“Are you going to?”
I shrug. “We’re giving it a year.”
He grabs his throat like he’s clutching pearls. “Only a year? You’re married to the Nightmare King. What if he curses you with nightmares if you break it off?”
“What if he curses me to wear lingerie at breakfast, lunch and dinner? Maybe even brunch? Look at this one.” I grab a sheer piece made from string and hopes and dreams. “There’s nothing to it.”
Elmore tuts. “And that would be on purpose.”
It would probably be very much on purpose. My cheeks heat as I imagine myself in one of these pieces, Eryx’s hand sliding up my arm.
I am married. He is my husband.
We said separate rooms, but will he want that to change? Will I?
This is a bad idea, right? Just considering it?
But before I can stop myself, my mind drifts to a few minutes ago at the pool and how I wanted Eryx to kiss me. My body hums, and maybe I want to do more than just kiss.
Wait. Stop.
I push the thought away and focus back on Elmore. Something he said a moment ago hits me. “Oh—listen to this.” I leave the lingerie explosion and sit back on the bed. “He doesn’t give nightmares. Hesavespeople from them.”
Elmore exhales a slow breath. “He saves people from them? Swoon.”
A smile threatens to break out over my face, but I squash it down. The way he kissed my hand. My skin is still warm from it. Eryx Nightshade is not a simple person. He’s complicated, which of course makes him attractive, and?—
“You’re married to him,” Elmore points out.
“Was I thinking out loud?”
“Yes.”
Elmore sighs dreamily. “But he is good-looking, though I would assume he’s clearly carrying baggage. He’s wounded emotionally, dark and broody, so your sunshine persona will be the one thing that fixes him in this world of dark shadows.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re so ridiculous.”
As he starts to reply, a knock comes from the door. Not wanting to be caught lounging on my bed—it just seems too early in my stay for that—I unlock the door and step back. “Come in.”
Stave enters. “How is your room, mistress?”
“It’s awesome. Did you do this?”
He cocks his head. “What makes you ask that?”
“Eryx might be good at being a king, but I kinda doubt decorating is his forte.”
A blush blooms on his cheeks. “You caught me.”
Oh, the way he blushes makes my heart warm. I sense an instant friend. “Okay, tell me—what do I need to know about this place to stay alive?”
His eyes nearly pop from his head. “Nothing’s going to hurt you here.”
“Eryx said that, too. But I see shadows.”
He nods. “If any of them get on your nerves, let me know and I’ll send them to shadow lost and found.”
I pause. “Is there such a place?”
