Diana bolted upright.“Apollo?An apprenticeship for what?”
With soft hands, he pulled her back down.“Alchemist.What else?”
“Alchemist!”
Temple rubbed his ear, wincing.“You’re shrieking, little queen.”
“Because it’s impossible.Apollo would never…” Thankfully, he’d not shown interest in her at all in the month since he’d lost his title and she’d gained it.He’d moved out of the Mayfair townhouse, though his mother still lived there.Diana preferred Bloomsbury and the home she’d made with Temple.She had no idea what Apollo had been doing with himself.Drinking and smoking and generally surrendering to vice no doubt.“It must be a misunderstanding.”
“I don’t think so.”Temple rolled her onto her back and covered her body, kissed his way down to her navel.“I think he wants what he never had as a transcendent.”
“Oh.Magic.”
He nuzzled her curls, nodding.
“Oh.”This a different tone as Temple banished all thoughts of any other man in any other capacity.After he’d sent her to the stars, she floated back down leisurely, curling into his chest where he’d plopped down to watch her come.
When she opened her eyes, he looked smug.She swatted his shoulder.“What time is it?I am scheduled to meet Lady Guinevere later today.”
“How is she handling the scandal?”
“Not well.Rather grouchy about it all.And I understand.It’s not her fault the potions were used on his majesty’s royal guard.Without their consent.Someonestole them.”She pinned him with a look, brow raised.
“I’ll not apologize.It ended up damned useful.Those guards simply melted at Apollo’s feet, begging to be his bosom beau.I do feel badly, though.She’s lost clientele since word got out.”
“She’s had to double her guards.”
“Not sure how the legal trouble against her simply… disappeared.”He scratched his head, studied the ceiling.
“Oh!”She slapped the back of her hand against his chest.“Did I tell you about the antidote?”
“No, but your eyes are shining like suns, so it must be important.Antidote to what, then?”
“The love elixir.Lady Guinevere has developed one.Secretly, of course.That could be how she has escaped any consequences.She gave it to us.”
“What?When?”
Diana nodded.“Yes, she told me a fortnight or so ago that she gave us both a glass of wine containing the antidote.”
He pushed upright to sit against the headboard.“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I did not think it mattered.It was the first day you came to her shop.She gave the both of us wine that day.With the antidote.Just in case, she said.”She’d known Temple had asked Diana to marry her or would soon, and she didn’t want to take the chance a scant drop of potion had changed the course of Diana’s life.
It had, of course.But not in a way Diana would ever regret.
He scowled, his unhappy gaze raking across her face.“You seem pleased by this news.But I can’t see why it matters.I felt no effects from it.”
She settled her cheek on his chest, and when his fingers immediately threaded with her hair, she sighed.“I’m pleased because, I have always had a worry—atinyone, mind you—that the potion was the only reason you loved me.”
“Diana—”
“But now Iknowit’s not.”
His scowl heated.“Clearly I’m not expressive enough in my adoration.”
“If you expressed any more adoration, Temple, I’d never leave the bedroom.”
“There’san idea.”He kissed her, long and lazy, settling in for another round until a knock on the door made him growl.
