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I grabbed the saddle before he’d collapse under its weight. “Which horse?”
“Prince Malyr’s,” he said on an exhale, wiping at his red cheeks before he pointed at the black gelding.
“I didn’t know he was riding out this morning.” With a swing upward, I placed the saddle on the gelding’s back, making sure it sat properly before I gave Olivar a dip of my head. “Don’t forget to water Pius. He’s got a long ride ahead of him.”
I stepped out of the stables and into the morning fog that lingered between the buildings that framed the courtyard, the air wet and biting. Not the best weather to take Galantia to the western cliffs, but how could I deny her with how excited she was? With how I wanted to show her what it meant to be Raven?
Long strides took me up the steps and through the great hall, most of the walls already decorated for the wedding. Garlands of intertwined branches hung along the rafters, dotted with moss, bark strips, pine needles, and other nesting material. Servants sat in small chattering groups by the tables here and there, weaving black feathers into ornaments, though some plucked the white plumes from a couple of dead geese.
With most of the flight holes in this area sealed off, I had no other choice but to make my way along the corridor until I reached the double doors that lead to Galantia’s private rooms, which were located right across Malyr’s. A glance over my shoulder ensured discretion—not that any Raven cared a whit about who fucked whom; humans, however…
Behind the doors, the familiar scent of honeysuckle climbed into my nostrils. Also lemongrass. Because Malyr leaned with his shoulder against the stone archway, one leg lazily crossed behind the other, hovering a deep purple prune in front of his mouth as if he’d forgotten it was for eating.Secretly watching Galantia.
“I saw Olivar got your gelding ready,” I said quietly as I stepped up beside him. “Where to this morning?”
He released a long breath and finally took a bite of his prune. “Around and around, riding in endless circles through the forest. As if listening to the petitions of my human lords is any less tiresome on the back of a horse.” He turned his head, giving my fur-lined and polished brown cuirass an assessing look before he arched a brow. “You almost look lordly.”
“Almost,” I said. “I’m taking Galantia to the cliffs out west for the day.”
“Was that today?” His attention returned to the room before us, to Galantia. “Mmm… I’d nearly forgotten.”
I followed his line of sight to where she carefully ran a bristle brush over those few wisps of hair Tjema still had on her maimed side, the girl sitting on the stool in front of the mirror cabinet. Galantia ran her fingernail along Tjema’s puckered scalp, bringing a handful of black hair over to the marred side of her face. Next, she gathered strands, braiding them loosely down the girl’s side before she rolled it up and pinned it down.
“Queen Taramia used to wear it like this after her husband had her ear cut off for sedition,” Galantia said, threading a teal ribbon into the plaited nest of hair before she tugged a strand to fall loosely over the damaged eye. “Few knew what the king had done that to her, so the ladies at court were none the wiser and started braiding their hair in the same manner, making it quite fashionable.”
Tjema lifted her fingers to her face, hesitated, then stroked down her melted skin. “People can still see the scars.”
Galantia put the brush down. “They will be invisible to those who truly love you.”
Beside me, Malyr shifted ever so slightly, his jaws moving as if he wasn’t sure quite what face to make. Did this surprise him? How Galantia extended her kind heart to help a disfigured girl feel prettier, if only for a day? Probably. I could hardly blame him.
It wasn’t like he’d taken the time to look past the close-minded, spoiled, self-centered girl we’d captured, finding the caring, curious soul hidden in the center. That he did so now should be a relief for me, so why did my molars clench? Because I didn’t know if I should trust it. Because he’d given her a bracelet that was absolutely meaningless.
Did hisanoahave an unhealthy obsession with shiny stuff? Of course. But it sure as fuck weren’t buttons…
Malyr turned heel and walked away with a mumbled, “Come see me in my library before you leave.”
When he was out the door, I stepped through the archway, finding Tjema’s eyes in the mirror. “By the goddess and all her stars, who is this stunning young woman, Lady Galantia?”
Tjema hiked her shoulders, giving me a sheepish look as she rose, slowly turning to present her hair. “Galantia did my hair like that of a queen.”
“Did she now?” I walked up to them, giving a little tug on Tjema’s ribbon in assessment. “Every Raven boy in Deepmarsh will think you’re bonded and pull their tail feathers out over it.”
Galantia gleamed at me as if I’d saved a kitten from a tree, mouthing a‘Thank you.’
‘Whatever it takes to make you look at me like that,’I mouthed back, which had her frown, of course, but I simply winked and returned my attention to Tjema. “Can you get Galantia some gloves? Warmest you can find, along with a heavy cape. It’s freezing outside.”
When Tjema raced off, I took Galantia’s hand. One tug, and I pulled her into my chest, running my palm down along the sway of her hip, kneading the flesh through the heavy fabric of her fur-lined dress. I gathered up the train and slid my fingers between her inner thighs, rubbing along her slit, loving the way her pulse quickened.
Her head lolled to the side and her eyes fluttered shut on a moan. “What are you doing?”
“Checking your dress,” I whispered against the tendon that protruded along the side of her neck, pupils catching on every drum that pulsed beneath her skin. “Making sure it’s warm enough.”
Her grin brushed against the corner of my mouth as she turned her head, staring up at me from those beautiful hazel eyes. “She’ll be back soon.”
My gaze slipped to her lips like it had done at least a dozen times now, stirring up a swirl of energy in my core that fluttered straight into my stomach. She wanted me to kiss her. So many times, she’d wanted this kiss. So did I but…
I shouldn’t. I couldn’t.
