“Ah.” I helped myself to several pieces of cheese and some grapes while my mind sifted through how to respond. “Wait. Those books, the ones you removed from the library”—he raised his eyebrow playfully—“before I started organizing. Was there something in them you didn’t want me seeing?”
He choked on his tea. “Very astute, as always.”
“There were alotof them.” I’d recognized what looked like medical texts, as well as some plain ledgers and even illustrated fiction.
“Nothing quite like a well-rounded education, Feather. Wouldn’t you say?” His eyebrow went up again, and I honestly was beginning to question how much of what was spiking my temperature was the hormones and how much was just him.
“Where did you put them?”
“Why? Do you have specific questions?”
I shrugged. “Just curious where you learned some things is all.”
“They’re in the tattoo room. Bottom shelves, big cabinet.”
“I didn’t notice them in there.”
He smirked. “There are doors on the cabinet disguising the shelves.” I shoved ineffectively at his shoulder, and he laughed, catching me and squeezing me against his chest. “We can go back through them together if you’d like.”
I would have argued further but he kissed me again, and I was useless against such a tactic.
Through it all,libraryremained unsaid as a hard stop while we were in the heat of things, but the consideration and safety of his insistence of having it at all embedded firmly into my soul.
Nothing could change my mind or my heart that the Fates had chosen exactly right pairing me with Tap.
Late on the third day, my body sore and spent, the fever finally started to wane.
“I think it’ll be over soon,” I sighed, drowsily lounging against him.
“We’ll see,” he replied, unbothered as ever, the pair of us tangled in yet another clean sheet.
“You’re not tired?” I asked, unable to hold back the light chuckle.
“Maybe, but these have been some of the best days of my life, Feather. I wouldn’t trade it. I’m honored I could be here for you in your time of need.”
I laughed. “Your sacrifice is deeply appreciated, sir.”
His smile stretched, and he kissed my forehead, arms tightening around me. “Get some rest. Real life doesn’t have to exist just yet. Not until you want it to.”
So I did. And no other indulgence had ever felt as decadent.
Chapter 34
Phin
Getting back to our normal routine after the hazy days of my heat was more difficult than I expected. I was still tired despite having slept nearly all of the previous day and night.
Once my fever had broken for good, Tap replaced the bedding we’d been using for a final time while I bathed, then made sure I drank plenty of water and ate my fill before tucking me back in again. He’d spent the whole day carefully removing the rest of the linens to wash one pillow and blanket at a time, ensuring the arrangement I’d made wasn’t too disturbed while I dozed on and off. I was proud of him for not returning to the hall, though I’m sure it was difficult for him not to.
I finally rolled my pleasantly achy body out of the bed a few hours after Tap brought me breakfast, kissed my forehead, and warned me that Seir was on his way.
“The elixirs Greta gave you are both gone, should I see if she can send more?”
“No, that’s alright. I don’t want to bother her with anything else; she’s already working on my tincture. Besides, I haven’t had an episode at all since…” I thought back, heartened when I couldn’t remember exactly when the last one was. “Before allthis, anyhow. And I’ll just take some of the pain reliever if I need some.”
“Alright. I’ll be in the hall if you need anything.” I pulled him down for a thorough kiss, loving the way he melted into me. “Though if you keep that up…” He squeezed his eyes closed and shook his head. “No, I have to go. Eat your food.”
He gave a longing look back at me from the doorway, but sighed and left me there, making sure as always to leave the door open a couple of inches.
