mouth to mine. I closed my eyes, imagining her breasts brushing against my chest, her small, exquisite nipples hardening into berry-like buds as they touched my skin.
I forced my eyes open. “It’s fucking hell, Gawain.”
“You’re on your way to her. You’ll see her soon,” he promised me convincingly.
I gritted my teeth. “Or she’ll turn me away and I’ll spend the rest of my life like a dog at her heels.”
“Well, there’s no other place you’d rather be, right? Barking behind her?” Gawain punched me in the shoulder playfully.
