Had I imagined it?
“You okay, little treasure?”
“Y-Yeah.” I tore my gaze from the trees and neared the terrace. “Dead muffin walking. Here to accept my fate, but at least I still have my dignity.”
Rowan hung his head and released a raspy chuckle. I was instantly distracted by his hair. He didn’t wear it like that often: free of the golden cuff that normally kept it pulled to one side. I found myself reaching for him without making the conscious effort to do so. His gaze softened as I caught a strand and circled it around my finger.
“I’m thinking of cutting it,” he said. “Easier to manage when it’s shorter.”
“If that’s what you want.” It would be a crime to chop off hair that beautiful, but I wanted him to do whatever he felt most comfortable with. “I’ll love you no matter what. Even if you were bald.”
He flashed his fang-like tooth again. The tenderness in his eyes remained though.
Then came time to seal my flowery fate. Briar cradled my face in his hands and softly kissed me before sliding the vial into my palm.
I pouted at him. So much for keeping my dignity. It was my own fault though for going and banging the demon lord. A post-sex tonic was necessary in order to keep myself—and my men—safe. It ridded the body of any sexually transmitted diseases and also boosted the immune system. We were all exclusive with each other, so after we had all drank one, no more had been needed.
“Down the hatch,” I mumbled before drinking it like a shot. I only cringed a little. The taste wasn’t as gross as I remembered. Floral and vinegary notes but sweet too. The latter was probably the extra honey he’d added.
“See? Not so bad, was it?” Briar leaned in and kissed my temple. His lips lingered against my skin. “Your body is now healthy and well, but what of your heart?”
“To be determined,” I said, knowing what he was really asking—where I stood with Lord Onyx. “Someone isn’t too happy about the whole fated mate thing. Onyx rejects the idea. But I’m not going to give up that easily.”
Briar smiled. “Good. If anyone can reach him, it’s you.”
Ever since the day I’d visited Lupin’s magical emporium and made the wish on that stone, my life had been riddled with one challenge after another.
Hard to acquire coffee beans? Acquired and opened my own café on top of it.
Knight captain who grumbled at me all the time? Captured his heart, just as he’d captured mine.
Getting Evan-napped by a redheaded thief and being whisked away to the dark wood, facing down scary crow demons and slimy worm things? Not only survived to tell the tale, but that thief was now one of the men I couldn’t live without.
On and on the list went. I might not have been physically strong or skilled in much outside the kitchen, but I was resilient. A persistent pest, just as Onyx said, who refused to back down. He could try to push me away, but I refused to give up on him.
And I felt like a part of him didn’t want me to.
***
“You’ll find him in the east wing.”
The last words Varys had told me after dinner. A meal that a certain demon lord had skipped. In fact, I hadn’t seen Onyx all day. Not at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Not even a glimpse of him on the castle grounds while I’d chased Oreo down the hallways and around the courtyard outside. It was what had prompted me to track him down that evening.
My men had been reluctant to let me wander off without them, but had agreed not to follow. Not that I wanted to keep anything from them. I planned to throttle a demon for being such a stubborn butthole and didn’t want them caught in the line of fire.
I had kissed each of them before staring my journey throughout the castle. My hunt.
“Avoiding me? Cute.” I stomped down the corridor, mumbling as I went. “You think I’m a pest now? Just wait,Your Majesty. You haven’t seen anything yet.”
I just needed to, you know, actually find Onyx first.
In hindsight, I should’ve asked Varys to show me the way. Words like ‘east’ and ‘west’ meant nothing to my directionally challenged ass. Rowan wouldn’t have been much help either, seeing as to how he hadn’t been to Onyx’s room either.
Where was that shadow creature? Although kind of eerie in how his lanky-limbed form had flickered, he’d been nice enough. And by nice, I meant he hadn’t tried to eat me or anything, which made him a decent guy in my book.
“Looking for something?”
I screeched at the sudden voice and karate chopped the air.
