Isahn grinned over her shoulder, the compliment nearly enough to ready him for a second round.
“I almost wish I hadn’t waited so many years,” she mused.
“That ‘almost’ is doing a lot of work,” he growled, squeezing her arse. “I am well aware of how selfish I sound, but I’m incredibly glad you waited for me.”
She giggled delightfully before Isahn captured her mouth in a soft kiss that spoke of his frustrations, and regrets at having to leave, and of the depths of their shared love—unexpected and rejuvenating. He’d never let her go.
twenty-two
George hosts dinner.
ThoughGeorgewasstillpinning up her dress when their guests arrived forprandiumthe next day, Isahn was ready and jumped in to act as host. She found him seated on one of the armchairs with elbows braced on his spread knees, deep in conversation with Hildy and Burke, who shared the sofa on her left. He was so handsome with that little dimple coming and going in time with his speech. It was a wonder such a small physical detail could bring on such a swell of emotion. She really loved him.
As she looped the room, George noted Burke’s arm slung possessively over Hildy’s shoulder. She’d be asking Hil for an update on their love triangle at the first opportunity. Dunstan didn’t seem put out by their closeness the night before, nor did he appear to be part of it. Perhaps he’d decided to move on, permanently this time.
After returning the smile Isahn tossed her way, she eyed Wynnie tucked up on a pouf near the windows, her back to theroom. George started toward her when the door swung open and Dunstan waltzed in from the dining room.
“Any reason why no one’s eating yet? There’s a huge spread in there.” Hooking a thumb over his shoulder, he nearly decapitated Ean, who’d buzzed up behind him.
“We were waiting for you,” George jabbed back, not bothering to mention she’d only just finished getting dressed herself.
“Any update?”
“Aye.” Eanraig beamed at Burke as he flitted above Dunstan’s head. “Sit down, and I’ll fill ye in.”
As a group, they moved out to the dining room.
“You know,” Dunstan began, pulling out the head chair for George, “I saw GianisandMarinos out in the hall on my way up here. Do they usually do rounds together?”
She took the proffered seat. “They’ve been known to roam as a pair. Usually when they’re on a joint project. I wouldn’t worry. You all came through different entrances at staggered times.”
With a frown and a grumble, Dunstan took a seat on George’s left-hand side, fingers wrapping around the hilt of his dagger as he stared at the door. Clearly, the possibility of Gianis and Marinos being nearby had him on edge.
Isahn joined George, sitting at her right hand, and Wynnie took the chair on his other side. Although waiting for Ean’s assessment was tense, a cozy confidence burned within George, fueled by Isahn’s love and that which she returned in spades.
“Wine?” Ean asked, hovering over the center of the table, a golden-winged floating centerpiece. George accepted, and with elf magic’s signaturetinkle, their glasses were filled.
“Eat. We have much to discuss,” she commanded with a forced smile, reaching for her drink with one hand and a bit of falafel dipped in baba ghanoush with the other.
Isahn gazed at her out of the corner of his eyes, his finger pointing, hovering in question at the array of food.
“Try this, and this, and this.” George directed him to a selection of her favorite foods—things he hadn’t had a chance to try—namely her favorite dips.
He filled his plate with her suggestions.
“We’re protected,” Hildy announced, her sound barrier in place at the doorways. “Just in case.”
“All right then, Ean?” George gave a nod.
All eyes snapped to the boy.
“It opens with the writer saying they’re in Lake Rasda at a manor that looks upon the stars. A tapestry lies there with the words,‘Peregrinia Regnia, nektoi memonai toutas, animod usad potentiad, ex nei kreiat, orbom serkom, pakai ab irad okidenti. Solos–’Which I think means, ‘The foreign queen used the power of the mind to weave for all the citizens. And from nothing, created a protection for the few citizens at risk from the west. Only the—’ That’s where it ends.”
“Didn’t your father say it was the queen of foreigners?” Isahn asked between bites.
“Precisely why I needed to see the letter myself.”
“If it was ‘queen of foreigners,’” Ean explained, “it would sayPeregrinis Regnia. One letter’s all it takes.”
