‘I’m certain. I need a bit of…help.’
Glesni cackled. ‘Never thought I’d live to see the day when both Matthias and Sorrow Elmswood asked for help. Now, if only Sorrow will admit she’s?—’
‘Let’s get started. Now,’ I said, grabbing Matthias’s arm and leading him away. ‘I’ll need a few other texts, too. Ensure your response is legal, watertight.’
Groaning, I shoved my borrowed glasses back up my nose. As soon as this was over, I really needed to get my own pair. Or two. I was forever losing them or finding them crushed and smothered with wolf slobber. I held them still while I peered at the leather spines.
Skye and Asher already had the long treaty out on one of the tables and were scouring the paragraphs I’d highlighted, so we could quote all the relevant sections. I’d given Matthias a long list of legal textbooks and sent him off with strict instructionsnot to return till he had them all. Francis had been brought in to draft the letter, as according to everyone, his handwriting was impeccable. Glesni had fiercely argued she was able to help, but Keya had tenderly covered her with a blanket as she snored from one of the soft chairs a couple of hours back.
We were working together and it was…good. As much as I despised admitting it, Glesni was right. I’d never been part of a team, but something about this group fit together like the cogs behind a clock face.
I lifted one of the heavier books and turned to the contents page, stifling a yawn. I didn’t care if I didn’t see my bed for another week. There was no way Romero would take our throne.
I halted; my fingers stopped tracking the words.Our throne.Had I really admitted it?
‘Fuck,’ I said to the book, placing it atop the already teetering pile on the rickety wagon I’d brought with me. When had Asmar become a place I cared about? Skye raised her voice. Apparently Asher wasn’t taking enough time to read the sections, which he argued were too boring anyway, and a little smile hooked up the corner of my mouth. I glanced up at the hazy figures of my friends as the first true smile I’d had in a lifetime lit up my face.
I squealed as a figure lurched out of the shadows, grunting as Pablo slammed them into the shelves before they hit the floor, political leaflets raining down on them. I leapt back, my heart hammering as I grabbed the heaviest book I could lay my hands on as defence.
‘It’s me.’
I dropped the book.
‘Matthias? Whatareyou doing?’
He rubbed his head, glaring at the wolf standing by me. I bent down, picking a leaflet from his lap.
‘I…I wanted to make you jump.’
I raised a brow and offered him my hand, which he accepted with a huge grin.
‘You were focused on that book and I-I don’t know…I remembered how we used to hide behind doors and curtains and jump out on each other as kids.’
He glared down at the wolf, who pushed his head into my hand. I stroked him absently.
‘But Pablo had other ideas.’
Matthias took a slow, deliberate step towards me. ‘He has a lousy sense of humour.’
His damned shirt hung over his hip. I bit my lip as my fingers itched to loosen the other side. Maybe raise it up a bit…
‘I disagree,’ I said, closing the gap between us, breathing in the lavender soap he’d used since he was a child. ‘He’s sent the king sprawling on his arse. I think he has a rather dark sense of humour.’
This close, my pulse spiked at the heat radiating from his body. His eyes darkened as he took my braid between his fingers and tugged gently. Thoughts of the kiss we’d shared, before the damned bell rang out the warning of the barren ship, had been at the forefront of my mind since I’d woken. The explosion shook me to the marrow and, despite my best efforts, I hadn’t had the strength to leave my bed. Matthias hadn’t left my side, but neither had Skye. Keya had made me healing teas and poultices to aid my recovery, and Glesni had decided she could raise my spirits, despite my many protests she had the opposite effect. With Pablo growling from the end of my bed every time Matthias came remotely close, we hadn’t had any chance to talk about what we’d disclosed, how we felt, let alone finish what we’d started.
I loved being this close, being able to see him as clearly as possible. Why had I fought against this for so long? There were still swirling shadows, but when we were this close, his featureswere almost clear. I stroked his dark brow, letting my hand trail down, delighting in the little moan I drew from those lips. Down past his beautiful wide eyes framed with those thick long lashes, little laughter lines forming by the corners. Down to his high cheekbones, the dusting of stubble on his square jaw.
There’d come a time when I wouldn’t be able to see him like this and I wanted to commit every line, shadow, freckle, each tiny bump to memory. I traced over his full lips and he kissed my fingertips softly before taking my wrist and placing a lingering kiss to my palm. Snaking an arm around my waist, he tugged me closer, till our bodies melded as one. Sighing, I wrapped my arms around his neck, nestled my head against his firm chest, smiling to find his heart beat as frantic as my own. My soul crumbled as he held me tighter, softly easing away the barriers I’d built. I closed my eyes, breathing him in as he placed a kiss to the top of my head.
‘When did you get so damn tall, Matthias Elmswood?’ I said into his shirt, before tilting my head to see him better. My heart skipped as that damned smile spread on his face.
‘You never believed me when I said I’d be taller.’ He pressed another soft kiss to my forehead. ‘Gods, Sorrow, I missed you. I remember looking back at Romero’s palace, how my heart cracked. I left it behind. I left it with you.’
‘I tried not to think of you,’ I admitted, breaking apart slightly to get a better look at him. A wry smile lay on his face, his eyes hooded. ‘I was so hurt. I thought if I opened that box the tiniest bit, I’d suffocate from the pain.’
The smile faded and he grabbed my face, mumbling words of apology over and over as he placed kisses on my cheeks, halting the tears I hadn’t known I’d shed. I angled my face to his and a tiny whimper escaped as his gentle lips found mine. Fingers caressed my cheeks as his tongue pressed against my mouth, begging me. I obeyed, opening, pulling Matthias’s toned bodyeven closer. A broad hand swept down to the small of my back and?—
Matthias pulled away, jaw tight, eyes wide. I furrowed my brows, before noticing the snarling by my side.
