Shifting to dodge her kick, I grinned. “Oh, I am, too,” I said innocently, placing a hand on my chest. “I am very serious about holding you for my pleasure, but horns or not, I’ll love you all the same.”
Her eyes narrowed as she chewed on the inside of her lip. “What about a tail?”
I placed my hands on her hips and kissed her cheek. “Doable,” I said with a shrug.
She snorted. “Good to know you have no limits when it comes to me.”
“Absolute zero.”
She peeked at me and scrunched her nose. “Flirt.”
She finished her hair, tossing the long whip-style design over her shoulder. “Okay, now I’m starving.”
I pressed a kiss to her nape and stepped back. “Let’s go find some breakfast, then we can ask around to see if we can find anyone who might have come close to Nismera’s palace.”
“What do they have here?” she asked as I stepped in front of her, leading the way.
“They have meat wraps filled with whatever you wish. One of the spices commonly used in the dishes here is illegal in other realms because many species cannot eat it. It is poisonous to many beings. Luckily, we are in no danger. To us, it tastes like a rich pepper.”
I held the door open for her, and her eyes were lit with excitement as she passed through. “I love everything about that.”
As we passed through the small lobby, I stopped to hand the owner a few extra coins as Dianna stepped outside. I thanked the man once more and hurried after her, really not liking that she was out of my sight.
Dianna stood on the curved path just outside the small hotel, her eyes shining with wonder. Sunlight poured in through the massive cave entrance, beams spearing deep into the water that split Whitcliff. The city looked almost delicate, carved deep into the cavern walls with both function and beauty in mind. Businesses and dwellings were stacked on top of each other, connected by curving streets, sidewalks, and spiraling staircases. Arched doorways and windows created shadows and nooks, the tops of the buildings nearly reaching the ceiling in pointed spires and domes. The bright awnings and colorful stalls of the markets were a stark contrast to the unrelieved white of the stone. The sound of the ocean ebbing and flowing was a constant background noise.
“I didn’t expect this place to be so beautiful considering the trade route and what it sells,” Dianna said, watching people walk by us. There were couples and families mixed in with the rougher crowd you would expect in such a busy trade port.
“I believe they put a considerable amount of money back into the city, and,” I nodded to a few cloaked strangers, pretending to shop and look around, “security.”
“Ah,” she said.
“Besides the trade, this is a great place for people to disappear if they wish.”
“Oh, yeah?” She wiggled her brows at me. “So if one day we want to, can we?”
“I’ll do whatever you want me to do. Just say the word.”
“All right then.” She smiled. “Feed me.”
I held out my hand, palm up. “Come with me, my queen of flame and ruin.”
She giggled and placed her hand in mine, keeping close as I tugged her across the street. We barely made it a few feet before she jerked me to a stop. I looked behind me to see her standing still, her eyes dilated.
“Dianna?” I said cautiously.
She blinked as if hearing her name startled her back to the present.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my skin prickling. Anticipating a threat to her, Oblivion rose, eager to defend her. “Is it Gathrriel?”
Dianna shook her head, and her hand tightened on mine. She turned, peeking around my shoulder as if hoping to see whatever had spooked her. “No, it’s … It’s nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
She turned back to me and gave me a soft smile. “I think maybe my body is still settling after the possession.”
I nodded slowly and scanned the area around us as I turned. Tucking her against my side, we walked side by side, our footsteps aligned. “Let’s feed you.”
Dianna nodded as we approached the eatery, but her body remained tense.
