Auria had been more aware of herself the night before, carefully tucking her body as close to the edgeof the bed as possible. Tonight, she’d flung herself dramatically on the bed and sprawled out, covering much more than half with random parts of her arms and legs. Her chaotic posture lit the shadows of my magic on fire. I hadn’t known humans were beautiful until those golden strands framed her green eyes, and she’d criedpleaseby the waterfall.
And then she closed those eyes in my prison. My stomach turned at the memory, but my mind marveled. How did one account for a human who barely knew me closing her eyes to save me from a life-ending curse when she was in so much danger? That gesture was even more attractive than her captivating eyes and chaotic smile.
I shook my head. She was here now, lying in my bed, after waiting hours for me. One of these nights, I would have to speak to her. Ask her all the questions. But maybe we could wait a year for that.
I crossed the rooms to the desk and lit a beam of magic to what she’d been writing.
A list.
A list of questions. For me.
Did she expect me to answer them?
A smile stretched across my mouth, perhaps the first natural one in over a month, and I sat in the chair. Whether she expected answers or not, she would find something here tomorrow.
After I jotted down what I thought was safe, I returned to the bed. She’d rolled so she was completelycentered, with limbs sprawling onto both sides of the bed.
I glanced out the window. There was no moon tonight, and the starlight was dim enough that I doubted anyone without my very rare shadow magic could see in the bedroom. I laid my jacket across the end table and set my sword belt and scabbard on top of it. I tucked my boots under the table, but left my undershirt and trousers on. Yes, we were married. But I couldn’t undress myself next to a stranger. Queen Daneira had good reason to expect her curse to destroy me, but somehow—
Somehow this impulsive human had defied her without knowing. And given me hope for life again.
I slid an arm under Auria’s neck and knees and lifted her onto her side of the bed—the side she’d claimed the night before. Her neck was cool, so I laid a blanket across her legs and pulled it up to her waist. She’d have to adjust it herself if she needed it any higher.
I crawled back to my side of the bed and lay flat on my back. Daneira hadn’t said how long I needed to lay here every night, so I was going with three hours—the minimum amount of sleep a fae could get away with for an extended period of time.
Three hours would get me out of the room before Auria woke up and give me some time to talk to Dearan before I shifted back into a bear.
Chapter 13: Auria
Islept past dawn.
Again.
Which meant that Bylur was a bear.
Again.
Which meant I had to wait another whole day and hope to stay awake long enough to see him again tonight.
I glanced at his side of the bed. The blankets were pulled into pristine layers—he’d clearly been here, left, and attempted to tidy his side of the bed. Had he avoided me deliberately?
Another question for my list.
I marched across the bedroom, sitting room, and office, but I froze when I saw my list from last night. Under my ten questions, a neat and sturdy hand had added a new list.
1. What details do you want? We covered the essentials.
2. Yes. I told you I would, but I also told you I would not touch you when I lay down. You have nothing to fear. (I suspect I might have to make an exception to touching you tonight, though, because you are currently sprawled across most of the bed. I will be true to theintent of my statement—if I touch you, it will only be to return you to your side of the bed.)
I rolled my eyes at the paper. That bed was huge. There was no way I covered “most” of it.
3. Yes. We are two nights in and have 398 more to go.
4 & 5. That is not a safe discussion for this paper.
6. Can you clarify the question?
7. Also unsure what this means. Do you want a fae marriage?
