She does? I will murder Charming if he put his sausage anywhere near my sister’s floof without permission or invitation.
“That’s what I said,” Eron mutters. “War room.”
Nope, but that makes more sense.
“Two diurnals at most. Tell her I have a plan.”
His eyes cross, and the mirror steams up once more. “I shall relay the message as soon as I have come.” He pauses, and his eyes flutter closed. Well, that’s a bold statement. I’m glad he’s prioritizing self-care. “To my senses.”
“So never, then?” Malachi says.
Eron groans. It’s guttural, and I feel like we’re witnessing an extremely private moment. “Go finish whatever this is, and then deliver the message,” I prompt.
Genie huffs and snaps his fingers, and the mirror returns to my reflection. Goodness me. I need a long bath and a hair comb. I’m a mess.
“Get clean all you want,” Theo taunts. “I’m just going to make you dirty again.” His teeth graze my throat, making my breath hitch and my eyes flutter closed. Whatever restraint the brothershad because of Theo’s absence has been lifted. Now I can sense them all needing to connect with me on a level only intimacy can reach.
“The blasted broom and I shall retire to my lamp until you have need of us, or until you’re doing something amusing,” the genie says with a sigh.
“We’ll likely see you in the next five tempos then,” Malachi mutters as my sidekicks disappear.
“What is this plan you speak of?” Nash asks, sidling his horse up beside us. He looks a split tempo away from dragging me off Theo’s horse and making good on his threats. I am more than ready. I have been since before I died.
“Um, it involves giving the Idols some ultimatums.”
“Like?”
“Get out of the way of the new world we are building, and stop trying to control the narrative by restricting people’s lives to their narrow, preordained destiny.”
“And how do you propose to do that?”
He sounds genuinely curious, not dismissive. I’m glad someone has some confidence in my less than well-formed plans.
“If they don’t, I’ll build a world without them. Gwyneth will make that written in ink, and then they’ll be no more.”
“That seems ridiculously simple and yet effective,” Nash muses.
I shrug. “Path of least resistance, unless they choose otherwise. I don’t want a war, but I won’t roll over for them either. If we do that, then nothing changes, and that would be the greatest crime.”
The knights fall silent while they process my words. This change feels like something Gwyneth and I set in motion, and now it has to play out.
Theo continues his relentless assault on my senses as we edge closer to Damsel Village. Not quite touching me anywhere that would count as intimate, but makes every sweep of his fingers and brush of his lips ignite my nerves in anticipation. Nash steals glances at us, his control fraying at the edges. Good. I want him to be as lost as I am. Then I won’t feel so out of control.
“Ah, I’m looking forward to a good meal and a decent bed,” Malachi declares with a nod at the lanterns flickering on the ground. The sun has long since set, and with it, my inhibitions, if I ever owned any. Since I threw myself into an unconventional relationship with not one but four knights and didn’t bat an eyelid, I have to wonder if I ever held any traditional values. Unlikely, given who I am. Why shouldn’t we be free to follow our hearts, so long as it doesn’t hurt anyone?
Nash leads the way into the village, and doors are once again thrown open, and whispers of welcome and excitement hum around us.
Penny, the twins’ half-sister, rushes down the worn path with a huge grin on her face. “Daphne freaking Stone, get down here and prepare to be hugged.”
Theo snorts but doesn’t release my waist. I wiggle, hissing at the stiffness in my limbs. “Help me get down,” I order. He growls something that sounds suspiciously dragon-like. “I won’t go out of your sight. I promise.”
Malachi and Hart are already on the ground, waiting to help me navigate the fall. I mean, gracious dismount.
Theo waits a beat before acquiescing by launching me off his horse into the waiting arms of the twins. My legs wobble for a tempo, and then I’m being hugged so hard my ribs creak.
“You are freakishly strong,” I say between gritted teeth.
Penny releases me, a pretty pink staining her cheeks. “Sorry. Don’t forget I share half their DNA.”
