I made my way around the circle of night mares, cooing to every mount—including Fax, my placid but adorably giant sun stallion I’d inherited as queen; and Bagel, the long-eared donkey I’d brought from my parents’ place.
Bagel smiled up at me, peeling his lips back as I itched a spot on his forehead while Solstice rested his scratchy muzzle on my shoulder.
“Thanks for coming, guys. Did Dusk and Dawn tell you?” I asked, referring to the brother/sister dryads who were in charge of the stables, but also cared for all the glooms and shades, too.
Fax nodded, and his mane—made of blue and white flames—flickered higher than usual.
I spun around and had to stand on my tip toes to drape myself over Solstice’s back. “Thanks for sending for them, Chase.”
Chase shrugged a little. “It’s the safest way to get you home, and I thought their presence might reassure you.”
“Aww, you big softie!”
I heard a noise at the gate, and turned around to see a gloom and two shades wander through.
It wasn’t the ones that had declared themselves house pets, but the ones I’d named that lived in the stables. I recognized the gloom as the one I’d named Fluffy, and Bob and Larry were the shades that were now industriously sniffing in the shady spots where the creatures had emerged.
Chase’s people very respectfully stepped backwards as the shades marched through, following a scent trail of some sort. Fluffy padded behind them, pausing long enough to emit one of his angry-goblin screams that I was about 90% sure was supposed to be friendly but came off as intimidating, the poor kitty.
“It looks like you’re getting help?” I said.
“So it seems,” Chase said. “You ought to head back.”
“Yeah, I will. But where did Rigel end up—” I yelped when I turned back around and found Rigel standing with me in the center of the equine huddle. “Sheesh—you’re like a ghost.”
Rigel raised an eyebrow at me. “One would almost think that’s how I got the name of theWraith.”
I don’t know if it was just because he usually had the facial expressions of a particularly handsome statue, or what, but there was something about the eyebrow that got me.
Like, I’d always known Rigel was drop dead gorgeous—he was a fae, for crying out loud. But his eyes rarely looked anything but dead, and right now…
This is that vampire’s fault, I decided.I wouldn’t be ogling my husband if she hadn’t put stupid thoughts in my head. I mean, do we even count as friends?
I’d been looking away, but when I glanced back at him that slight hitch to his eyebrow was still there.
Oh, yikes. I can’t imagine how handsome he would be if he gave a full on, true blue smile.
I’d seen his eyes brighten once, and it had been enough to throw the dial on his looks into deadly.
He could probably kill people with his good looks alone if he actually smiled.
I briefly scrunched my nose, irritated with myself for allowing myself to be bamboozled.
Obviously, this meant I had no choice but to be annoying.
“Oohh, yeah I wondered about that. I just assumed everyone called youtheWraithbecause you’re gloomy and silent, but this makes more sense.”
The look in Rigel’s eyes didn’t shift. “It does,” he agreed. “Unlike your very mistaken belief that you’re funny.”
“Ouch.” I clamped my hands to my heart. “Hubby, you wound me! You need to make it up to me.”
Rigel purposely shifted to face the gate. “If you’re going to suggest I talk the chef into allowing a coffee maker into the kitchen, my answer remains no.”
“Even more hurtful! But no.” I had to trot to keep up with him when he took a few steps toward the gates, he was that much taller than me. “I was going to ask if I could feel your abs.”
All of Chase’s people—expect for the dryad, who was now in the middle of a Whiskers-and-Kevin-love-sandwich—stopped and gaped at me.
Even Rigel flicked his eyes down at me, and the dead light in his eyes flickered with curiosity for a moment. “Why?” he asked.
