“I’ll be with you in a moment,” he told Eregen. “Haroth, see Lord Eregen to the study.”
The male didn’t move, his gaze settling on Leya. “And who might your guest be?”
The instinct to step in front of Leya, block her from Eregen’s sight, gripped him by the balls, and he hung on to civility by a thread. “This is Leyathi Park. Leya, Lord Eregen of Issyrus.”
“Greetings, Leyathi Park.”
“Hello.” She smiled, revealing the tantalizing single dimple in her left cheek. She didn’t curtsy since she didn’t know their protocols, which had Eregen frowning. Then, an answering grin kicked up his mouth. He reached for her hand, drew it up, and kissed her knuckles. “It is indeed a pleasure, my lady. You are lovely.”
Leya blinked, her healed cheeks taking on a tinge of pink beneath her light brown skin. Thefosserstared, holding onto her like a damn limpet.
“Er, thank you.”
His beam widened. “If you will allow it, I would like to call on you?”
Her mouth opened a little, lips still slightly swollen from their kiss, then she pulled her hand free, tucking it at her side, and glanced at Aerén.
For approval?
It took everything in him to keep his trap shut and not utter a resoundingno.
A slight crease formed between her brows at his silence before she answered Eregen, “I suppose it will be all right.”
“Wonderful.”
Indeed. Aerén slipped his hands into his pockets so he wouldn’t punch one of the realm’s lords.
Haroth stepped in smoothly. “My lord, follow me.” He ushered Eregen away.
His irritation barely bolted, Aerén headed for the back stairway, Leya at his side. He could feel her rebuke in her gaze, and he cast her a cool stare.
“Don’t give me that look,” she said. “I don’t know your customs and didn’t want to be rude.”
Except you’ve been that from the momentwemet.
He remained silent as they took the stairs up.
“You have nothing to say?”
He stopped midway. “I’ll send Haroth to show you your new room.” He turned to leave.
“Oh, so you’re going to ignore this?”
“This?” He halted, eyes narrowing. “You laid out quite clearly what you wanted. I’m thousands of years old, Leya. I can take a hint.”
“Hint?” She glared at him. “Well,yourhint is about as clear as vapor in fog!” She spun away and stomped up the stairs, disappearing around the first landing.“Darn, impossible immortal!”
“I can hear you.”
“Good!” she yelled.
Exhaling, he rubbed his throbbing temples, then entered the study he rarely used. Sunlight streamed in from the tall windows, framed with steel-green drapes, overlooking the lake and rolling gardens.
Eregen turned from the glass doors leading outside. “Who is she?”
Aerén crossed to the heavy desk with the massive wooden mural fixed to the wall behind it as a backdrop. “Why?”
Eregen smiled. “She is different, no? Definitely not one of us, and incredibly lovely.”
