His fingers are warm as they lace through mine, and for a moment everything else fades.Helifts my hand to his lips and presses a soft kiss to my knuckles.
“At least the two of us are alone together—for now,” he murmurs.
My breath catches in my throat, andIlean into him without thinking—just a little.Justenough to feel the solid warmth of him at my side.
I know it’s dangerous—we both do.Thecurse is still hanging over my head, urging me to do everythingIknowIshouldn’t.ButIcan’t help myself—Ineedto be near him.
Theron lets me stay leaning against him for a moment.Thenhe lets go of my hand so he can wrap an arm around me instead.
“Cold, baby?”he murmurs.
I nod, even thoughI’mnot.
“Come here, then.”
He pulls me against his side—closer than before, untilI’mpractically in his lap.Mybreath stutters asIsettle against him, acutely aware of every point of contact between us.
He leans down and presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“Two quests down,” he murmurs.“Twoto go.”
“Well…if you don’t count getting into theKing’sCourtto work theTimeWeaving,”Isay, trying to focus on something other than the way my body is reacting to his.“That’sa quest all by itself.”
“Not as much as you’d think,” he says, sounding thoughtful.“Oncea week, theKingallows anyone who wants to come into the palace and air their grievances.”
“He does?”Ilook up at him in surprise.“Doesn’the fear to let strange people into his palace?”
“No.”Theronshakes his head.“Becausethe whole building is woven with the most powerful magical wards possible.Anyonewith even a bit of malice in their heart towards theKingtries to get in, it sets off an alarm.Theguards come and drag them to prison, so theKingis always safe.”
“But what if they were mad because he raised their taxes?”Iask, seeing a problem with this at once.“Thatkind of magic makes it so nobody can express any kind of dissatisfaction with theKing’sgovernance!”
“No, no—it’s only if they’re planning to do him physical harm that the wards go off,” he explains.“Itwouldn’t be fair other wise and there’s a reason ourKingis named ‘GoodKingJamestheJust.’”
“I suppose you’re right,”Isay and sigh, snuggling even closer to him.“Soyou’re saying we can just walk right into theKing’sCourtif we go on the right day?”
He nods.
“Then find a quiet corner to work your spell.I’venever been to the court, butIhear it’s huge.Youshould be able to manage.”
As he explains about theKingand the wards,Ilisten—but only half of my mind is really on his words—the other half is on him.
On the way his hand rests on my arm…the way his breathing has gone just a little uneven and the way he suddenly goes very still whenIshift against him, even slightly.
He’s holding himself back—Ican feel it.JustlikeIam.Weboth want to get even closer, but it’s not safe.
“So you’re saying we can just walk right in?”Iask again, trying to get my mind off what my body is asking for.
“If we time it right,” he says.
I nod and sigh, the sound turning into a yawn beforeIcan stop it.
His hand comes up to stroke my hair.
“Poor little priestess,” he murmurs.“Gettingsleepy?”
“A little,”Iadmit.
“Lay down then,” he says.
