“Alice in Wonderland,” I answered.
He waited. Then, when I didn’t elaborate, asked, “Did he at least have furniture?”
“Not the way you think of it.”
Tadhg tilted his head. “Furniture is furniture.”
“Yeah, kind of, but… There’s not a lot of gravity in the Shadow Castle. So it’s more like hooks? And the occasional strap? Also, an altar?”
“There’s no gravity?” Tadhg repeated, brow furrowing.
“No, there is. Just… not much of it,” I said, tipping my head toward the stars the Shadow King had programmed into the sky. “That’s the thing about gravity. It’s technically the weakest of the four fundamental forces, but it still holds galaxies together. Moons. Bodies. And we don’t actually know why it exists. Or what it wants. It’s like the universe’s quiet gift. Or maybe adoorway to some kind of next-level knowledge. I don’t know. It blew my mind.”
“Yeah, well, you sound like you’re on drugs, Strawberry. Can I just say that?”
“Drugs!” I snapped my fingers. “That’s what I should’ve said instead ofAlice in Wonderland. Drugs! I’m not, don’t worry. But that’s actually a better way to describe the Shadow Castle. Yes,drugs!”
Tadhg rubbed the back of his neck. “Just so you know, my Mountain Fortress is nothing like that. No drugs. No fairy tales. No floaty straps.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” I took his large hand in both of mine. “I had a great time—or what he calls ‘paragraphs,’ for reasons yu’re probably not going to understand. I barely do, and I’ve got the bond bite going with him. But my body iswreckedfrom not having the gravity I’m used to for… however long I was in there.”
I gave Tadhg an apologetic look. “I don’t want to confuse you more than I already have—or myself. But he’s running some pretty crazy time experiments in his clean-room lab, and I’m still not sure our whole week didn’t get compressed into one of his paragraphs.”
“Does the lab have gravity?” Tadhg asked, looking as hopelessly confused as I didn’t want him to be.
“Of course. I mean, I think. I wasn’t allowed to go in any of his labs.”
“How many labs does he?—”
I waved that side question away before he could finish asking it. “Main point: sex in 16.5% of Earth’s gravity is… a lot.”
Tadhg raised both eyebrows, then let out a low chuckle. “Well, I look forward to throwing you against a wall and pounding you back into reality as soon as we get there.”
There.Nothome.
We weren’t bonded by bites, but I noticed a tightness in his shoulders now that hadn’t been there when he walked me to the Shadow King’s castle.
Which made me hesitate to ask the question I’d been saving for the kingdom’s self-proclaimed Logistics Guy.
But of course, he read me. No bond bite required. “Got something you’re wanting to ask me about, Strawberry?”
“Maybe we should save it for tomorrow,” I hedged. “Or after you show me around your fortress.”
“Not much to show. Just your room—where most of the visit will take place.” His face went completely neutral, and I couldn’t tell if that meant he hadnofeelings about showing me the Mountain Fortress… or too many.
Either way, he insisted, “Tell me what’s on your mind. You know I want to hear it, first things first.”
I took a deep breath. “So… you know my birthday’s coming up.”
“I do know that.” His shoulders relaxed slightly. “The Shadow King actually deigned to text us about it. Wanted to make sure we didn’t forget. And I’ve been told not to spoil Brigid’s gift.”
I laughed. “After a week at the Shadow Castle, I don’t think I’m up for any more surprises. And you know she’d spoil the surprise if it were the other way around.”
“You’re right." Tadhg gave in with a conceding nod. “That dose is getting you a whole wardrobe from that store you two like in town.”
“I’m going to love that,” I told him sincerely. “I can’t wait to act surprised.”
I squeezed the hand I was still holding in both of mine. “And I hope it’s not too much to ask for one more thing.”
