Floria yawned. “We do. But we all knew you’ve been sneaking off somewhere. So we thought we’d keep an eyeandan ear out. We just didn’t realize that it was because you have a crush.”
“He’snotmy crush,” I insisted, ignoring everything else she’d said.
Zara snorted. “You bring him baked goods and stare at him like he’s the last male in Grebath with forearms.”
I clutched the bread tighter. “This is diplomatic outreach,” I huffed.
“Uh-huh,” Zara drawled, her eyes alight with a twinkle of mischief. “I’m pretty sure youdon’tneed diplomatic outreach for a clan when I’m already mated to one of its leadership members.”
“Goodnight, everyone!” I whisper-shouted, then bolted for the stairs.
The climb was steep and never-ending, but there wasno wayI was going to wait for the elevator next to those nosy busybodies. I was huffing and puffing up a storm by the time I reached the final landing. Sweating and cursing about my cardio ability, but I was stillextremelyimpressed that I’d even made it in the first place.
“Maybe a few less cookies and a little more broccoli,” I sighed, patting my stomach as I leaned against the wall, panting.
I pushed open the door and slipped out into the cool Grebath night, anticipation lighting me up from the inside out. The air smelled like cedar dust and faint rain. The scent thatalwaysclung to Savla’s skin. I’d recognize it anywhere.
The city lights sparkled below, and the soft hum of lamps made everything feel enchanted and bewitching. He wasn’t in sight yet. He was probably in the far corner, brooding over hiswoodworking as usual.
I crouched behind a half-finished table, my heart hammering in my chest. I’d just rest here for a minute.Casually. Until I figured out a natural way to start a conversation with him and came up with a reason for being there. Something thatdidn’thave to do with ventilation. Unless—
“Why,” said Savla’s low, gravelly voice from right behind me, “are you hiding behind my table?”
I froze. “Uh...”
He stepped into view, arms crossed, sleeves rolled up his massive, lickable forearms. The veiny kind that I had always adored. But his expression was flat. “You’re aware the stairs creak, right?”
“...In theory,” I murmured, looking anywhere but at him and his bunched muscles that I wanted to take a bite of.
“And your footsteps? Also loud.”
“...Really?” I scowled, not having realized that I’d been galloping my way up the stairs.
“I heard you ten minutes ago.”
I winced. “Oh. So the sneaking part failed.”
“Spectacularly.”
His gaze moved to the cinnamon bread in my hand and I watched him take a deep, pleased sniff. “What’s that?”
I perked up at once. “Oh! It’s a peace offering,” I told him, holding it out to him.
He took it with a firm nod. “Bribe accepted.”
“Was it really that easy?” I asked, blinking.
“It depends on the bread,” he said, tearing off a piece and eating it like it was the most serious thing in the world.
I exhaled, grinning despite myself. “So… I’m not banned from the roof anymore after blowing up that—?”
“Technically,” he said, cutting me off as if he couldn’t relive the moment, “you were neverbanned.”
I frowned. “What does that mean? You said—”
“It means,” he interrupted again, his lips twitching, “I knew you’d come up here anyway.”
I groaned, covering my face. “You could’ve at leastpretendedto be surprised.”
