‘You look like you haven’t slept in a decade, Ava.’
I snorted before jumping off once more to choose boots that would cover my ankles. ‘Way to boost a girl’s self-esteem. Though it’s a fair assumption.’
She wouldn’t let go. ‘So what is itthen?’
‘I’m just busy. The search takes time and I also train with Isaac—’
‘How’s that going? Is he giving you trouble?’
My eyebrows raised. ‘Isaac? No. He’s more of a friend than a tutor lately. I keep burdening him with my problems.’
My grey-haired sister followed me into the wardrobe, silent as a shadow. Coming up from behind me, she began braiding my hair, and I forced myself not to show the confusion on my face. It was unlike her to invade my personal space apart from that one incident when she got drunk. Where would it lead?
Continuing her work in silence, the slightly ticklish sensation of her fingers on my scalp made me close my eyes. ‘And how does your mate feel about this friendship?’
I was taken aback. ‘He doesn’t get a say in this. Would you let your mate meddle like that?’
‘I’m not saying you shouldn’t have male friends,’ she said quickly, defending herself. ‘I’m just interested in what he thinks. He seems pretty head over heels for you.’
I swallowed. ‘He doesn’t know about Isaac, I mean… not the friendship part.’
Miriam chuckled. 'Oh, he knows. He just doesn’t know who he is.’
I turned to face her. ‘What are you talking about?’
Slightly uncomfortable, she kept my head straight as she gathered more hair into the braid. ‘You’re spending a lot of time with him; his scent rubs off on you.’
Shit. ‘He asked if I was sleeping with someone.’
She stilled, her hand stuck in hair near my scalp. ‘Who did?’
‘River,’ I said, looking back to how on edge he was.
‘Your king?’ she asked, pretending not to know his name. I knew she heard it when we had arrived in the Fogoyan court to use their portal. ‘Yeah, scents that linger don’t usually come from reading books together, if you get mygist.’
That explained a lot.
‘Well, it’s not like he gets to dictate my life,’ I whispered, considering how damaged our relationship had become. There were parts of my life he no longer had access to.
Her face fell slightly, and I regretted my sour attitude. ‘Of course not. Though he is going to think we are depriving you of sleep.’
‘Some of you are, to be honest.' I didn’t hide the tinge of annoyance that clung to me and my tone.
‘Alec with his nightmare of a mate?’ she asked, snorting. ‘You’re a witch; why don’t you just soundproof the room?’
Silly idea. ‘Because I want to be able to hear everything else that happens. What if we get attacked or get a visitor? Even if you knock on my door, I wouldn’t hear it.’
‘We won’t get attacked. But all of your other points are fair; I wouldn’t want complete silence in my bedroom either. Even if they’re starting to drive me crazy too. A sigh ripped out of her just as she pulled a hair tie from around her wrist to finish her work of art.
It wasn’t a regular braid like the protective one I sometimes wore to bed; this one was as complex as she was. It started at my crown, pulling tight along my scalp instead of just the length. ‘Is there anything you can’t do, Miriam?’
‘I’m a horrific cook, or that’s what I’ve been told.’ Her laughter eased the atmosphere as the bright red of her eyes glinted with pride. ‘Do you like your hair?’
‘I love it. Where did you learn that?’ I asked just before a loud thud followed by Willow’s irritated voice carried through the corridor. ‘We’re not dealing with that. Let’s go.’
‘Wasn’t planning on checking up on them even if they asked.' Miriam covered us in her shadows before momentarily relocating to Fogoyan Court's foyer.
As always, the place had a troubling way of making me nostalgic, bringing back all the good times I’d experienced here. But there were bad ones too.
