Another ward failure, another desperate repair, another opportunity for her to get herself killed while he tried to work and protect her simultaneously.
She nodded, but neither of them moved immediately toward the corridor. The space between them felt charged, heavy with things unspoken.
"Dante," she said, using his name again instead of his title. Softer now, more intimate.
The sound of his name in her mouth affected him in ways he wouldn't name.
"Yes?"
"I'm glad you intervened tonight."
He looked at her, noting how the starlight through the windows caught in her eyes, turning green to emerald. How the midnight blue silk he'd chosen draped perfectly, moving with her. How the anger had given way to confidence. A stark contrast to the uncertainty Lady Morwyn had tried to provoke. How she stood here in his alcove, alone with the Reaper, and showed no fear.
Showed trust instead.
Dangerous.
Her expression shifted. Her pulse jumped visibly at her throat. Her lips parted slightly as her breath quickened.
His shadows stirred without his permission, reaching toward her before he caught them.
Footsteps echoed in the corridor.
He stepped back, realizing he'd somehow moved closer without meaning to. Only inches had separated them.
"Tomorrow," he said, rougher than intended.
"Tomorrow," she agreed, and the way she said it sounded less like acknowledgment and more like a promise.
XXIX.
BRYNN
Brynn could hear hushed voices in the corridor. Servants walking on eggshells, which probably meant the entire castle knew about last night by now.
Wonderful. As if she needed more people staring at her.
She rolled out of bed, automatically checking the room for changes. Same shadows, same view of eternal twilight, same sense that the furniture had been arranged by someone who'd never actually lived in a room. At least the bed was comfortable, even if waking up here still felt surreal.
Three sharp knocks interrupted her morning routine. "Come in."
Naia entered with a breakfast tray that looked suspiciously fancy—real coffee instead of the herbal stuff, fresh fruit, and pastries.
"Let me guess," Brynn said, moving to the wardrobe. "Everyone's talking about last night."
"The entire hall," Naia confirmed, setting down the tray with obvious satisfaction. "Lady Morwyn locked herself in her chambers after the Reaper's intervention."
The way she said 'intervention' made it sound like something far more dramatic than it had been.
She pulled out the midnight blue jacket. Might as well stick with what worked. "How bad is the gossip?"
"Oh, it's not bad gossip." Naia's tone turned distinctly teasing. "More like speculative gossip."
"Speculative about what?" Though she had a sinking feeling she already knew.
"About why the Reaper defended you so decisively. And why you looked so lovely in blue. And whether there might be deeper motivations involved."
Brynn groaned. "They think he's what, courting me? That's ridiculous."
