“Kerris!”
“I’m coming, Nia! Just let me get dressed.”
Now it’s Ever’s turn to choke.
“Close your eyes and don’t peek.”
He rolls over in the bed and buries his face into the mattress. Trusting that he won’t try to steal a glance, I quickly change into one of the gowns I’ve altered from Madame Ella. Instead of wearing the corset with the ribbons to the back, I keep them at the front so I can tie them myself.
“You can open your eyes now.” Where are my damn slippers? I really need to clean this room. When I finally straighten, Everett is still staring at me.
“What is it?” Tell me there isn’t drool crusted on my chin. After going to bed with my hair wet, heaven only knows what it must look like.
He shakes his head, as if dispelling cobwebs from his brain. “My heart aches at the sight of you.”
It is too early in the morning to swoon.
The smallest wrinkle appears between his brows. “Are you too warm again? Your cheeks are as pink as the dawn.”
“I’m not too warm. I’m?—”
“Kerris!”
Why can’t Nia leave me alone for one damn minute? I am trying to sort this out and it’s difficult to think with the way Ever’s eyes seem to drink me in. I grab one of the leather queues from my bedside table and pull my hair back from my face.
Ever watches like I’m the most fascinating thing he’s ever seen.
“Do you think you can get out of here without anyone seeing you?”
“Of course I can. I am our clan’s stealthiest hunter.”
I glance out the window, skeptical. Still, he doesn’t seem concerned, so perhaps my own worries are misplaced. “Will I see you tonight?”
He nods. “I will be waiting for you at the bridge.”
I reach for the doorknob, but do not leave. When I turn and find Ever still sitting on my bed, an overwhelming urge washes over me. Before I can think too much about what it means, I hurry to his side and press a kiss to his cheek.
I leave in a flurry, my stomach leaping all over the place as I bound down the stairs to where my cousin waits in a floral apron, a second stretched toward me. “It’s about time,” she clips. “You’ve been asleep forever.”
Aunt Cordelia stops rolling pie dough long enough to sprinkle extra flour over her rolling pin. “Good morning, Kerris. There are fresh blueberry pancakes over on the table if you’d like some breakfast. Nia, dear. Will you run outside and gather the eggs? We’re going to need as many as we can get if we want to beat Mrs. Wilson this year.”
Nia retrieves the basket from the edge of the counter.
I don’t know who Mrs. Wilson is or why we want to beat her, but I do know that if Nia goes outside right now, she’s liable to find Ever scaling down the roof.
“I’ll get the eggs!” I swipe the basket right out of my cousin’s hand.
Nia tries to take it back, but my fingers are locked on. “You need to have breakfast.”
“I’m not hungry.” My stomach chooses this very moment to moan, making me look like a liar.
Nia’s gaze drops to my middle, and her brows quirk. “You eat, and I’ll get the eggs.”
“Why don’t you both do it?” Aunt Cordelia clips.
Curse my aunt and her problem-solving. Nia takes advantage of my distraction and steals the basket, then she slips out into the garden.
I burst out of the back door behind her. “Isn’t it a glorious day?” I say far too loudly, a warning for any Unseelie who might be trying to escape. From the corner of my eye, I see Ever freeze on the thatch.
