“Five,” Bash pipes up. Calla casts a glance at him. “Each more delightful than the last. One even tried to kill her.”
“He did not,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Ternis, you know? He got a bit carried away with his theatrics.”
“Dropped a whole bookcase on her,” Sasha adds, helpfully.
“Delightful,” Calla murmurs. “Any good kissers in the bunch?”
I blush and am grateful for the dark room. “I don’t…that is, I wouldn’t…”
“Oh, don’t be modest,” Calla says. “Your people place much too much importance on decorum. Did you enjoy any of them?”
I swallow. The best that could be said of any of my previous five kisses is that they were relatively brief.
“Your silence is enough of an answer,” Calla says, chuckling again. “Look, it won’tdoanything, but at least we can make oursnice, if you like.”
My heart is hammering in my ears. I almost wish she’d just grabbed me like the others and planted one on me; the waiting is excruciating. “All right,” I say, though my voice is a little strangled.
She steps forward and slides a hand along my waist. “Don’t worry, Tandy; I’m a very good kisser,” she murmurs, and then slides her free hand along my cheek, tilting my head a little to the side. “Close your eyes,” she says softly, her breath gentle on my skin, “and put your hands on my waist.” I swallow and close my eyes, and she tugs me gently against her, our lips meeting. She tightens her hand against my waist and I curl my fingers into the rough fabric of her woolen gown. The pressure of her mouth on mineis gentle, and when she moves her hand to cup my cheek, I exhale with a little sigh.
After a long moment—I have no idea how much time passes—she pulls back, and I hear myself exhale, and open my eyes. She’s smiling at me, a little sadly.
“Did that work, do you think?”
I swallow hard and try to collect myself. I feel as though prickles are running up and down my arms. “I don’t think so,” I croak, and then take a steadying breath and try again. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize, Tandy,” Calla says. She’s still holding my waist, and when she steps back, she takes my hands. “I can only hope it was a nicer kiss than any of those”—she uses a Mezothin curse word my tutors once refused to define—“nicer than the others, I mean,” she says. “You deserve that, at least, if your parents are going to make us all come up here and kiss you for no reason.”
“Very nice,” I say, though my voice is unsteady. “You don’t want me to check? I could go to the door and see if I can leave…”
“I trust you to know,” she says. “You know, I’ve always wanted to kiss you,” she adds, smiling. “I’m glad I had the chance.”
“Youhave?”
She smiles at me. “Was it nice?”
I nod.
“Good. Well, I’ll dash off a quick note to your parents and let them know it didn’t work. Who’s left after me?”
“I, um…” I pause and try desperately to collect my scattered thoughts. “Astebaen.”
“Oooh, gracious,” she says, and pats my cheek jovially. “Let’s hope he’s not your heart’s desire, eh? Now tell me: Where’s a girl got to go to get a stiff drink in this town?”
“The inn,” Sasha breaks in, her voice too loud. “They collectprinces, you know. If you stay the night, they’ll probably rename it again.”
“Charming thought! Very well, I’ll give it a go. Might even stay till Astebaen comes by. That should be a fun one.”
“Stay the weekend!” Sasha says. “We’re having our grand reopening on Saturday!”
Calla smiles at the dracone. “I wouldn’t want to miss that.”
With a nod to Bash, whom I haven’t been able to look at since she kissed me, Calla walks to the door, pulls it open, and strolls out into the sunshine.
Chapter 35
“Holysmokes,” Sasha yells, once the door has shut behind Calla. “How didthatnot break the curse?!”
“It wasn’t,” I say, then look down at my hands, not sure how to continue. How to explain love and desire inthiscompany?
