“My hearing is better than yours.”
“Oh. So your elf ears serve a purpose beyond being fun to play with?” Her beautiful smile is back, and his fire magic flares at the warmth in her eyes and the heat in her words.
He lifts his brows. “Fun to play with? My ears are fun to play with?”
“I can’t lie to you, Cerian.”
He slides his eyes closed again and takes a deep breath as the memory of her hands on his ears last night reawakens his plant magic and makes his palms tingle.
“Perhaps...we can continue this conversation later,” he whispers. Somewhere with water.
“Or we could skip the talking. Later.”
Whistling wind. That’s the opposite of helpful.
“I’m ready.” Queen Yalisa’s voice carries toward them, and Arisanna cringes.
“Even I heard that,” she says.
“I believe they’re going to visit Elowyn and Rominy now. Do you wish to join them?”
She hesitates for a moment, and he can read the fear in her eyes. Fear of not being perfect. Of disappointing people.
As if they’ve done anything wrong here in this little alcove.
“Just be mine,” he whispers.
Taking a deep breath, she nods.
“And I already smoothed your hair while I combed my fingers through it. I give you my word, and I can’t lie to you, either. You look beautiful.”
She smiles faintly. “I don’t look like an elf has been having his way with me?”
Her eyes seem to be struggling between amusement and anxiety, and he shakes his head. “Unfortunately not.”
The words pop out before he can stop them, and she stares at him before laughing.
Then she lifts onto her toes to press her lips to his cheek. “Thank you, my elven prince. For everything.”
“You’re mine now,” he whispers. “That’s all that matters. Are you prepared to join the others again?”
Not that he’s eager to be around anyone besides her, but she was right. This time away from the others has made everything at least bearable again.
And he would like to check on Elowyn.
Arisanna nods, and he retrieves his bucket before reaching for her hand.
“I won’t let go,” he promises before she can ask this time. “Ever.”
Taking one more deep breath, she draws the curtain aside, and together, they emerge from their not-so-secret hiding place into the hallway beyond.
Arisannaholdsherbreath,but no one says anything as she and Cerian approach, though her cheeks must be flaming.
Father smiles when he sees them, but he keeps whatever he’s thinking to himself.
Thank heavens.
Perhaps Cerian is right, and she spends too much time worrying about things she doesn’t need to worry about.
