It had made all the difference when Brand had washed her hair in that icy river after Glynmor. He’d calmed her panic, made her feel safe, and she’d felt inspired to offer the same to Fern.
Besides, the task was a welcome distraction from everything.
A convenient way to stall, more like.
That, too.
For the hundredth time, Lunara surveyed the extensive damage to Fern’s body and wings, and had to force downdeep breaths. Her own flesh still remembered their moment of connection in the watchtower. The agony it had caused.
The excuse of getting the Fae clean was a convenient one, giving Lunara the time she needed to prepare herself for the inevitable.
Oh, just get it over with.
Right. As soon as she?—
The door opened, and Nyri breezed in, tray in hand. “Good morning! How’s my newest friend?”
Lunara snorted. Leave it to Nyri to make friends with a comatose creature. “Still mangled.” She averted her eyes, rinsing her hands and pretending to look for a towel. “Have you seen Brand this morning?”
Oh, good one. You definitely pulled off the indifference. The high-pitched, breathy quality wasn’t at all tragic.
He’d artfully extricated them from yesterday’s meeting before she could rip out all of her hair. In truth, she hadn’t quite recognized him, steeped in diplomacy and subtle wording. She was starting to get the impression that Brand had many facets, depending on which role he was filling. So far, she’d met the lover, the Demon, the warrior, and the Ambassador. Sisters knew who else he was hiding.
Lunara couldn’t decide whether it was a comforting notion or an alarming one. She just wantedhim—not whichever version it was who’d tucked her into bed with a chaste kiss on the forehead before disappearing, without leaving so much as a note to tell her what in the bleeding realms was happening between them.
Even Lyriat—the arsehole—had thought to leave a note.
Brand had called her his home. She’d maybe,possibly, started to think the same of him in return. At the very least, she’d thought they would sleep beside one another. Or that he’d be there when she woke up. And why the guest room instead of his own chamber? Her parents had always shared a room and bed,as mates were supposed to do. Unless… Demons were different and didn’t live in the same space as their mates?
No. That would be silly. Right?
You still being here is the only thing that’s silly.
Strictly speaking, they weren’t actually mated yet. The bond had yet to be forged, and… Shite. Maybe he was having second thoughts. It would explain his staying away from her. She could be confusing his kindness with interest, while he was simply trying to be a decent person.
Shehadscreeched loud enough to bring the mountain down in that bizarre room with its spine-chilling door, and said someverybold things. Then again, if he was the type of male who would disparage her for speaking her mind, perhaps it was for the best they hadn’t done anything permanent. But?—
Admit it. You have no idea what you’re doing. You know what might help?Speakingto him. Honestly, when did you get so dense?
“Yes,Luna.I’ve seen him.” Nyri gave her a smug, knowing look as she set the heaping tray down. “He said, and I quote,‘Take this to Luna. Now. She’s to eat every bite,beforehealing—make sure of it. I’ll be there shortly, and she can begin,’and then he walked away. Technically, that was over an hour ago. Don’t tell him.”
TheDemon.As if she hadn’t been healing on her own just fine for fifty-two years. High-handed, overbearing— “Let me guess. He was raging when he said that?”
Nyri’s brows punched up. “How did you know?”
Lunara’s nostrils flared as she snapped a thread of power out, evaporating the water particles from Fern’s hair and clearing away the bucket of murky water. “I’m quickly learning you Demons have awayabout you in that state. No offense.”
“Fair…” Nyri’s voice trailed off, her eyes wide. “Burning Solyrian. Have you ever seen hair like that?”
It was quite a bit shorter than her own, but Fern’s was more free. The curls were tighter, fuller, coiling every which way with a beautiful madness. It couldn’t decide whether it wanted to be lavender or honey in color, both and neither at once, depending on which way the light hit.
Absolutely stunning—and Lunara couldn’t care less at the moment.
“No.” She gritted her teeth and shored up the magic keeping Fern in her stasis. Just in case. “Let’s go.”
“Wait, Brand said?—”
“I know what he said.” Lunara flung the door wide and made a sweeping gesture towards the corridor. “Let’s go. Shoo.”
