Mariah swallowed. “Not since we escaped Khento, when we first arrived in Kreah. When I shifted back?—”
Signe shook her head. “No. I didn’t ask when you lastusedyour magic. I asked when you lastfeltyour magic.”
Confusion prickled beneath Mariah’s skin. “I don’t understand.”
“Yes, you do.” Signe took another step forward, a grin tugging at her mouth. “You felt it recently, didn’t you? You couldn’t wield it, but it woke up. When was that? What pulled that reaction from it?”
Mariah opened her mouth to argue, but realization struck her like a brick. She snapped her mouth shut, flames licking up her neck and into her cheeks.
The road. That tent. Her hands pinned above her head, Andrian’s mouth on hers, his hand between her legs.
Be my dreams, Mariah.
Her gaze flashed across the clearing. Andrian stood still, arms crossed over his chest, watching her.
Signe’s gaze followed hers, her grin widening into a full smile. “That’s what I thought,” she said softly. She raised a hand in the air, gesturing to the two men. “Andrian! A moment, please?”
Mariah stayed rooted to the earth as Andrian started forward, concerned confusion playing across his face. She knew her blush had deepened and traveled higher—could feel it in the heat that crawled into her ears and over her shoulders. Callamus moved away from her, standing behind Signe, crossing his arms and watching on with amused interest.
Mariah really didn’t like whatever look had taken over Signe’s face. The priestess had truly never looked more mischievous than she did right now.
Not even when she’d been fleeing Shawth’s troops through the palace game park, wearing a look of wild glee.
That alone was enough to make Mariah nervous.
The grass crunched under Andrian’s boots, his brow furrowed and expression wary. “Everything okay? Do you need something?”
Signe put her hands on her hips. She tipped her head in Mariah’s direction.
“Kiss her.”
Andrian blinked. “What?”
Signe rolled her eyes. “You heard me. Do us a favor, and kiss her.”
“I don’t…” Andrian’s gaze darted between Mariah and Signe, confusion etching deeper into the hard lines of his face. Mariah shifted uneasily, the fires in her cheeks blazing.
Gods, that fucking blush.Get control of yourself.
“Signe—”
The priestess interrupted Mariah’s weak protest, her spine rigid as she stared Andrian down. “Kiss your queen, Armature,” she commanded, something ageless consuming her voice. Magic brushed across Mariah’s skin. “We all know you want to. That there is not a single moment of your day when youdon’twant to. So, stop acting so put out about it, andkiss her.”
They held gazes—tall warrior and petite priestess. Something in Andrian cracked, and he faced Mariah with a heaved sigh.
There was still a scowl between his brows. But there was want there, too. Like hedesperatelywanted to do what Signe asked but absolutely loathed being commanded to do anything at all.
It almost made Mariah smile. She could read him so easily now. Some of her amusement rose to the surface, the corner of her mouth kicking up in a half grin. His scowl deepened.
Don’t make fun of me, he almost seemed to say.
A laugh was still bubbling up in her when he leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers before pulling away. A quick, chaste peck. Mariah blinked up at him in surprise, her humor stuttering in her chest, but he was already turning to Signe.
“There. Happy now?”
Signe tossed her hands in the air, groaning. “No, you idiot.”
Callamus hid a laugh behind his hands. Signe stalked forward, gripping Andrian by the front of his black long-sleeved tunic.
