So much for being stealthy. If Nia looks up, she’s going to see him in all his bare-chested glory.
The next time I feel like cuddling, I will have to ignore the urge.
Nia stops dead and narrows her eyes at me. “What is wrong with you?”
“Nothing at all. Just loving the fresh air and sunshine.”
With a roll of her eyes, she ducks inside the coop without noticing my Unseelie visitor. I wave for him to hurry up, which earns me a grin.
I cannot help but grin back.
“You’re smiling like a loon,” Nia remarks as I enter the coop behind her.
She’s right, but I cannot seem to stop.
26
“Save your cakes and tarts and pies.
The sweetness I crave is that of my lover’s lips upon mine.”
Author Unknown
My heart leaps with joy when I find Ever waiting for me on my side of the bridge. He asks about my day, and I tell him all about the pies and fresh loaves of bread we baked. Aunt Cordelia’s kitchen has turned into a proper bakery. If one more dessert gets added to the ice box, the thing is liable to explode. I swear the oven sighed with relief when we finished.
He listens intently, escorting me to where Maddox and Gryffin sit around the fire. A short distance away, a blanket has been stretched on the ground with two more stacked beside it.
Ever must catch me looking at them because he nudges my arm with his elbow and says, “You will not be cold tonight.”
It’s incredibly sweet that he remembered to bring them, but part of me mourns the fact that we won’t need to sit as closely.
On the other side of the fire, Ever’s unicorn stamps his hoof. Two more beasts have been tied to the same post, but their saddles aren’t quite as intricate.
Hesitantly, I step toward the animal. They’re almost like Seelie horses only bigger. Kind of like the Unseelie themselves. Then there’s the spike on its head. Imagine finding yourself at the wrong end of that thing.
The unicorn watches me through careful eyes, much like his master. “He’s beautiful. What’s his name?”
Ever positions himself between the unicorn and where I stand. “Onyx, but I call him Nyx.” At hearing his name, Nyx nudges Ever’s shoulder with a snuffle.
Onyx.Suits him. “Hello, Nyx.” The beast’s ears twitch, his wide eyes landing on me as I inch closer.
Ever’s lips flatten even as Nyx nudges him again. “He does not like many people.”
Neither did my father’s horse back in Gravale, but I still managed to make old Domino my friend. I stretch out my hand toward Nyx’s nose. From over Ever’s shoulder, the unicorn bumps my fingers with his muzzle. Ever’s eyes widen as I dare to close the distance even more. Nyx sniffs my hair then nods as if he approves.
Probably because I smell like apple pie.
I can’t help my smile as I pat his stiff mane more confidently. “I knew you were a good boy. So beautiful, aren’t you?”
Nyx snorts happily, letting me pet him like I used to pet old Domino.
“I can be a good boy too,” Maddox murmurs under his breath.
I bite my lip to keep from giggling.
“How would you like to explore the bottom of the canyon?” Ever snaps.
Maddox raises his hands in surrender, but his cheeky grin remains.
