He smiled broadly, showing teeth. He was unfairly good-looking when he did that.
Caspian stroked her back, the gesture purely comforting. He ran his fingers over her arm; the sensation sent tingles down her spine.
After a few hours spent cuddling in bed, she slowly extricated herself. “I should do things with my day.”
He frowned. “What kind of things? Come back to bed.”
“I can’t stay in bed all day. I haven’t even washed my face or cleaned my teeth yet,” she informed him, cocking her head to the side. “And mortals need to eat breakfast.”
“Oh. I had forgotten.” He chuckled and paused. “Will you join me for dinner this evening?”
“Yes.”
He made to get up and halted. “Yell at Iago to bring me some trousers, will you?”
She laughed. “I won’t yell, but I can advise your chief-of-staff that you would appreciate a set of pants.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, drawing the blanket over his waist, and beckoned to her. She extended her hand, and he captured it, bringing it to his lips. “Until tonight, then.”
Breathless, she nodded.
She went about her day smiling—taking Draugr for a ride, then reading a book in the library for the rest of the afternoon.
When she came downstairs for dinner, Caspian was alone.
“Asmodeus is not here?” she asked, raising a brow.
“I’ve ordered him to give us some privacy tonight.”
“And what would you like to do?”
He raised his goblet to her. “I’ve tasked the servants to make you the most elaborate meal you’ve had in your mortal life, and then, I am going to worship every inch of your body as many times as you would like.”
Her face hurt from smiling so much.
After dinner, they slept together three times, each more romantic than the last. The third time, he whispered her name as he came, and her heart felt like it was glowing.
***
Elizabeth made it to Risna’s shop around noon and was pleased to discover Nasera was not around. The woman’s belittling remarks often set her on edge.
“Let’s start with something you can do. Ward yourself,” Risna said.
The familiar green fire bloomed in Elizabeth’s chest, unspooling and coating her arms and legs in translucent green.
“Hold it.” Risna circled her, eyes scanning for gaps in the barrier.
Minutes stretched. Elizabeth’s breath quickened, and she forced herself to take deep, even breaths as she laboured to maintain the spell. Sweat beaded her spine.
Risna held up a hand. “Good. Release.”
“Prepare your mind,” Risna said and sent a probing tendril of awareness into her mind. It was met with Elizabeth’s white walls of stone. The older woman pressed, looking for a gap in her defences, but could not gain entry.
However, the moment she grew overconfident and relaxed a fraction, Risna slipped through, the sensation like water sliding through her fingers. Risna seized control, and her body froze.
They practiced several more times, and Elizabeth was able to keep the witch out only about half of the time. She had improved, but not enough to keep her out indefinitely.
“Better,” Risna commented, withdrawing.
