“Surely a witch who meddles in the affairs of the fae will have some answers to my questions. Dark magic has to come from somewhere.” I give him a kind smile in an attempt to ease his worry. Miranda has never wanted me to meet this witch, though the curiosity as to why is nearly close to overtaking me. I can pretend like I’m not about to quiz this bitch like it’s her final test day before she graduates her apprenticeship.
“Are you sure you want to see her tonight? She doesn’t live in my backyard, you know.” Bear slips his hands into his pockets, but I can see the tightness in his stance. As if at any moment, he’ll have to jump in between Miranda and me.
Miranda nods eagerly. “I think it’s best to wait, really.”
Bear, why does Miranda want to hide this witch from me?
Iri shifts his weight.I suspect, after all this time, they’ve become close friends. He is protective of those he loves.His statement is pure speculation. The validity of his words is not strong through the bond.
He wasn’t protective of you when I was hanging you from tree limbs on my island.I try, though not nearly as hard as I should, not to smirk.
I thought we weren’t talking about what happened on that island anymore?
Maybe you could use a reminder of how easily I could kick your ass.
Bear snorts.It’s on.
“Stop.” Miranda waves his hands in the air. He snaps his fingers in front of our faces a few times for good measure, until Bear swats his friend’s arm away with his signature frown. “Stop with the telepathy thing. I thoughtwe,” Miranda gestures at the three of us, “were having a conversation, not just the two of you having dirty foreplay in front of my innocent face.”
Innocent, my ass.
“Miranda can take you to the witch,” Bear offers up.
“Fucking now?” Miranda’s mouth falls open.
“Well, I have to put on a different outfit first.” I laugh, pointing toward my glistening gown and elegant shoes. Even if the world still thinks I’m only a princess, I know better, and I’m dressing the part.
My extravagant, cheerful and all of a sudden tentative and fussy friend murmurs incoherently under his breath. Iri rolls his eyes and motions for us to lead the way out into the hallway. The quiet shuffle of feet behind us tells me Rigs falls into place behind us.
“I wish I could stay to watch Miranda squirm all evening.” Bear slows, stopping to lean down and press a hot kiss to my forehead. With one hand, he gestures down the hall leading to my room. “Somehow, I still have kingly things to do.”
“Ah, yes, I always forget about that convenient list of king to-do’s that only appears at times like this.” Miranda’s brows furrow into an auburn line.
“You have a kingly to-do list?” I purr, taking up the loose material of his shirt and pulling him closer.
His lips lift in a playful smirk. The heat radiating off of him makes me feel relaxed and loose. “I do have a list.” His eyebrows wiggle as he peels my hands off his shirt and starts walking backward, his steps smooth.
“And what’s on this list?” I call. My heart feels heavy, the annoying ache of distance making my chest feel tight.
“A lot of boring things.”
I try to tame my grin as he crinkles his nose.I could add something to that list.
Oh?Bear’s gaze takes its time falling down my body, eating up my image like the last piece of the most-wanted dessert.What’s that?
Me.
Through the bond, I can feel his heartbeat quicken, his thoughts rounding back to the feeling of our skin touching and the completeness we feel together. I can also feel him pulling himself together. The righting of his attention.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He muses aloud, avoiding eye contact with his friend.
Miranda’s chest heaves with a heavy sigh as he watches me wink. Both of his long slender hands tucked into his pockets, his shoulders slump as he walks beside me.
“Oh, don’t pout.” I expect softness when I nudge his arm, but I forget how strong Miranda really is as I meet the hard muscle of his biceps.
His dark glare from underneath the twisting curls falling around his face does little to soothe my thrashing heartbeat. A shame when wit and sarcasm usually do the trick. Not this time. Not with so much on the line.
“Princess,you know I don’t think calling a meeting with the council like that is really making any of them less focused on the bigshebang.” Miranda mumbles under his breath, pointing toward the door that leads to my quarters as if I am not aware that this is my room.
