Chapter 7
Darci spunaround and smiled at Blaéz, her heart clopping like a teen with a severe case of infatuation. Ugh, there went her plans to surprise him.
“Teaching her a few things you haven’t,” Týr taunted before she opened her mouth.
At the innuendo, Blaéz’s eyes slit. “Lucky for you, I know you mean pitching the blade, or we’d be scraping you off the ground with a shovel. Or maybe I’d just leave you there to fertilize the soil. That hide should be useful for something.”
Laughing, Týr flipped him off and glanced back at her. “Dars, great work. Keep practicing.” He strolled off through the trees, probably heading toward the beach.
“Blaéz, look.” Darci spun to him, unable to contain her excitement. “I can finally throw my dagger.”
She grasped the blade exactly how Týr had shown her and let it fly. It hit the cork surface and bounced off. Her grin faded. “But it worked,” she moaned. “It did.”
“A leannan, you won’t always get it a hundred percent the first try—”
“How can you say that?” She glowered at him. “I’ve been working on this for two days.”
“You have?” His dark eyebrow rose in surprise. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her shoulders sagged in dejection. “I wanted to surprise you with what I could do, but this blade hates me.”
“It may be mystical, but it can’t hate you, sweetheart.” Blaéz cupped her face and pressed his warm lips to hers before he stepped back. “Come, let’s practice a bit more before we head into town.”
A sigh escaped her at the too brief contact. She still had no idea what to make of his earlier kiss. “Okay. So, what do I do?”
He showed her how to work the dagger again, and even with holding the hilt, one could apparently hit a target from a distance.
“Now try.” He stepped back as she summoned the blade to her. Darci pulled back her arm and let it fly. The weapon hissed through the air and embedded just off dead center.“Yes!”She spun to him then narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t help me with your abilities, did you?”
His lips twitched in amusement. “I want you to be able to pitch that weapon properly. So, no.”
“Great.” She leaped into his arms, taking him back a few steps and kissed him. Just as fast, he took over, his tongue licking hers with fiery passion, his hands lowering to squeeze her backside.God. Darci moaned into his mouth. It had been too long.
Then Blaéz broke the kiss.
Panting hard, she blinked, as he set her back on her feet, and despite his taut expression, he quirked a dark brow. “You conceding?”
It took her a moment before she could respond. “No way.”
He laughed. And just like that, the tense sensual moment dissipated in the chilly air. Dark clouds gathered above, stealing some of the weak sunlight. “C’mon. You have a dress appointment at three, right?”
She nodded. As they headed toward the castle, Blaéz reached for her hand and drew her closer.
Seducehim?
Right. She’d been so lost in him moments ago, and he could have easily won this bet. Yet, he did nothing. Echo was wrong. Seduction wouldn’t work, not in this situation—not when he was determined to give her a perfect wedding. Silly traditions and all.
Darci cut him a furtive glance. But his attention appeared focused on the muddy, leaf-strewn path in front of them. Lines furrowed his brow. Instinctively, Darci knew what—or ratherwho—was on his mind, and probably why he’d sought her out when he discovered she’d gone outside. Finnén had a nasty habit of turning up where least expected.
Refusing to let him cast a pall over their upcoming wedding, she put his brother out of her thoughts for now and concentrated on more important things. “Blaéz?”
Those cobalt blue eyes shifted to her. With no idea how to ask him what she wanted, she simply said it, “Do you think we could have the wedding at the castle?”
He slowed to a halt at the edge the forest where wild shrubs grew in abundance. A frown marred his brow. “What about your friends and family? They can’t come to the castle, Darci. You know the rules we live by.”
“I do. But it’s okay, really. Most are acquaintances, so it’s not like I’d be hurt if they weren’t there…” When he remained silent, she hastily explained, “The wedding will be late in the afternoon. I know the Guardians will want to go back on patrol. Also, all of them in one place would definitely draw notice from my brother’s neighbors—they’re quite nosey. Besides, my family knows about you, and they’re the only people I absolutely want there on that day. I’d really like for them to see that you don’t have me living in some shack in the backwoods. And that I am truly happy with you…” Her long, drawn-out speech petered out. Her worried gaze searched his.
That dark eyebrow popped up. “Shack?”
